Belanger headers on!!! few questions...

[GotAViper]

Just got the belanger headers on to go with the hi-flow cats and belanger cat-back. I am very impressed with the sound.

As many of you said before, adding the headers only increased sound when really getting on the gas, but it did change the entire exhaust sound to a more aggressive tone and it sounds fantastic.

But I have a few questions.

1. Should i put heat sheild on the headers? Is it necessary? If I do not put any on is there any long term damage that might occur?

2. My viper doesnt seem any faster? belanger headers quote 50hp correct? I do not notice any difference but maybe its just me. Picks up fast off the line, but top end it just feels slower if anything. Is this beacuse I need to get a VEC I or II and get it tuned?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[FE 065]

Just read on some Viper tuner's site that if you don't put the heat shields on, sooner or later it's going to cause a problem. Do it.

 

[GotAViper]

what kinda problems we talkin here? does the heat effect the fiberglass hood? or maybe the paint on the hood over time? or is it something else in the engine compartment that it can effect?

 

[sparty116]

Belangers are jet-hot coated, so you shouldn't need heat shields. Just keep O2 and plug wires away

 

[GotAViper]

you sure they are jet-hot coated? these are older gen I belanger headers, they appear to be coated but its a darker flat gray coating, I don't think thats jet-hot?

Had set of jet-hot coated headers on my camaro and they looked completely different (dull polished look).

 

[sparty116]

I'm not sure about the older ones, but the new ones are coated and make it much cooler under hood. If they are coated they will appear almost chrome. I would describe it as a satin finish.

I think the coating claims a couple 100 degree lower header temp.

You must be registered for see images

 

[rpm9000]

If I remember correctly, the instruction that come with the headers states not to put any kind of heat shields on the Belanger headers. It also states that it takes about 500 miles for the computer to adjust for the headers.
I put mine on my 95 about 2 months ago and I like them very much.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Possible problems? Too hot under the hood. Could melt HVAC on right hand side. Solution? Heat shields or Jet Hot coating or better yet ceramic coating (which is what I did).
As far as more power? Don't hold your breath. Most here can speak from personal experience. Headers= minimal to 0 hp gains unless you are SC or Turbo'd. They look cool though, unless you cover them with heat sheilds.
TJ

 

[GotAViper]

I'm not sure about the older ones, but the new ones are coated and make it much cooler under hood. If they are coated they will appear almost chrome. I would describe it as a satin finish.

I think the coating claims a couple 100 degree lower header temp.

My belanger headers do not look like that thou so they must be much older. Yes thats how my camaro headers look thou with the jet-hot.

 

[GotAViper]

If I remember correctly, the instruction that come with the headers states not to put any kind of heat shields on the Belanger headers. It also states that it takes about 500 miles for the computer to adjust for the headers.
I put mine on my 95 about 2 months ago and I like them very much.

Does this apply to the older belanger headers that are not jet hot coated thou?

 

[LETHAL GTS]

The heat sheilds are for exactly what they are called...heat sheilds.
So if your headers are not coated with any type of heat sheilding, then they will need to be covered.
I would simply get them coated if you don't want to use your factory sheilds.
As far as the PCM learning, I don't think it will take 500miles. It does need time to learn though....maybe a 100 miles.

 

[GotAViper]

The heat sheilds are for exactly what they are called...heat sheilds.
So if your headers are not coated with any type of heat sheilding, then they will need to be covered.
I would simply get them coated if you don't want to use your factory sheilds.
As far as the PCM learning, I don't think it will take 500miles. It does need time to learn though....maybe a 100 miles.

Well the day I got them put on, I took the viper 200 miles to the beach, few highway pulls here and here with some friends, and 200 miles back yesterday, doesn't appear to feel any different from when I first put them on.

I will probably go with some heat sheilds, for reasons of being lazy and not wanting to take them off and ship them out. Where would one go about getting some heat sheilds?

 

[vipertech]

i have spent hours on the phone with belanger and the heat sheilds are not needed on the pipes.he has all his vipers running without heat sheild in arizonia and has had no problems. if you have any questions you can talk to him directly just clear a couple of hours he loves to talk

 

[BLWNV10]

More so the reason the Belangers run cooler is not because of the coating, but because they use Aluminized Steel. You will find that Belanger headers run much cooler than other headers that are also coated. You should not have any issues with melting the air box using them.
Alan

 

[HARDVIPER]

You will need to have the bolts tightened every now and then in the beginning.

 

[GTSnake]

I've had them on for over 13k miles with no heat shield. No problems.

 

[SYNFULL]

My engine bay got so hot that the airbox started to deform and my plug wires started to melt. I didn't want to- but I ended up putting iconel heat shields on which cost over $500. I also saw pics of someones car where his actually melted. Mine went on last August and look like the ones in the pic so I am pretty sure they are the newer style wth the "coating".
I don't know how others have no heat issues without shielding
Gary

 

[KenH]

My engine bay got so hot that the airbox started to deform and my plug wires started to melt. I didn't want to- but I ended up putting iconel heat shields on which cost over $500. I also saw pics of someones car where his actually melted. Mine went on last August and look like the ones in the pic so I am pretty sure they are the newer style wth the "coating".
I don't know how others have no heat issues without shielding
Gary

Did you track your car? I have heard of some issues when beating on the engine pretty ******* a road course on a hot day. I have had Belanger headers on for about 2 1/2 years and 12,000 miles with no problems or signs of heat issues and no shields. Mine are actually a more satin look as you can see in this picture.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I probably have as many miles on a set of Belanger headers as anyone out there...51,000 to date. I have never had heat shields on since the install in 4/01. Have never had any heat problems of any kind. I ran the OEM plug wires with no extra shielding for 35,000 miles. The car gets one or two track days a year.

You do need to pay attention to your power steering cap coming loose, at least you do with a Gen II----especially without heat shields. Get the HiPO Engineering fix to keep the cap from loosening. They are many ways to accomplish this, but this product is cheap enough and looks good.

As for power---mods are a relative thing. Myself, I will take the Belanger sound and 30 HP anyday over a fancy set of wheels, for close to the same expense, and no HP. It's all what you want to spend your money on. To me, a little power and the best sound out there was well worth it.

Many pre 2000 Gen II cars did get up to 50 HP. Not sure about the Gen I cars. I believe mid range torque is also improved.

Steve

 

[SYNFULL]

Very Nice! But no just normal driving

 

[FE 065]

I'd read that on Dan Cragin's site under the Headers section's Heat Issues (http://www.dcperformanceinc.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/PageManager/Default.aspx/PageID=397354)

There's been pro and con talk on the forum before. Guess it's up to you in the end..

Just read on some Viper tuner's site that if you don't put the heat shields on, sooner or later it's going to cause a problem. Do it.

 

[GotAViper]

Those are exactly what mine look like. So they are not jet-hot. Seems like getting mixed responses here but leaning more torwards NOT needed heat sheilds. I will give belanger a call just to see what he thinks as well.

I attempted to tighten the header bolts last night, but really i can only get to half of them. Is that ok? or do i need to break out the tools and try to tighten every last one of those suckers?

 

[GotAViper]

I probably have as many miles on a set of Belanger headers as anyone out there...51,000 to date. I have never had heat shields on since the install in 4/01. Have never had any heat problems of any kind. I ran the OEM plug wires with no extra shielding for 35,000 miles. The car gets one or two track days a year.

You do need to pay attention to your power steering cap coming loose, at least you do with a Gen II----especially without heat shields. Get the HiPO Engineering fix to keep the cap from loosening. They are many ways to accomplish this, but this product is cheap enough and looks good.

As for power---mods are a relative thing. Myself, I will take the Belanger sound and 30 HP anyday over a fancy set of wheels, for close to the same expense, and no HP. It's all what you want to spend your money on. To me, a little power and the best sound out there was well worth it.

Many pre 2000 Gen II cars did get up to 50 HP. Not sure about the Gen I cars. I believe mid range torque is also improved.

Steve

are your headers jet-hot coated? or do they look like the ones in the yellow motor picture?

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

Mine are definitely jet hot coated and look like the yellow motor picture. I don't remember them as shiny as the the picture above when new...might have been...I just don't remember. Call Lou Belanger.

Steve

 

[KenH]

I was told that mine were hot jet coated as well when I bought them.

As for your bolts, if you used the fiber gaskets that came with the headers, it is very important to retighten them all at least once and probably twice in the first 100 or so miles. A lot of people who haven't done this have blown the gaskets out and had to replace them.

Use a racheting box end wrench or similar to get to the hard to reach bolts. You won't be able to get a torque wrench on some of them, but you can guesstimate close enough.

 

[GotAViper]

I was told that mine were hot jet coated as well when I bought them.

As for your bolts, if you used the fiber gaskets that came with the headers, it is very important to retighten them all at least once and probably twice in the first 100 or so miles. A lot of people who haven't done this have blown the gaskets out and had to replace them.

Use a racheting box end wrench or similar to get to the hard to reach bolts. You won't be able to get a torque wrench on some of them, but you can guesstimate close enough.

Hm guess its just hard to tell in the picture. After several 100 miles on the jet-hot coated headers, they turn from shiney to alot alot more dull. When new they look almost chrome but then turn much more dull. The ones I have are definetely not jet-hot coated so that's why I am concerned about the heat sheild.