I'm considering getting a titanium header, like the Amuse header, and while the weight savings is a plus, I'm a bit apprehensive due to my understanding of repeated heat cycling.

Now a good part for a race car, doesn't always translate into a viable design for a street car. On a race car, the objective is to win the race, later on you can throw that titanium header away. A win pays for the part. Race cars are also typically run by professional teams that tear apart a car after a race and prep it for the next one.

On a street car, a header will be subjected to much harsher conditions and daily heat cycles, which will certainly place a lot of stress on the very thin tubing used to make titanium headers. Plus the welds can crack and overall the whole thing is a bit risky in my view.

But there is very little information out there on wall thickness of tubing that it's hard to make an informed decision. Even the flange that bolts up to the engine looks very thin, which could promote cracking. I know that titanium is harder than stainless, but I also know it's much more brittle, so depending on the specific alloy used, you can control that, but there is no info on that either.

I've rambled on long enough. I'd like to hear your thoughts and better yet, if you ran a titanium header, did you have any issues?

cheers

Wael

 

Lots of motorcycles have titanium headers straight from the factory and they would probably outlast the bike FWIW

 

I'd be concerned with the ability of the header to contain the exhaust heat. I can see underhood temps going way up with a titanium header.

 

Titanium is excellent at not conducting heat. That is way they use titanium brake shims for pads to help keep heat from transferring from the pad to the caliper.