Header wraps, heat sleeves, thermo shields, etc.

[BrentMalone]

the headers on our 82 camaro are close to our brake lines.
when the headers get hot they heat up the brake lines and you
have to pump the brakes cause the oil is thin.
Would it be better to use header wraps for this problem?
or would something else work???
most will probably tell me to re-route the lines, that is if I
can get them off.
I was looking at sleeves and a reflective tape.
the tape was Thermo-Tec Thermo Shield Aluminized Wrap #893-14000.
it is from Jegs catalog or you can find it online.

Thanks for your help and time,
Brent Malone

[oz]

Hi Brent
sorry but this one is a no brainer "move the lines" If you are going fast one day you will want to stop fast and if they aint working you could be meeting the almighty mighty fast.
when I build bikes for the road next thing after making them go fast is making them stop fast.
If its dedicated for the salt maybe not as important to have super stoppers but they should at least function correctly and reliably.
cheers Oz

[jimmy six]

I'd like to help but I've never had a LSR car with front brakes...............

[John Burk]

McMaster Carr #9379K93 is 1/2" thick 3"wide ceramic insulation with reflective foil on the outside . Good for 2300 deg . $12 for a 12ft roll . #76035A65 is an 18 yard roll of 1" wide 500 deg glass reinforced aluminum foil tape to wrap along the seam . You could also wrap the brake lines .

[oz]

still reckon its safer to move em your choice if they are that easy to get in and wrap em,wrap em, but if it is that accessible it cant be that hard to re route them,Who put them that close in the first place?

[manta22]

Place a piece of sheet metal between the brake line and your headers as a heat shield.
You are pumping your brakes because the brake fluid in the line is boiling, not because it is "thin."

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[jl222]

Place a piece of sheet metal between the brake line and your headers as a heat shield.
You are pumping your brakes because the brake fluid in the line is boiling, not because it is "thin."

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

  Thats what I was going to suggest. I had a big wood stove that was heating up my new big screen tv, a  3 x4 ft piece of sheet metal like they use for roofs [ 3 x12] stopped all the heat. I already had it on the walls
behind the stove and it would hardly get warm but the painted wall were the metal ended would get hot. I also had a motor home that used sheetmetal on top of the exhaust to absorb the heat and keep the floorboards
cooler.

    Good luck JL222

[BrentMalone]

The brake lines are the original brake lines that where on the
car in 82.
the only thing that was done was a new engine put into it, a beefer
new engine.
the brake lines are rusted from the salt and getting them off would be a
challenge alright. I know they will break easily and quickly.
The brake lines run from the back and front to the reservoir.
it has ran at world of speed and didn't have any problems that we know of.
they also have never been moved either from when they were put on by the
factory in 82.

Thanks for your input with this, lots of great feedback.
thanks.
Brent

[oz]

Hmmm.
27 year old rusty brake lines next to hot headers that you know will break easily!
I stick with my original post it aint a hard job to do!!

[Rick Byrnes]

Brake fluid is extremely flammable.
Protect yourself and the car.

[hotrod]

If you use header wrap be sure to seal the outside of it.

Header wrap can absorb oil and act like a candle wick, creating a fire that is very difficult to put out if you ever have an oil or brake fluid leak. They sell a spray on seal for header wrap but personally I very much prefer double wrapping the outside of the header wrap with heavy duty aluminum foil and the lacing it in place with soft black iron utility wire. It forms a water proof, oil proof, and fire proof top layer that even in a daily driver lasts for years of exposure to road salt and general wear and tear.

I have a friend that nearly burned a car to the ground due to oil soaked header wrap after an oil line to his turbo leaked. He could knock the fire down with a fire extinguisher, but it would immediately re-light as soon as he stopped spraying the fire suppression powder on it. It was not until the fire department put lots of water on the headers that they could extinguish the oil fire.

Larry

[Constant Kinetics]

What about covering the break lines with an insulating fibergalss and holding it in place with an aluminum plate?

[Stan Back]

How do you know where it's going to break -- and how wide do you paint the lines?

[Rex Schimmer]

First I agree that you should redue your brake lines and route them away from the headers, but if you don't your your problem is "radiant" heat transfer, and the solution is to reflect the radiant heat back at the headers. My suggestion is to use a stainless steel plate, polish it one one side and bond some good insulation to it on the other side. Place the plate between the headers and the brake lines with the polished side towards the headers.  It will reflect the radiant heat and keep your brake lines from boiling.

Rex