Got my eye on headers for an old 354 hemi. Options are stainless or ceramic. These will be in a daily driver. Which to choose ???

stainless don't flake off.

Ceramic has been known to.

i bought a stainless set for my 392 at a swap. the guy modified the collector area for some reason [he said they hit the oil pan ?], but i will be doing further mods because of what i want to do.
plus, i got them for a great price.
stainless will, however, discolor, so keep this in mind. six of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other.
then, there is the "it depends" on the coating. i have seen some coatings that are crap, while others last many, many years without issues in color or bonding.

Some types of stainless do rust...

If your stainless is rusting, it ain't stainless, it's chinesium.

Why not both? I have a set of shorties that Jet Hot coated inside and out. And Jet Hot offers a lifetime warranty to the original buyer. So if they peal, they will re-coat them.

409 stainless will rust 304 stainless will not rust. Get the stainless, TTi sells them for only $1600.

Stainless is a lot lighter. I like the funky gold color they get.

1. Its called "Stain LESS", not rust free.
2. Stainless is not appreciably different in density then steel, ie same weight
3. SS transmits heat less then steel
4. The suggestion of both would be my choice
5. 409 SS, unless coated would not be my choice
6. Regardless, never "wrap" for the street if you want to keep them.


edit:

"Common Name Density (g/cm3)
Plain carbon steel AISI-SAE 1020 7.86
Stainless steel type 304 7.9"


https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/KarenSutherland.shtml

There are many alloys of each of course, with widely different mechanical properties for each class of material. SS generally has more useful preferred properties as corrosion and higher temps enter the process.

I'm looking at these cheapo ones on ebay. I checked the feedback and those that bought them have no complaints. I figure what do I have to lose, its $100. or buy "better quality???" for more than four times the price !!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOR-MOPAR-CHRYSLER-HEMI-V8-331-354-392-STAINLESS-STEEL-HEADER-EXHAUST-MANIFOLD/400739127386?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

stainless is stronger and can be run in a smaller thickness which makes it LIGHTER...Coating the stainless would be the optimum choice.

The ceramic coating helps keep heat out of the engine compartment... especially if street driven.

I would go coated - either over mild steel or stainless. My coated steel TTI's have held up well for 15+ years.

Wrong

You buy cheap crap, it's chinesium.

Hey Butterscotch...

I prefer ceramic because it's cooler under the hood. (Less burns on my hands and arms.) Stainless seems to be the rage now.

I know...you’re right