I bought a stock replacement set from Bus Depot about three years ago and
had the pipes ceramic coated by Polymer Dynamics here in Houston after I
port matched them and smoothed all the inside welds that I could reach.  The
pipes still look good except for the lower protruding bits like the sensor
port and lower left side mount tab which, having taken a beating from road
debris, are rusty.

The process was pretty expensive at $175 to do front and rear pipes and the
junction pipe.  Ceramic coatings supposedly boost the heat retention of the
pipes increasing exhaust velocity and freeing up the air flow through the
engine.  I can't say that I noticed any dramatic power increase.  To do a
fair comparison I'd have to put in a bone stock exhaust system and that just
ain't happening.  A basic butt feel index comparison between the van when I
got it and now is that now it is much, much stronger off line and at highway
speeds and gas mileage is a little better if I keep my right foot up.  I'm
also running a K&N air filter, Bosch Platinum +4s and have the timing set at
5 degrees BTDC.

Frank C's Stebro stainless steel system is not too much more expensive (IIRC
if I had to ship my pipes out to be coated it would be about the same) and
should last longer.  If I were buying the S&S header system I'd definitely
spring for the ceramic coating since their standard finish rusts off very
quickly.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

on 9/30/03 11:00 PM, Automatic digest processor at
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM wrote:

> Date:    Wed, 1 Oct 2003 01:19:37 +0000
> From:    Mary Barbara <marybiba@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: exhaust
>
> Has anyone used a ceramic coated or powder coated exhaust system?  And does
> anyone have any input on its advantages/disadvantages?  I've just rusted out
> mine (lasted 4 years) and am looking for options.
> Mary