Who hates messing with long tube headers?

[RITTER]

I am sure that I am not the only person here that absolutely hates installing and removing long tube headers on our cars :x

I was browsing through different header design ideas and came accross this header made by Advance Adapters. Just by looking at a picture of them, they look like they would fit a SBC GBody with little to no modification. Has anybody here used a set of these or any other product made by Advance Adapters :?:


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ADD-717053-NP/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ADD-717052-NP/

 

[lsx80monte]

those look almost like turbo manifolds to me. They sure dont look like they would be much of a pain to install. I personally prefer the power that long tubes make. But I will be making mine cause ls swap gbody headers are major expensive.

 

[565bbchevy]

I would have a hard time calling those anything other than high flow exhaust manifolds but I could see using them if I had a really odd ball engine swap and they look similar to the ones somebody here just made for his sbc chevette.
I would personally take the power advantage of long tube headers and mine are easy since my headers are 5 pieces per side I can install them with no issues after the engine is bolted in.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I would have a hard time calling those anything other than high flow exhaust manifolds

Agreed. I'd stick with dual exhaust manifolds before spending money on a glorified exhaust manifold made out of thinner material. 🙁

If you spend the money for a quality long tube header you shouldn't have any problems. My Kook's 2" primary headers on my 455 fit just fine.
Yes they are tight in spots but the still clear everything with dinging them up.

 

[RITTER]

I think it would be interesting to see an actual dyno comparison using a shorty header - mid-length header - full-length header. Is the power advantage really noticeable for a steet car :?: I understand in drag racing, that 6hp gain can make a difference (just an example) But you are not going to feel 6hp difference on the street

I wouldn't agree completely with the "high flow exhaust mainfold" comment, these use the same 1 5/8" primary tubes as the rest of the "off the shelf" SBC headers :idea:

 

[DoubleV]

If you spend the money for a quality long tube header you shouldn't have any problems.

That's the problem. No one ever seems to want to shell out any money on a QUALITY set of headers. They spend thousands on an engine build then want to add $100 Flowtechs. Of course when you decide to do it right and actually spring for the high dollar headers, the 'bargain builders' tell you what an idiot you are for doing so!

The above is not directed at you RITTER, it's just a general observation.

BTW, if ARH didn't make a high quality header for Olds, I wouldn't be running headers right now because yeah, they can be a bigger headache than they're worth.

 

[tc1959]

I gave up on headers the always seem to become a pain in the *ss for one reason or another.
I put the manifolds back on my El Camino , Have had 0 issues after that.

 

[DoubleV]

I wouldn't agree completely with the "high flow exhaust mainfold" comment, these use the same 1 5/8" primary tubes as the rest of the "off the shelf" SBC headers :idea:

Yes, but a header is designed to scavenge the cylinders. It does this by isolating each exhaust port ( hence the individual tubes ) and then having them merge together into a collecter. The 'headers' shown in your pic can't do that. They are in fact just exhaust manifolds that kinda look like headers, but they might actually work better than any factory manifold who knows?

BTW, for you Chevy guys, the ram horn manifolds from the old Vettes are supposed to work pretty well ( as far as manifolds go ).

 

[RITTER]

BTW, for you Chevy guys, the ram horn manifolds from the old Vettes are supposed to work pretty well ( as far as manifolds go ).

I don't think you can clear the front crossmember with the "ram horn" manifolds :idea:

If you spend the money for a quality long tube header you shouldn't have any problems.

That's the problem. No one ever seems to want to shell out any money on a QUALITY set of headers. They spend thousands on an engine build then want to add $100 Flowtechs. Of course when you decide to do it right and actually spring for the high dollar headers, the 'bargain builders' tell you what an idiot you are for doing so!

The above is not directed at you RITTER, it's just a general observation.

But the biggest problem with FLOWTECH headers is their fitment issues ... right? I have never had fitment issues with my FLOWTECH's. I am simply stating that is a pain in the a$$ to install and remove long tube headers (remove the starter, jeck the car up 2 feet off the ground to feed the header in from underneath, after removing the starter and oil filter)

I understand the process and theory behind the equal length "tuned" headers. Is what I am trying to get at is that the headers don't really need to extend down to run along the transmission. You can have "tuned" shorty headers :idea:

 

[DoubleV]

BTW, for you Chevy guys, the ram horn manifolds from the old Vettes are supposed to work pretty well ( as far as manifolds go ).

I don't think you can clear the front crossmember with the "ram horn" manifolds :idea:

That may be true, I don't know.

But the biggest problem with FLOWTECH headers is their fitment issues ... right? I have never had fitment issues with my FLOWTECH's.

Then you're lucky because MANY have. How is it that the exact same set of headers can fit perfectly on one car and a different set fits like crap? The answer is manufacturing quality. How does one know if they're going to get a good set that fits, or ones that aren't even close?

Cheapo headers will also rust out, leak, bottome out, and are not made to make the most power. YMMV.

I am simply stating that is a pain in the a$$ to install and remove long tube headers (remove the starter, jeck the car up 2 feet off the ground to feed the header in from underneath, after removing the starter and oil filter)

Are you planning on installing/removing your headers often? If not, I wouldn't worry about it. My ARH fit so well that installation was not the headache it would've been had I used some el cheapos and I'm not planning on removing them so I'm not concerned about it.

I understand the process and theory behind the equal length "tuned" headers. Is what I am trying to get at is that the headers don't really need to extend down to run along the transmission. You can have "tuned" shorty headers :idea:

Yes, you don't NEED long tubes or for them to be true equal length, but they still need to be built like headers which means you need each exhaust port to have it's own tube which all merge into a collector. the 'headers' shown above are not built like this, so they simply cannot scavange. They may flow more volume than a stock manifold but they cannot scavange the cyliders in any way so they're not real headers.

The diameter and length of the tubes dictate the RPM they scavage the best. Being equal length just makes them more effective.