Making headers
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Making headers
Greetings all,
I was in a performance/racing parts store by me and saw some exhaust manifolds, or the begining of them anyway. They were just the thick flange with 4 3" long pipes coming out. I guess they're for making your own headers or just adding 'j' pipes to and sticking them up thru the hood.
So, since I need fenderwell headers for my 78 460/4x4 @ $400 a set, I thought I'd get a pair of these flanges and make my own for a lot less.
Has anyone seen these or done this? Can you use regular exhaust pipe or should it be thicker wall stuff? Or, have I just watched too many episodes of "Monster Garage"?
Thanks!
Kevin K.
I was in a performance/racing parts store by me and saw some exhaust manifolds, or the begining of them anyway. They were just the thick flange with 4 3" long pipes coming out. I guess they're for making your own headers or just adding 'j' pipes to and sticking them up thru the hood.
So, since I need fenderwell headers for my 78 460/4x4 @ $400 a set, I thought I'd get a pair of these flanges and make my own for a lot less.
Has anyone seen these or done this? Can you use regular exhaust pipe or should it be thicker wall stuff? Or, have I just watched too many episodes of "Monster Garage"?
Thanks!
Kevin K.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: s'toon sask
Making headers
I've made an entire set of headers from scratch minus collectors. (They didn't make headers for the paticular engine swap i was dealing with). If you have access to a tubing binder i don't think it would be very hard. I however,not having access to a tubing binder, had to miter all the angles right from the flange to the collectors. this proved to be a very big headache and I wouldn't do it again. they turned out okay, but there was alot of wasted material dew to mistakes when making compound angles. I used regular 1 7/8 exhaust pipe and painted it with VHT header paint. They've been on the vehicle 4 years now and I haven't had any problems.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
Likes: 1
From: Hampstead, NC
Making headers
I believe that the time and money you spend to build a set of headers the "correct" way would be better spent on the other headers (L&L's)
To build them right, get the flanges that have the short stubs welded to them already ($138 in Jegs), a lot of mandrel bent pieces of pipe in the size primary tube you want, most likely 1 7/8" (cost varies on how many pieces of tubing you get but most likely around $150) Then send them out to be coated so they don't rust right away ($150-$200). Last, but not least, is your time to build these things (many,many hours of frustration, measuring, cutting and lots of welding, not to mention more pre-bent tubing if you mess up a cut) If there is a header available for the vehicle/engine combo, I'd buy before I built a set. This is not to say that I wouldn't ever build a set of headers, I'm concidering this for my project Ranger, this is only my opinion.
To build them right, get the flanges that have the short stubs welded to them already ($138 in Jegs), a lot of mandrel bent pieces of pipe in the size primary tube you want, most likely 1 7/8" (cost varies on how many pieces of tubing you get but most likely around $150) Then send them out to be coated so they don't rust right away ($150-$200). Last, but not least, is your time to build these things (many,many hours of frustration, measuring, cutting and lots of welding, not to mention more pre-bent tubing if you mess up a cut) If there is a header available for the vehicle/engine combo, I'd buy before I built a set. This is not to say that I wouldn't ever build a set of headers, I'm concidering this for my project Ranger, this is only my opinion.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Making headers
Rcmgiasson,
I don't have a bender either and planed on mitering/welding the bends (I did my whole exhaust system that way [link:http://www.brayarch.com/~kevin/truck/jan2aug02.html:see it here]). I'd love to see some pics if you have any.
Where would I look for the collector?
Mike,
I hear what you're saying, but I can't justify the $400 l&l's at this point. The flanges are in the $70-$80 range at this place and I can get two 10' pieces of pipe for about $10-$15 each. Finding the time is the tough part, but I'm not in a hurry.
BTW, that ranger looks awesome! What size are those tires?
Thanks all!
K.
I don't have a bender either and planed on mitering/welding the bends (I did my whole exhaust system that way [link:http://www.brayarch.com/~kevin/truck/jan2aug02.html:see it here]). I'd love to see some pics if you have any.
Where would I look for the collector?
Mike,
I hear what you're saying, but I can't justify the $400 l&l's at this point. The flanges are in the $70-$80 range at this place and I can get two 10' pieces of pipe for about $10-$15 each. Finding the time is the tough part, but I'm not in a hurry.
BTW, that ranger looks awesome! What size are those tires?
Thanks all!
K.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: s'toon sask
Making headers
I have 3 vehicles with exhaust done that way (mitering and welding) and thats why i thought i could build headers farily easily. Not true, after banging my head against the wall I finally had to get my dad to help. he's a journeymen pipefitter and welder and even he was scratching his head at times. I don't recommend doing it this way. As for the collecters I cut them off a good set of headers that had cracked around the flanges. i don't have any pictures on hand and I don't have a digital camera. However I will take some pictures with a normal camera, but it will take some time to get them developed, and I'll see if I can borrow a friends scanner so i can post them.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
Likes: 1
From: Hampstead, NC
Making headers
Kevin, thanks for the copliment on the Ranger. Those tires are 14.3/26, about 53" tall. For collectors, don't know where to find them. Maybe that shop that has the flanges can help on that. If i find some, I'll let you know.
