Headers project has begun!

[NZGTRA17]

Originally Posted by eric1h

Thanks guys, I do plan to coat them and also header wrap them to help with heat...

The heads are going out Going to go out each side like before. Not going to try and takle that project!

Already working on. Jig to replicate, Devin is already bugging me to make another set and I haven't Sven finished the first set yet. Lol

Eric, I had my headers, secondary pipes and secondary collector coated. Coating cuts back radiated heat quite a bit but the engine bay is still naturally hot. This has not caused any probs for me even with running 6 hours continuous.

You can use header wrap as well over the coated pipes but I suspect that you will find this will void any warranty on the coating system and is likely to discolour and mark the coating (and may even cause the coating to flake off). I have only used header wrap at the start of 1 primary (to protect power steer pump line from heat) and also the whole secondary pipe that goes across the top of the bellhousing in my setup.

I have also found header wrap quite expensive, particularly if you use it in areas where you need to take it off to disassemble the exhaust system if you are removing the engine. The header wrap gets brittle and comes apart when you remove it necessitating replacement at each engine refitment.

Another thing to consider before you get to start up stage is how long you run the engine with the system fitted prior to getting it coated. For the coating system I used, they preferred to have had the headers fitted and run but not for long and to have them after that ASAP.

Kel.

[Panoz26]

Originally Posted by eric1h

Thanks guys, I do plan to coat them and also header wrap them to help with heat...

The heads are going out Going to go out each side like before. Not going to try and takle that project!

Already working on. Jig to replicate, Devin is already bugging me to make another set and I haven't Sven finished the first set yet. Lol

I read this a few times, wondering what the hell it was you are trying to spit out....maybe, put the drink down and clear your thoughts... or .. come over when Alexandra's doing her spelling homework and I can help you out too.!!

Bugging - hell yea, since the piping will be here tomorrow, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Devin

[PanozDuke]

I think somebody tried the 351W headers from Panoz and they worked fine on the GTRA even though the deck height is different. Bolt pattern and exhaust ports are the same. Might have to tweak the exhaust bracket a little. The trouble with the PAD headers is they are about $1000. As far as I know the header project didn't happen. If it had been done in a batch I thought it could have been done for less than $1000 a set. Maybe everyone just got the PAD version.

Mike

[feqrags]

Originally Posted by PanozDuke

I think somebody tried the 351W headers from Panoz and they worked fine on the GTRA even though the deck height is different. Bolt pattern and exhaust ports are the same. Might have to tweak the exhaust bracket a little. The trouble with the PAD headers is they are about $1000. As far as I know the header project didn't happen. If it had been done in a batch I thought it could have been done for less than $1000 a set. Maybe everyone just got the PAD version.

Mike

Mike, called PAD and they don't keep or have them (headers) said moved to slow to keep..sold only one set last year. Josh gave me the number of Headman in GA, they acted like it was history but will check, said PAD was supposed to buy 10 at a time, but had not lived up to their side. Still trying to see if they will make them.??? need a set ..Bill

[eric1h]

Some pics pics... i got the passenger side all fab'd up... much more "exciting" lol

Looks like a water slide, but I was able to match the tube length on the drivers side pretty close!









Still need to add a little more length to the runners and then add the collector, but it fits pretty well, but I had to remove the oil filter in order to squeeze them out.

[Cobra4B]

Sweet

[PanozDuke]

The Hedman/Pad headers were not equal length, no attempt to get them even close. They just welded long tubes pretty much straight to the side through the upper and lower frame tubes and slapped a collector. My bet is that Hedman has a fixture and tube patterns. They were worth about half of what they cost which explains why they didn't sell. The way Eric is doing his is the best way to really pick up some flow and evacuation.

With the Hedman's no longer a player, maybe someone will fab a set of equal lengths and actually make fixtures for production and sell about 10 sets. I know I'd be interested. When Cobra Fang (Tom) did his, patterned after Kel's 8 into 1 design; it cost him a mint because it was a one-off and done by a super fabricator, not a full time header professional. No fixture was made so set number 2 will cost just as much as the prototype. Opportunity missed in my opinion.

If you find a reasonable solution, let us know. My shorties are really not up to supporting any hp increases.

Mike

[eric1h]

Originally Posted by PanozDuke

The Hedman/Pad headers were not equal length, no attempt to get them even close. They just welded long tubes pretty much straight to the side through the upper and lower frame tubes and slapped a collector. My bet is that Hedman has a fixture and tube patterns. They were worth about half of what they cost which explains why they didn't sell. The way Eric is doing his is the best way to really pick up some flow and evacuation.

With the Hedman's no longer a player, maybe someone will fab a set of equal lengths and actually make fixtures for production and sell about 10 sets. I know I'd be interested. When Cobra Fang (Tom) did his, patterned after Kel's 8 into 1 design; it cost him a mint because it was a one-off and done by a super fabricator, not a full time header professional. No fixture was made so set number 2 will cost just as much as the prototype. Opportunity missed in my opinion.

If you find a reasonable solution, let us know. My shorties are really not up to supporting any hp increases.

Mike

If I can get my hands on a RA car I might be able to mock up s set and make a jig for it if there is enough interest

Not sure I can make them in bulk , I could probably get 4-5 sets out i initially,,,,

What woulda reasonable price for a custom designed headers? To see if its worth my while.....?

[PanozDuke]

Eric,
If I can not get Kel's old set in February or shortly thereafter, I'd be a buyer. When Tom and I were trying to get a few sets (about 5) to sell, we had in mind a target price of $1000 per set in bare metal, figuring on the coating and the rest of the exhaust taking another $700 or so. Now this was for the 8 into 1 system out the passenger side. I'd think the header fab would be about the same for equal lengths out both sides with the ability to use most of the original exhaust if desired. Anyone with a stroker or even a hopped up 302 needs these to get anything like the potential power available. Relocating the oil filter a la the GTS is no big deal. My fall back position is out both sides like you are doing, but there is significant advantage in going out the passenger side and getting an X pipe in there. Not to mention cockpit heat and noise. Either way it would be a big step up.

Mike