Long Tube Headers for GT-RA

[Blue Streak 21]

I've been wondering about changing out the shorty headers I have on my GT-RA for long tube headers? Does anyone know what brand the WS cars use? I would expect some modifications will be required to the "plumbing" that attaches the header to the muffler, but that seems pretty straight forward. It's finding a manufacturered long tube header (preferably 1 3/4" diameter primaries) so I don't have to go with custom fabricated headers.
Any help/info from forum members can offer will be great. Thanks in advance.
Jerry

[NZGTRA17]

Jerry, the GTS headers are custom Hedman items built for Panoz. I have contacted Panoz, they are available through them and cost USD$1,067.

[Blue Streak 21]

Originally Posted by NZGTRA17

Jerry, the GTS headers are custom Hedman items built for Panoz. I have contacted Panoz, they are available through them and cost USD$1,067.

Wow. Thanks for the quick response. That doesn't sound too terrible a price. I'll contact Panoz and see about getting the spec's on the headers.

[eric1h]

Originally Posted by NZGTRA17

Jerry, the GTS headers are custom Hedman items built for Panoz. I have contacted Panoz, they are available through them and cost USD$1,067.

So those shorty things we have on our cars are custom made? hmmmm, not impressed!

[Gatorac]

The headers on the GTRA cars are standard Mustang shorty headers. The headers like the pic below that come on the GTS cars are custom made. The GTS cars did have a 351 so the deck height will be different then the 5.0 in the GTRA. The headers will most likely not fit properly. (Photo lifted from www.wirewheel.com where they have these cars for sale.)

[NZGTRA17]

I have just finished making a full set of 1 3/4" primary tuned length headers along with a new exhaust system. The whole job took about 40 hours to complete. I found that there is a reasonable amount of room to accomodate this type of header in our cars, even with the quite long 36" primaries that I have put together.

I took the drivers side across the back of the engine via a 3" secondary pipe, the secondaries merge into a single 4" pipe that runs through 4" Flowmaster and down the passenger side of the car (as I will be using the car for endurance racing I wanted to get the exhaust away from the driver side of the car, pick up as much torque as possible via merging the 2 cyl banks and to also improve the tone of the car).

The trickiest bit is wrapping the passenger side primaries around to achieve the equal length but still merge on the same side while keeping primaries and secondaries all the same length.

I will post dyno results when runs completed (2 - 3 weeks time). Car sounds fantastic but hp/torque gains were the reason for the effort so will wait and see what we have netted from our labours.

If anyone wants pictures of the finished system let me know and I can e mail to you.

[coach0187]

I.d sure like to see pics of this. [email protected]

[boothkc]

Not sure this is all that worthwhile. The newer GTS Hedman headers are good for about 20hp on a 400+hp engine. The old style were similar to the GTRA/short tube headers. I doubt you would notice any real flow performance gains given that the GTRA cars only make about 230rwhp (my car on dyno). I guess if you are planning on building up the 302 then maybe. If you are really interested in this then order the Hedmans from Panoz and have a local header maker extend them to compensate for the more narrow 302. Not too big a job.

[Cobra4B]

Interesting thread... we're re-doing the top end of our 302 after running the Synergy Racing Fall Fling in 2 weeks at VIR.

Going to stick with the shorties and see what kind of power she makes for now.

Going with AFR 165s, a custom Ed Curtis cam, and a carb setup to replace the FI.

Simple, light, effective, easy to work on is our goal here.