Building Header's

[JEFF STRUBE]

I am building header's for my 70 Buick. What is the Best Tube Lenght? Does Eqaul Lenght make a big Different's. I would like to here from you guy's that have Made header's or no alot about them. I am building them for TA Stage 3 head's

[Buicks 4 Speed]

Can't say there is a magic number once you start going with a power-adder. I will say I have seen plenty of Low 8 sec 10" tire small blocks under 400cu in running 2 1/8" and 2 1/4" primary tube headers and is doesn't seem to slow them down at all. They seem to run in the area of 30-36" so I wouldn't recommend anything smaller on a serious race big block.

[71stage1conv]

Will make a difference in the upper rpm range, that is the reason shortys don't perform as well as full length.

[alan]

When I built headers for my turbocharged 455 I couldn't find any information concerning tube length or diameter, and I still don't know what's best! I went with 1 3/4" tube (I know, seems WAY too small!!!) and a couple of tubes are about 12" long, but it seems to work!

I know it's not apples to apples, but I wonder how critical tube dia, length, etc are?

A friend of mine built headers for his blown street driven big block using 2 1/8" primaries and 4" collectors with 4" exhaust. Seems the number 1 rule for blown cars is to get the exhaust out and let the blower work!

[BillMah52]

Jeff,
Many factors to take into account. N/A or power adder? Displacement, rpm at peak hp, exhaust valve opening in degrees. Street/strip or strictly race?
Most tube lengths for big block engines fall in the 36-40 inch range. Diameter from 1.75" - 2.25" depending on the setup and formula.

[JEFF STRUBE]

Jeff,
Many factors to take into account. N/A or power adder? Displacement, rpm at peak hp, exhaust valve opening in degrees. Street/strip or strictly race?
Most tube lengths for big block engines fall in the 36-40 inch range. Diameter from 1.75" - 2.25" depending on the setup and formula.


I am trying to get the Best of both world's 2 1/4 header's 464 engine with Nitrous and with out. I want it to run good on the Motor and nitrous 36-40 inch range is this with the 12inchcollector. I am not building Equal Length header's. What are the Lenght's of the Stock Stage 2 header's. I don't think they are Equal Length

[Gary Kubisch]

My 2.125 TA's are not equal length...........Just a quick check shows them to be 40'' for the longer tubes and under 30'' for the shorter tubes.

I guess now would be the time to address this,I have a set of merge collectors to step up to 4" exhaust.
Should I try to even up some of the length's?

[BillMah52]

Most prefab headers do not have equal tube lengths because of "universal" fit conditions. The T/A's are most likely made to fit in cars with inner fenders.
If room permits, trying to have equal length primaries are an advantage.
With the exhaust gas from the port there is also a pulse that needs to be addressed. You want to evacuate the expanding gasses quickly while reducing the amount of pulse deflection back towards the head.
This is why bigger is not always better.
Gary - If you can supply a buttload of info on your build I can make a recommendation. Are you thinking of cutting the T/A's or building a set?
Which merge collector do you have? 4-1, 4-2-1? Diameter?
Jeff - Same goes for you. Feel like answering a bunch of questions?

[JEFF STRUBE]

Shure Bill Thanks 2 1/4tubes 464 with 14to1 compression 4-1 collector with 4 inch exhaust. Stage 3 TA heads. My question is how long should they be before the 12 inch collector

[10sec 455]

When I built headers for my turbocharged 455 I couldn't find any information concerning tube length or diameter, and I still don't know what's best! I went with 1 3/4" tube (I know, seems WAY too small!!!) and a couple of tubes are about 12" long, but it seems to work!

I know it's not apples to apples, but I wonder how critical tube dia, length, etc are?

A friend of mine built headers for his blown street driven big block using 2 1/8" primaries and 4" collectors with 4" exhaust. Seems the number 1 rule for blown cars is to get the exhaust out and let the blower work!

Alan,
I think you need to build a new set of headers about a 1/2" bigger od.

[Gary Kubisch]

Jeff,
Many factors to take into account. N/A or power adder? Displacement, rpm at peak hp, exhaust valve opening in degrees. Street/strip or strictly race?
Most tube lengths for big block engines fall in the 36-40 inch range. Diameter from 1.75" - 2.25" depending on the setup and formula.


My new deal that I refer to as "PLAN B".........

4.35 bore 4" atroke for 476CI
13.5 to 1 +/-
Will be NA, with a max of 7000-7200 RPM capability
Ex. valve opens at 63 degrees
This will be a race engine.....If you need more info,Let me know what exactly and I'll post it.

Thanks Bill

[10sec 455]

Here is a set of Buick 350 headers I built about 10 years ago.

[Gary Kubisch]

Here is a set of Buick 350 headers I built about 10 years ago.

Where did you get them coated?
Very "earthy"
:HI: :ROLL:

[10sec 455]

Where did you get them coated?
Very "earthy"
:HI: :ROLL:

Send yours to me I can do them cheap.:GT:

[alan]

Alan,
I think you need to build a new set of headers about a 1/2" bigger od.

2 1/4"? Ouch!!!! :WOW: I figure one day I'll upgrade to stage II heads and this will make the headers eaiser to build. With the stage 1 heads I had to use fabricated solid engine mounts to get enough room for the pipes to miss everything, even with the 1 3/4" tube. I'm aiming for Bulldog block, stage II heads, 160lb per hr injectors and an intercooler. I just hope I live long enough to see it! :E:

[10sec 455]

2 1/4"? Ouch!!!! :WOW: I figure one day I'll upgrade to stage II heads and this will make the headers eaiser to build. With the stage 1 heads I had to use fabricated solid engine mounts to get enough room for the pipes to miss everything, even with the 1 3/4" tube. I'm aiming for Bulldog block, stage II heads, 160lb per hr injectors and an intercooler. I just hope I live long enough to see it! :E:

Yah, stage 2 heads will help out alot when it comes time to make bigger headers. That must have been a bear fitting those tubes to the stage 1's.

[alan]

Yep, 2 1/4" tubes would have been a hoot! :DOU:

[Mike Atwood]

Yep, 2 1/4" tubes would have been a hoot! :DOU:

Holy cow...... that looks like a bunch of snakes....... making baby snakes! Hey, those'll fit in a car with A/C...... right? :LAUGH:

[Jim Rodgers]

Here is a set of Buick 350 headers I built about 10 years ago.

I like the old HOOKER emblem on #1. :LAUGH:

[10sec 455]

I like the old HOOKER emblem on #1. :LAUGH:

They started out as Hooker v8 monza headers that I chopped up into little bits and welded back together.

[alan]

Holy cow...... that looks like a bunch of snakes....... making baby snakes! Hey, those'll fit in a car with A/C...... right? :LAUGH:

That needs to be my goal on the next set, 2 1/4" tubes and works with AC! :TU:

Do you think there would be a market for them? :LAUGH:

[Rick]

2 1/4" have to be tight with a factory steering arm. Rob Chilenski, Stage 1 Auto did mine up with 2 1/8" primaries and we still had to trim the steering arm (see arrow). It is extremely tight! I am pretty sure he bought the flange from TA and then bought the tubes from Summit. I don't know the lengths, but I did know he tried his darnest to keep the tubes close to equal length. Sort of copied the Hooker design with one tube going over the frame.

What had happened was at the dyno with Rob, the machinist, Doug Hecker and myself the engine dynoed 751 with hooker 2" headers. We only did a swap, no tuning to using Rob's 2 1/8th inch headers borrowed from his GS that he made. The very next pull netted a 29.8 hp gain! No doubt Rob was told then, that either he builds me a set ASAP or I'm keeping his. Rob did build me a set. With the Stage 1 TE heads, we figured that the larger exhaust breathing is what woke up the car. I can only imagine what 2 1/4 would do, but there is no way it would have fit even with no fender wells, way too much work making the tube going over the steering arm. Unfortunately we didn't have a set to try on the dyno.

[10sec 455]

Rick,
2 1/4" will fit if you fabricate a new steering shaft. All you need is a couple steering joints in there. I would suggest 2 1/8" to 2 1/4" step headers with merge collectors.

[Jim Rodgers]

Has anyone looked at slotting the Steering Column bracket, and sliding the steering column over a 1/16 th or so to make more room? Seems doable to me.