Lets talk headers
 

Ok, your thoughts? SS 327-275hp 3rd gen Camaro, 1 7/8 no step or 1 3/4-1 7/8 - 2in 3 step/ Both with merge collectors. Running in fair to bad air all season. Better set?

Re: Lets talk headers
 

My thoughts,....HBB....headers by Ben....

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Step is the way to go

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Does Ben have a phone number ?

Re: Lets talk headers
 

I have 1 7/8 straight with 3.5 inch collectors on my 327 275/295 combo running SS/IA. Runs Ok but I think a smaller header would help. 1 3/4 step would most likely be better. Maybe even 1 5/8.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

You might as well be talking about sax and politics!

Re: Lets talk headers
 

no maybe definitely! Most run headers that are not one but two pipe sizes too big.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Mike on my 327 250 hp i have 15/8 13/4 3 " I tryed 13/4 to 1 7/8 3.5 moved peak power up but lost 10. I think 1 3/4 1 7/8 with 3 1/4 collector. my 250 is the small valve eng.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Mike, I have a set of coated Hedman Hustlers that we put a set of Stahl flanges for my SS HeadsUp! heads, that are 1 3/4"-1 7/8" steps you can try & buy if you like them. My LT1 much prefers 1 7/8" no-steps. I started with 1 7/8" Hedman on my 383" street/race engine. More power & faster than my SS 350". All my SS friends around here told me I needed step headers. The 1 7/8" Hedmans hit the ground on hard landings, and hung up backing out of the trailer, needed tucked up closer to the floor of the car. The steps slowed my SS 350" down. I learned Jere Stahl made headers for our model now. Always used Stahl's on my old race cars. Got to know him back then, when the NHRA World Finals were run here at Tulsa. I called Jere, he wanted dyno sheets & time slips. Sent all that. He calls me to tell me "Your car does not want step headers". I had not told him what I found testing them. He had started building steps at that time. I saw so many around here with them, guess my old mind thought that was the new thing I needed. Back-to-backed them, same day, at the track, then thinking it needed tuned differently, a day on the dyno.
Jere said it MIGHT like 1 7/8"-2" steps, but kinda doubted it. Won't say why I no longer have the 1 7/8" Stahl's, but they certainly were faster than the steps I tested.
Ditto "Merge collectors", more wasted money testing that.
Not all SS cars like the same thing. Different cylinder head shops & different cams, etc.
if your header plates have the Stahl bolt pattern, I can send you these Hedman 1 3/4"-1 7/8" steps. Have to use your own collectors. Could save you wasting money like I did.
I could meet you somewhere with them, or ship them. Maybe your 327" will like them.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

How did you come up with that? Do you not realize most Stock & Super Stock racers actually test these things? Unlike bracket most racers. I have seen many EFI cars like larger tubes than carbureted engines. Mine is enough faster with 1 7/8" than 1 3/4" (including 13/4"-1 7/8" steps) , I am not too sure it would not like 2" headers in good air.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

most don't test today, they rely on what their competitors with a similar combo run, what they've read on an internet forum, evident by this thread ;) and/or what companies like Burns tell them they need and even then experts aren't always right.

I remember a lengthly conversation I had one night with Jere Stahl who refused to believe I ran as quick as I did with 1 3/4" primary tubes on my 700HP 468.

The fact remains that most run headers that are not one but two pipe sizes too big.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Might do some testing and find that in bad air a small two step tube with no merge would be the ticket. Don't fall for the bling of a merge unless you like to pay for bling. Better test & test some more... You could be leaving a lot on the table, esp when you bring preconceived ideas of what is best. Last July I was dyno testing a Drag Pack engine at BES and put my smaller 2 step non merge headers on and with their best merge/big tube tune it had a 25 HP average better between peak Tq and Peak HP and was only down 1 HP at peak. They also had 17 higher Tq. and a longer run at peak Tq number. Point is... Test and let the engine tell you what it wants..

Re: Lets talk headers
 

X2!

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Many SS guys around here do Test. Usually 2 or 3 of us split track rental costs here at Tulsa Raceway Park. Personally, I am not aquanted with anybody fast that does not test a couple times a year.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

I would agree that a lot of guys are probably running headers too big. FWIW I run 1.875 ( no steps ) with the std. 3.5 collectors on mine.......and at 3000lbs I've been a 9.32@ 144 with my 377. That probably puts me around 700ish with a 1.875 pipe. I would start with 1.750 on a low HP combo for sure.


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Re: Lets talk headers
 

Joe, please check you PM, ref 377

Re: Lets talk headers
 

Joe who?

Re: Lets talk headers
 

joespanova

my bad, I thought your name is Joe. I apologize.

AnyWho, I want to know about your 377 - 700 horse buildup

Re: Lets talk headers
 

LOL .......It is Joe.......I didn't get any PM.
What would you like to know?

Re: Lets talk headers
 

please check again

Re: Lets talk headers
 

How many use Elston for headers?

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Last time I looked @ Elston's website, there were 50+ stock and super stock racers in his customer photo gallery.

Re: Lets talk headers
 

I'm very happy with mine. If you want to really get into header theory and optimize your combo to the headers, Calvin will help you out. -Al

Re: Lets talk headers
 

I second Alan's opinion. You will not go wrong with Calvin.