brrymnvette

There is no way i am going to spend over a grand for a set of tubes welded together. So I will make them. I work in a pipe warehouse so tubing is 5 finger discount. I have a set of heads sitting here so the flanges will be easy. I need help with the rest. Any measurements you guys can give me will be grreatly appreceiated. I am going to do long tube headers. I ma not some average joe so, dont think Im an idiot. I need overall height (bottom of collector to top of tubes, not top of flange), overall lenght ( front of first primary to back of collector). any measurement you can think of. i will probably use 1-5/8 tube. THANKS!
I am going to use 1-7/8 and try to do a step like brerathless perf. so I can get as close to equal lenght as possible. I am also going to build them out of 316 stainless, sch 10. I haven't decided on a collector yet but I have decided to do a belanger setup instead of a breathless. Thanks guys!


[Modified by brrymnvette, 3:08 AM 2/18/2003]


[Modified by brrymnvette, 12:39 AM 2/19/2003]

speedjohnson

You poor son of a gun! We'll be praying for you.

blktie8

1 3/4 if you're going to all that trouble

Check out hoover on the corvette 100 sight
He built his own big block headers , Phil might help you figure it all out

rrobert22

So now all average Joes are idiots :mad .............. :jester
May the force be with you young padawan :lolg:

gojo

:banghead: :lolg: Sorry!

MikeV

You da man! :D
If you are going to do this.. be smart. You get the dimensions and build at least 2 sets... the pretty set for you and one for you to sell to pay for the Jet Hot coatings :cheers:
More power to you! That is exactly the kind of thinking that makes this country of ours great!

Tell us.. no better yet take lots of pictures along the way and post them!
Good Luck :cheers:

MikeV

1g1yy

:iagree: You are so right -- headers for C5's are seriously overpriced!! I get really PO'ed when I see a post from a vendor for a GP on headers for $1000+++ and they act like we are supposed to be all thankful and excited! And then what really gets me is how invariably some member will post a reply patting them on the back and saying how good a price this is. Yeah right!! :rolleyes: Like they want to do us a favor! Wise up people -- these folks are making big $$$$ on every set of headers they sell at these prices.

I would love a set of LT's but I will not pay these prices. I'll wait for a good used set. :yesnod: :cheers:

rgregory

I have built headers before it is time consuming and will be a pain to verify clearances. But I agree price is too high for them. Just ordered a sent from someone on the forum used, $300 for shorties. I just made my own big brake kit since I though all those were overpriced...

Worry more about equal length than actual length. You will not be hitting any of the "nodes" that really add power unless you run the tubes like half way down the car. So make them equal with good transistions.

Good luck

brrymnvette

NO, average Joes are not idiots, they have most of the best innovations. It's just that when people see that I'm 22, they think I'm some stupid punk who doesn't know any better.

hogurt

Hey, I am in the St. Louis area and I would love to see what you come up with.

The real key is to make sure that all of the tubes are the same length. Most of the Corvette headers have 1 3/4" primary tube. I am not sure, but I believe that they generally go down to the 3" collector? Someone else can confirm.

wickedvette

The trick will be clearance issues on the passenger side. Not much room and very, very tight.

Black99Corvette

It's the DIYers that make this hobby what it is. A friend of mine from Greenville SC made his own and they look, and perform GREAT! OK so here's what you do. Build a set that works like you want, build more and charge half the $$$ of these other guys....Retire early....I'd buy em... :cheers:

Coolvet

I suggest 1 5/8" tubing as this will work best at low and mid-range performance. If you want all out top-end performance...go with 1 3/4". The other benefit of the smaller pipes is that they will be easier to fit in, especially the passenger side. I am also building a set of headers for my 1958 Vette which is fitted with an LS6 and T56 transmission. I am building mine with tubes that will be approximately 32 inches long. Ceramic coating inside and out will significantly reduce the under-hood heat. Hope that helps.

quimbo

Keep us posted if they do come out good and work fine I agree with
Black99Corvette put me down for a set

QUIMBO :seeya :seeya :seeya :party: SEEYAAAH

J-Rod

Here is a good article on header construction.
http://www.burnsstainless.com/TechAr...struction.html

Chevrolet has found that 32" is the optimal length for primaries. You can buy flanges from several different vendors.

One question, are you doing them in mild steel or stainless? Also, what kind of collector are you going to use? I had considered getting some used headers to get me past the engine compartment portion (the toughest part to fab), and then cutting them off. FRom there, I would weld up the rest of the system to the length I wanted...

WildKarrde

:thumbs: Good luck to you. I love it when someone makes their own part because no one makes what they want.

Bill Curlee

Remember back a few years (1998-1999) when the shortie headers were the talk of the town and they were $1200. and ONLY gave you 10-12 HP :eek: :eek: I wanted a set SOOOOO bad but could not see shelling out that much money for so little of an increase in HP. Mine were going on a stock engine. Man I'm glad that I waited. The LT's are so much better! :thumbs:
The price should start to come down one of these days. (I HOPE!!!)

Good luck on your header project. I want to do something about the same as you. I want to port my own heads. I am still doing research. I get a lot of people who think I'm crazy and tell me to send them to the "Professionals" with my $$$,$$$. When it's all done I will have a set of heads that will flow about the same as the professional ported heads. (Yea I know! You cant do the same job as a CNC machine!!!!) So I miss getting 4 extra HP. It's still better than stock! :D

Bill

VetNutJim

To do this REALLY RIGHT........
Plan on making one set of PARTS for patterns.
Then make as many as you care to sell to folks on here . . . .

There's a LOT of folks on that boat who would like a set of headers for a "reasonable" price.

kewlbrz

Just curious, I assume the motor GM found 32 inches to be good for is the 346ci LS1? As I beleive this would change with different LSx displacments etc.

Also, great idea on the cheap header install, and adding tubes to desired length.

SoCal C5

I aggree that C5 header prices are too high. That is one of the main reasons that I do not have a set. I used to know of a few shops that would custom make a set of on of a kind headers headers for $800-1000. So a production header, even a low volume one like the C5, should cost less.