All things NOT being equal.

[INVU2]

Hello Everyone,

I just discovered that the headers for my BBC are equal in length but each side is different in overall distance.

The drivers side looks good with the collector on. The passenger side (the same size collector) the collector is too long.

I occurred to me that both sides of the engine is not symmetrical.

Should I just make the collector smaller on the passenger side & kept the same space between the tire and the collector as on the drivers side?

-OR-

Do I have headers that may have been originally used for a different application.

They were on my unfinished project when I purchased it. Both collectors were inside a box and not installed.

Are new sets the same on both Passenger & Driver in profile. -OR- does the manufacture usually account for this difference?

Thanks
-Eric

 

[Ted Brown]

Hello Everyone,

I just discovered that the headers for my BBC are equal in length but each side is different in overall distance.

The drivers side looks good with the collector on. The passenger side (the same size collector) the collector is too long.

I occurred to me that both sides of the engine is not symmetrical.

Should I just make the collector smaller on the passenger side & kept the same space between the tire and the collector as on the drivers side?

-OR-

Do I have headers that may have been originally used for a different application.

They were on my unfinished project when I purchased it. Both collectors were inside a box and not installed.

Are new sets the same on both Passenger & Driver in profile. -OR- does the manufacture usually account for this difference?

Thanks
-Eric

As long as both sides are pretty much the same, I would not worry that one side is closer to the rear tire than the other, after all, you can;t see both sides at once anyway... A difference in length could make it off balance other wise, if you want more HP out of your headers, and they are not plated or coated as yet... I would install a 2"ID balance tube between the two collectors, before the squeeze. Better sound and a good bump in power... Drive safe

 

[INVU2]

Thanks for responding Ted!

The problem is I can't get the collector on with the rear tire on.

I think I should trim off about an inch on the header lip and cut down the collector and have it re-flanged before the muffler baffle.

It seem like a lot of work for a problem I would think that others would experience with running a BBC.

My only fear is to cut and change this and find out I overlooked something.

Thanks
-Eric

 

[GT63]

Thanks for responding Ted!

The problem is I can't get the collector on with the rear tire on.

I think I should trim off about an inch on the header lip and cut down the collector and have it re-flanged before the muffler baffle.

It seem like a lot of work for a problem I would think that others would experience with running a BBC.

My only fear is to cut and change this and find out I overlooked something.

Thanks
-Eric

Speedway sells a 26" turnout and a 20" turnout. I prefer the 20" turnouts myself. Less chance of burning my leg on a hot one.

 

[putz]

And if it is that close to the tire it is not good for the tire.I would follow GT63 advice shorter turnouts. Also nothing like that first tbucket tattoo on your leg from the exhaust it kinda burns into your brain that is hot.

 

[Ted Brown]

If it is a turn out, it should not be pointing AT your tire, right?? If it is pointing or getting your tire HOT, you could put a small baffle inside the turn, like a snow fence works, this will turn the exhaust away from the tire and out to the side more... A 6" difference will make for a louder sound, not real fun on a long ride... Take the tire off the install the collectors... but make darn sure that they can't fall off, lock them on with a positive mount... :foottap:

 

[INVU2]

Hello all,

My collectors are 20 inches long and had a 15 inch baffle inside of it. They both needed to be replaced. I ordered a 12 inch baffle to replace the 15. I am going to take about an inch off the header lip and cut back the collector. I then will have a muffler shop re-flange the collector end. The drivers side has about 3 inches from the edge of the turnout to the tire. I think I may try to increase this by an inch and then make the passenger side match the drivers side. Ted, I did order a good collector mount that I will weld to the collector and the header. The year that I didn't put up the snow fence I got the plow truck stuck in the driveway 5 times. The snow was up to the bottom of the windows. Drifting snow is about as bad as running over your own collector.

-Eric

 

[Ted Brown]

Hello all,

My collectors are 20 inches long and had a 15 inch baffle inside of it. They both needed to be replaced. I ordered a 12 inch baffle to replace the 15. I am going to take about an inch off the header lip and cut back the collector. I then will have a muffler shop re-flange the collector end. The drivers side has about 3 inches from the edge of the turnout to the tire. I think I may try to increase this by an inch and then make the passenger side match the drivers side. Ted, I did order a good collector mount that I will weld to the collector and the header. The year that I didn't put up the snow fence I got the plow truck stuck in the driveway 5 times. The snow was up to the bottom of the windows. Drifting snow is about as bad as running over your own collector.

-Eric

When I used to live in Minnesota, we had the same snow problem.. and yes I have seen the results of a tire hitting and then running over a stinger, the collector is the short part (welded to the header tubes) that holds the 4 pipes and has the squeeze down, so the stinger with muffler hooks to that. If you are doing all this welding, this is the time to add a 2" ID crossover tube, before the squeeze, lots of free extra ponies) Drive safe...