Input on building ls headers

[ILLSMOQ]

I’ve been looking at the different ways it’s been done and of course the biggest problem I see is getting around the steering shaft.

Weapons grade and JDL put the header primaries and collectors in the engine bay and then run a 3” out around the outside of the steering shaft. Biggest drawback I see with this setup is heat in the engine bay and maybe this hurts flow a bit with the pipes not being a straight shot back? It appears on the JDL set up they added heat shielding around the headers, I wonder if things were melting?







Even on the synergy motor they put the headers in the engine bay


Vorshlag and a few others have run the header primaries back and around the steering shaft to the collectors along side the transmission. I like this method for flow and getting heat out of the engine area but it’s super tight, looks like it will put a ton of heat on the rack and pinion where the shaft goes in and also super tight with the collectors next to the transmission.








Thoughts/input?

[gtpvette]

I'm not sure I have much to add,,, but have you looked at a Tri-Y header?? Maybe 2 pipes into 1 in the engine bay,,, then the remaining 2 into a collector by the tunnel. 2 - 2" tubes by the steering shaft will still be snug I'm sure.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...y-headers.html

[Deep Six]

In my case I've decided to go the LS route as well after too many issues with the FA20 in high G load conditions. However my power goals are 475- 500 crank maximum which I think I can achieve with just an LS3, mild cam and oem exhaust manifolds which should make fitment interference much less of an issue. Am I missing something?

[Summerwolf]

I dont know off hand of any commonly used ls longtubes that keep the collector in the engine bay. I would try and follow the path of a large gain header company as close as possible in designing the header and exhaust in general. I used kooks 1 7/8 headers two times and was impressed with the results and fitment. I bought a third set too but never put them on before selling the vehicle, lol. I would try and emulate that as close as possible.

[ILLSMOQ]

Originally Posted by gtpvette

I'm not sure I have much to add,,, but have you looked at a Tri-Y header?? Maybe 2 pipes into 1 in the engine bay,,, then the remaining 2 into a collector by the tunnel. 2 - 2" tubes by the steering shaft will still be snug I'm sure.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...y-headers.html

No I haven’t...definitely an option I should have explored but I already have $700.00 worth of Burns Stainless 4 into 1 collectors.

I’m using the pvc method, building a set putting the collector after the steering shaft, see how that looks

[DustinS]

Originally Posted by Deep Six

In my case I've decided to go the LS route as well after too many issues with the FA20 in high G load conditions. However my power goals are 475- 500 crank maximum which I think I can achieve with just an LS3, mild cam and oem exhaust manifolds which should make fitment interference much less of an issue. Am I missing something?

Driver side is going to be your issue. Most of the LS manifolds dump the exit into the steering shaft. The Vette LS3 manifolds and LS7 manifolds should work, though still need some possible modification.

[ILLSMOQ]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

I dont know off hand of any commonly used ls longtubes that keep the collector in the engine bay. I would try and follow the path of a large gain header company as close as possible in designing the header and exhaust in general. I used kooks 1 7/8 headers two times and was impressed with the results and fitment. I bought a third set too but never put them on before selling the vehicle, lol. I would try and emulate that as close as possible.

Cool I had Kooks on my viper and my Srt jeep. Really nice headers.

Looking at it from different angles, the whole point is to have long tubes. If I build the whole header to fit before the steering shaft they won’t be that long and they will be too close to the peripheral components possibly melting things.

So yeah, I think you’re right about trying to follow what the header companies do.

Interesting to note in examining all the big names in Corvette headers B&B was the only one I found out of all of them that sequenced the header primaries by firing order.

[ILLSMOQ]

Roughly put the “problem side” together.

Getting the tubes perfectly equal is going to be next to impossible....and not important enough to risk the hot tubes being to close to something that shouldn’t get too hot. Shortest tube will be within 4-5 inches of the longest tube.

Looking at what I’ve got...I’m seeing that the easiest way to get these in will be to support the motor and drop the cradle. Headers going up from the bottom.




Also looking at what I’ve got, I’m trying to decide if it would be better build them with air gaps in between the primaries or tighten up the whole unit?

Thoughts on tightness of the tubes?

[ILLSMOQ]

Headers came out great

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by ILLSMOQ

Headers came out great

LOL

[ILLSMOQ]

So change of plans. The pvc method looked promising but I think I had a bit of luck. A buddy of mine suggested I contact a local header company and see if they could build my headers. I knew of the company but I didn’t know they were local.

Sanderson headers, I called them up and sure enough backlogged until April...unless I could bring the car right now, they had a cancellation. Yep! Called another buddy with a tow truck and took the car down.

They had just finished building the headers for this ford.



So I think I’m in good hands.

Would have been fun to build my own but these guys do this for a living lol

Even got a tour of the factory

In case you ever wondered how they made the ceramic coated headers shine

They said they should have it done in about a week.

[Summerwolf]

Oh wow..... not only the locality but the opening.... lucky. They will definitely sort something out!

[Swift]

So your name is going to be on the kits they sell after mocking yours up now right

[ILLSMOQ]

Originally Posted by Swift

So your name is going to be on the kits they sell after mocking yours up now right

Haha, mine will most likely only work with vorshlag mounts...so not sure how many they would be selling....also... I’m going to be the one finalizing the design on these things. The whole system didn’t quite turn out as I wanted so I need to make some changes.