Equal length headers

[1000MileStylez]

has anyone used equal length v6 headers from heddmen or hooker, switched the sides so they face the front and made a y-pipe to the turbo? I have a set i bought a long time ago i was thinking of still doing that setup. Just wondering if it will give me an advantage over using regular A/M GN headers. since there is no cross over pipe.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

has anyone used equal length v6 headers from heddmen or hooker, switched the sides so they face the front and made a y-pipe to the turbo? I have a set i bought a long time ago i was thinking of still doing that setup. Just wondering if it will give me an advantage over using regular A/M GN headers. since there is no cross over pipe.

I would imagine yes it would give you an advantage instead of having to combine the first three exhaust pulses from one side up into the three on the other side. I currently have a similar setup on my subaru WRX. It is an equal length header which if anyone is familiar in the WRX is not stock. The wrx/sti used unequal length headers which cause a "boxer rumble". Well thats what everyone called it. However, the equal lengths did make more power by preventing the exhaust pulses from "colliding". Id say give it a shot and see what it nets you. It sounds like a good idea.

Scott

 

[JayC]

has anyone used equal length v6 headers from heddmen or hooker, switched the sides so they face the front and made a y-pipe to the turbo? I have a set i bought a long time ago i was thinking of still doing that setup. Just wondering if it will give me an advantage over using regular A/M GN headers. since there is no cross over pipe.

Billy Anderson did sort of the same thing on his car.. he used the ATR twin turbo headers and made them into singles. The problem with what you wanna do tho is its gonna be tough to clear all the accessories on the DS. You can probably do it but it's going to take some serious fabrication.

 

[1000MileStylez]

The only thing im running is a alternator. I can always make a bracket and run it lower. As far a the exhaust flow, i would think it would be a lot smoother. The more Fabrication the better :biggrin:

 

[boostingbuick]

The hooker header are like that. I ran them years ago. They were laggy. And made everything a tight fit under the car. As far as performance, I saw no real gain. I went from stock, to hookers and then atr headers. If I had to do again I would skip the hookers.

 

[1000MileStylez]

you did the equal length headers? or the hooker GN type headers? Plus im using a 72 q-trim turbo with with a ported .81 a/r. No room for lag issues

 

[boostingbuick]

Hooker headers are like a normal header, equal length primarys and runs into a collector, like a normal header. But they connect the two under the trans and runs back up to the turbo. Very long passage to the turbo. And lots of lag time. I was like you thinking of a pulse issue, but turbo cars don't need that. They work on pressure and heat. The faster the heat gets to the turbo the faster it will spool.

 

[jpmustblaze]

Sts

We always talk about lag because of bends and length of pipe. Not to start an argument and the fact that I am new to TR's, but how does STS turbo get away with there systems with their turbos located in the rear of the vehicle. Just curious as to why their system seems to work with long lengths and bends with minimal lag?

 

[boostingbuick]

I have installed several systems on cars and driven them. Have you? I found it to be very laggy. But when you install two small a/r turbos this helps.

 

[1000MileStylez]

but the whole thing is im not running them back im facing the headers towards the front of the car because the headers can switch sides and face foward like a ford engine. Im running an electric water pump and im running a low mounted alternator so i can curve the pipes inward towards the water pump area right behind the radiator and mount the turbo with the inlet facing towards the drivers side like stock or have the turbo mounted with the inlet facing the front of the car. So im not understanding the lag issue.

 

[Steve]

I don't have any real data to back up my opinion but I think the gains from an equal length header would be minimal. The reason I believe this is because a well disgned turbo system would have 1.5 psi of exhaust pressure per psi of boost which would mean 40+psi of pressure in the headers which means the exhaust has to force its way into the headers as opposed to a N/A type of application where exhaust can flow thru the header. On other boards this gets argued all the time. People always claim that equal length primaries are better than log style manifolds but no one can prove that the log style mainfold set ups are down on power compared to the full equal length set ups. There are a ton of fast LSX cars using 6.0 truck mainfolds. There are just too many cars going fast with log style mainfolds to believe the full length headers would be a big improvement and worth the costs and hassle. Just my opinion.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

I don't have any real data to back up my opinion but I think the gains from an equal length header would be minimal. The reason I believe this is because a well disgned turbo system would have 1.5 psi of exhaust pressure per psi of boost which would mean 40+psi of pressure in the headers which means the exhaust has to force its way into the headers as opposed to a N/A type of application where exhaust can flow thru the header. On other boards this gets argued all the time. People always claim that equal length primaries are better than log style manifolds but no one can prove that the log style mainfold set ups are down on power compared to the full equal length set ups. There are a ton of fast LSX cars using 6.0 truck mainfolds. There are just too many cars going fast with log style mainfolds to believe the full length headers would be a big improvement and worth the costs and hassle. Just my opinion.

Thats a very good point. I guess it could depend on the setup. On my WRX, an equal length header definitely added more power after testing though. As far as the turbo in the rear idea, I read about it in a magazine but have you ever seen anyone switching since? I just think its a ridiculous idea and if it were a GREAT idea, I'm sure everyone would be doing it. Peer PRESSURE! Had to throw in the pun.

 

[cstavro]

below, say, 600 bhp logs will do fine. the turbine is supplying most of the backpressure. equal length headers do help scavenge exhaust. turbo cars with no overlap, and hence no chance to scavenge, won't benefit. try finding ANY racecar with logs.

pulses can be very useful...but not on 3 bolt housings. look into a .84 a/r divided T4 turbine housing. it flows way more than the 3 bolt, and will spool like a .63 a/r 3 bolt. to use them properly you need to divide each bank of headers at the turbine...which isn't much more fab than a regular Y-pipe.

 

[Alky V6]

All I can say is equal length headers work!

 

[1000MileStylez]

thats exactly how i was going to mount it. not the exact header but same concept. plus this is a motor that is going to be putting out more than 600hp

 

[S2V6RACER]

thats exactly how i was going to mount it. not the exact header but same concept. plus this is a motor that is going to be putting out more than 600hp

Looks like I'll have to throw out my ATR headers and give these equal length headers a try.

 

[JayC]

Be patient.. after the current header project is done, the next thing Im going to tackle is a 4 bolt setup with some interesting features.

Hopefully this new fab guy Shane and I are using will end up being "all that".. his previous work Ive seen looks good.

 

[anadaron]

On the comment of STS turbo systems. I am local and my bestfriend works for them. I have ridden in many vehicles with the system and lag is minimal to non existent mostly because of smaller turbos, but on a few interesting builds with large 100mm+ turbos on stout BBC engines the lag has been little to none.

How does it work? I don't know it just does. If you want a direct answer call them they can explain it better.

On the popularity comment: They are so popular my friend works 60+ hours a week and they have more business than they know what to do with. If you want them to install you have a 6 month wait. SO go figure.

On equal length headers. As long as you match a turbo to your combination your lag issues will not be an issue.

 

[Alky V6]

thats exactly how i was going to mount it. not the exact header but same concept. plus this is a motor that is going to be putting out more than 600hp

If you mount it the way I did, be ready for a ton of fab work. It is rewarding when it's done though.

 

[cstavro]

All I can say is equal length headers work!

WOW! that's hot! i love the v-band clamps are those custom single slip collectors? or did you get them from burns' stainless? you've handled thermal stress very well.

the longer the headers, the more it enhances torque, but also within a smaller rpm band.