Long tube headers, which Primary size is 'best'?

Weather Man

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I just have a hard time figuring out why anyone would want 2 inch headers, stepped or not, after reading this.

If they thought they might go F/I over 800 HP later, I could see buying headers once.
 

beefcake

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People in this post are over 1000hp on 1-3/4 headers

doesn't mean you can't pickup with more

on a "blower car", especially over 1000 wheel, and higher, you really almost can't get the air out quick enough

fastest s/c coyote out there mid 7s with 2 to 2 1/8 to 2 1/4 stepped

we also have the quickest s/c 2015 car, and it too, has 2" headers
 

noldevin

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Apologies, too much time on the Facebook groups. Forgot there are a few legitimate big power builds floating around that might take advantage
 

assasinator

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I get this question all the time, or more accurately I repeatedly talk customers out of going 'too large' with primary size.

Figured perhaps a thread is a better way to educate a little bit.

When it comes to headers, bigger is not always better. The easiest way to visualize this when it comes flow potential we can use math to see which primary size is best for a given exhaust diameter.
For the purpose of standardizing the math we will assume all headers have .050" wall thickness

Calculating the volume of exhaust flow is not easy, so we will focus on the area of the pipes for ease of comparison as volume is directly related.

Factory 2.75" OD exhaust has an area of 5.51 square inches
3.0" OD exhaust has an area of 6.60 square inches


Now it's time to calculate the area of the primaries.
Since these are V8 engines with dual exhaust the calculation for total area of the primaries would be 4x the primary size.

4 - 1 & 1/2" Primaries have a toal area of 6.15 square inches (Yes, larger than factory 2.75" exhaust)
4 - 1 & 5/8th" Primaries have an area of 7.30 square inches (A perfect size for dual 3" exhaust IMO)
4 - 1 & 3/4" Primaries have an area of 8.55 square inches
4 - 1 & 7/8th" Primaries have an area of 9.89 square inches

Given this information you can see unless you are running 3.5" + exhaust, there is no reason to run large primary headers.

Food for thought. You CAN go 'Too Big'.


sorry to say it man, but your header 'theory' is wrong in every way.

diameter, length and collector dimension determine rpm band.

i dont know where to start.

first, it is always possible to go with too large of a primary tube, but that overkill is determined by exhaust gas flow in pounds per minute.

if you have two engines....a 400 inch big block making 600 crank hp is going to like the same basic primary tube as a small block making 600hp.

where there is a difference is rpm tuning exhaust pulses for a supersonic low pressure wave to arrive at the exhaust valve as it is opening.

a big engine needs a longer lol tube to slow the arrival of the pulse for lower rpm operation. a small high rpm engine needs shorter primary tubes for a faster arriving pulse.

the tube diameter can change for tuning. a smaller tube shortens the primary length required for pulse arrival at the same rpm.


it takes too long to explain everything, but simple adding tubing area has nothing to do with primary tube effectiveness.

there is a venturi effect of primary tubing from exhaust gas inertia also. too large of a tube for the exhaust gas volume negates that advantage. THAT and rpm tuning are the reason a particular tube can be too large.

and every change in diameter a tube makes send a pulse down the exhaust and back to the valve. THAT is why stepper headers work. they allow multiple rpm sweet spots for diameter changing pulses.

that is about one percent of header theory.
 
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assasinator

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http://www.onallcylinders.com/2015/...-at-the-science-behind-exhaust-header-tuning/


Inertial scavenging of gases begins as soon as the exhaust valve opens. Here, exhaust gases move past the valve and exit through the exhaust port into the header primary tube (and eventually working their way into the atmosphere). Hooker says the best power is produced with an exhaust gas speed of approximately 300 feet per second

This sonic wave is moving quickly—much quicker than the ever-expanding exhaust wave we discussed above. When the sonic wave arrives at the end of the primary tube, a negative shock wave is generated, and this wave travels backward toward the exhaust port (because it is reflected).

i have been making headers off and on for 30 years more or less. this is old tech. lost it seems on today's bunch.
 

SixPak

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Well, I monsooned my exhaust in a shopping center parking lot failing to negotiate a damned speed bump properly, and wound up re-orienting everything from the flange at the headers back to the mufflers to the right about an inch or so. Had to spin the header flange and grind it a bit, pry a few places and it still looks like crap out back, so I have decided to replace the whole works.
I remembered this thread from a while back and dug it up to see what the latest thinking was and have decided 1-3/4" Kooks LT/mid length w/OR-H and to the back is where I am headed. I was considering the 1-5/8" but may supercharge it before all is said and done, so 1-3/4" it is. I will be curiose to see if I gain anything over and above what could be considered normal going from hi-flow cats to catless. I have always felt that I left something on the table with the BBK's and Hi-flow cats.
 

fuelforfire87

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Kooks are a big step up from BBK headers as as far as quality. I've had both. I had BBK 1-3/4" ceramic headers for the first 2 or 3 years I've had my car and when I took them off they had some surface rust on them. I only drive my car in nice weather too and store it during the winter. I ordered a set of ceramic coated 1-7/8" kooks headers and offroad x-pipe from maryland speed and holy cow you can see why they cost so much when you open the box and look at them. Even with 1-3/4" you should be fine for boosting. I just went with the 1-7/8" size because most people recommend that size if going turbo or supercharger. Also if you need to pass emissions kooks has their green cat mid pipes that won't throw any CELs like most high flow cats.
 

2012 Boss 302

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I've been eyeballing the Doug Thorley headers as they have a Tri-Y design, but based on the pics I've seen online of their Coyote headers it seems they got the driver side correct but FUBAR'd the Passenger side. Looks like they designed the headers based on the old firing order, not the Coyote specific.

Waking this up.

Shaun, have you looked at these any more? They also seem to go against your previous statement about 1 7/8 primary tubes.

Not doubting your recommendations, just asking questions.....
 

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