I was just recently watching videos on youtube and came accross a vette with something called 180 degree headers. Did some research and I guess they are supposed to add a ton of mid and upper RPM power and torque. Car sounds like it has a porsche or ferrari engine too! I love that exotic sound and was wondering if anyone has heard of these on a third gen or have attempted to make a set. I think I may try it!

 

The 180 degree header is all but impossible to install in a factory car as both banks are made into one unit. If you make a set you will have to make them in the car and will never be able to remove them without a sawzall. If you notice the second set(from Schoenfeld)look suspiciously like a crossover into a y-pipe(you already have one of those). The first pic(Howe Racing) well....that just wont fit our cars. And unless you plan on turning 9000+ for extended periods you dont need them anyway. Why would you want you're AMERICAN IRON to sound like some panzy euro trash anyway???????

 

I did find this though.There is hope. this is what the owner had to say about them. They where a PITA to install and required cutting and rebuilding most of my firewall not to mention loosing the ability to take a passenger for a ride. Butt......they are in a third gen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Ye8fFH90w

 

I just enjoy being different and I like the challenge of squezing every last horse out of my engine. I want to try to get some unbelievable numbers on my N/A motor, and figured these would help. I personally think they sound pretty cool on an american V8, and it's something that could always be changed back. The firing order on chevy V8's is a flaw in itself, and creates backpressure even with the highest flow longtubes and catback. This style header eliminates that. And I would try to make my own anyways, with the pipes going under the motor where the Y-pipe ussually would be, and position each collector about where Hooker longtubes would exit. I like experimenting, so we'll see, I may try it. If you listen to the vette vid on youtube, you can still hear the V8 rumble and tone, but with a much smoother sound. Kind of like a half bred!

 

I did see that vid as well. I was thinking instead of buying an off the shelf set-up, I would make my own, but go under the motor. If people can fab up turbo kits and dual exhausts on these cars, I think I have a good shot at making these work!

 

it's alot of work for nothing in my opinion

 

If you have any exhaust beyond the headers, you're not making maximum horsepower. If you want the most power out of any V8... you're gonna want to run open long tube headers... there's a reason top fuel doesn't use a 180 degree header. And, no offense, but if you have to ask about 180 degree headers, you don't have the knowledge to build a set that do what you want them to (make maximum power).

 

Theres only one way to learn though. Whats a few hard weeks and a lot of steel pipe now? Haha. I built my own turbo kit on a freinds TA, and it turned out real nice. First time I ever did that....just a lot of reading and looking at pictures of what others did. I have faith in myself. Plus, now that the cars done after 2 years, I need something else to keep me busy in my spare time. Man, I need a girlfreind!

Also, I want them for the sound as well. Even if I only get 5 horsepower, the sound will be different. I don't know, I'm still up in the air, but we'll see. If I decide to attempt it, I'll let you all know and keep you updated on my progress (or lack of progress!).

 

Most of the big points have already been covered

There are 2 main types of 180* headers

Over and under

Over:


Under:


Knowing how much room there is in a fbody, you can be sure an over style will never fit

Under should fit the chassis but to get a semi-tuned primary length you will need extra long tubes
This requires a good bit of pipe math to see if the benefits would actually be worthwhile

 

Can't argue with that... we all like different aspects of building a car.