When do headers start limiting power?
#1
When do headers start limiting power?
I am going to be running a 3" exhaust. When would header size start to limit my power gains? What would a 5/8, 3/4, and 7/8 diameter be good to, power wise?
Cam
Cam
#2
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Car: '82 Camaro
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Re: When do headers start limiting power?
Depends on what's inside the engine, how many cubes, and a few other things...
#3
Re: When do headers start limiting power?
Well the motor is a 305. I am going to be upgrading some parts of the motor: LT1 cam, 305 vortec heads, and a few other things. The next thing after that will be nitrous...starting with a small shot, 50 or so, but may end up being a large shot, 250+. I know that this doesn't warrant a set of big headers, but I don't want to buy another set when I go to a large shot of nitrous or change to a bigger motor and nitrous. Is there a certain horsepower number that the headers start limiting at?
Cam
Cam
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Car: '82 Camaro
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Re: When do headers start limiting power?
Not real sure I'd go a 250 shot on a stock bottom end 305, those cast pistons are a bit fragile for nitrous.... General rule on headers is the same size, or just a bit larger then the diameter of the exhaust valves.... Doubt even with the Vortec heads you would need anything bigger then 1 5/8" tubes.... Or, if you're so inclined, a set of step headers seem to work quite well with nitrous... Guess I don't have a set of dyno numbers to back it up, but I have seen a number of cars take half a tenth or so off their times with step headers.... I'm really wanting to try the step headers and merge collectors on a nitrous engine......
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Re: When do headers start limiting power?
1 5/8 primary with a 2.5 inch y pipe to a 3 inch catback will be fine for your application. As for a 250 shot good luck, can't see you engine lasting to long. Limit it to a 100-125 shot.
#6
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Re: When do headers start limiting power?
That may be what i will wanna do so after the cat you would use a 2.5 to 3" adapter to go to the 3" intermidiate pipe and your cat back system right? I just wanna make sure because the only choices I have found is the 2.5 to 3' cat back systems from the Y pipe would that be ok? because I wanted to go with a set that had a 3" collector to a 3" y pipe I thought that may be better but you have way more knowledge on it then i do
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Re: When do headers start limiting power?
I think you would be fine with the 1 5/8 headers.
Mark.
Mark.
Last edited by whatever84; 12-04-2009 at 03:02 PM.
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#8
Re: When do headers start limiting power?
Not real sure I'd go a 250 shot on a stock bottom end 305, those cast pistons are a bit fragile for nitrous.... General rule on headers is the same size, or just a bit larger then the diameter of the exhaust valves.... Doubt even with the Vortec heads you would need anything bigger then 1 5/8" tubes.... Or, if you're so inclined, a set of step headers seem to work quite well with nitrous... Guess I don't have a set of dyno numbers to back it up, but I have seen a number of cars take half a tenth or so off their times with step headers.... I'm really wanting to try the step headers and merge collectors on a nitrous engine......
I am not too concerned with a half a tenth. I just don't want to spend several hundred dollars on headers, and then have to upgrade them again.
Cam
#9
Re: When do headers start limiting power?
I don't really care if the engine pops, to be honest. It is a toy...that is all.
Cam
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