OK after basically being laughed at from Summit, Jegs and J.C. Whitney, i need to know.. Why won't s-10 2.8 headers work on a 2.8 liter camaro, is it just the pipe routing? I know from previous posts and my own experiences pipes can be heated and bent other directions. Does anyone know and can answer my question.


Syxx

 

Yes; they'll work with modification. BUT-

A truck motor is designed for low rpm pulling. The camshaft, computer, etc are geared towards low-rpm power. This means that the header tubes will be longer- long tubes are more efficent at scavenging exhaust fumes at low rpms than short tubes are. As the rpm's raise, the headers aren't getting you extra horsepower anymore.

A car motor is designed for mid-high rpm horsepower (cam, computer, etc). Short tubes are most efficient at high rpm's for yanking out exhaust gasses. Long tubes "choke" up with gas.

Of course I have the feeling somebody's going to say "But that will be great for low-end torque!" Keep in mind no V8 f-body uses long-tube headers. But, whichever.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Arent the TES and other such systems made with short tubes for more low end power. I ask this because a lot of drag cars and other such Hot rods use full lengthe headers.

 

Me & Brian K on this board have the original F-body 2.8L headers & beleive me they are shorty headers. I compared them to a set that my friend has on his S-10 Blazer. Dang, there is no comparison his tubes are twice as long as mine are. Tom P. hit everything right on the button on his post.

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- Mike Harvey -
1986 Firebird S/E

 

Long tubes develop more power everywhere; short tubes are a compromise for fit. There are no advantages ot short tubes over long tubes other than fitting.

You can compensate for the lack of length by using slightly larger diameter.

The intent of headers is for them to hold enough of the exhaust so it fills and meets with the collector just as the next pulse from the cylinder initiates. That is why long tube headers are always more desireable than shorties as they are designed to match these pulse perfectly. With shorties you are having to make a trade off for the ability of ease of fit.

The reason S-10s won't work is because they won't fit properly. The S-10s are longer and generally designed for true duals. With an F-body, you need a specific design to fit in the confines of the engine compartment, have easy access to spark plugs and connect together into a common single on the passenger side.

They probably can be bent enough to fit, but you'd still have the spark plug problem and lenght and single y-pipe problem.

 

Several people I have spoken to have said that they installed the s10 headers on their firebirds and there was no problem with fit a true Bolt in operation no bending just bolt them in as for the power factor just ask the manufacturer they test and test and can provide you torq and hp charts for your app. The important thing is will the addition help you attain your goal , everyone makes different mods at different times. As for me I intend to install them this spring to complete the exhaust system before I add a 100 shot. While my motor probably does't need it now I wouldn't run juice without all the exhaust work I can get. I was told from a local shop that the custome Y would cost 200. Noy cheap but worthwile I think. Just my .02

 

someone on this board installed s10 headers on their fbods without modification except a custom y-pipe.

I have 3.4 pacesetter headers on my car, I had to heat bend them though to get them to work.

 

I bought the Edelbrock TES headers for the 2.8 s-10. With some careful observations I noticed that on my 86 2.8 the drivers side came out pointing at the floor pan. If I had bent them then they would have come out right in the clutch cylinder.

In other words, it wouldn't have worked with out cutting the tubes and seriously messing up the tuning of the headers.

That's my experience anyway, YMMV.

DB