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The cracking issues are caused by lack of flexibility. Long primaries increase flexibility of the header. Keep in mind the exhaust header metal will be running around 800 deg F (swag) while the stationary cylinder head is less than 200 deg F. The header will grow quite a bit more than the head. The short primaries of the log can't flex very much without the stresses getting very high. I actually modeled my log manifold in FEA and found that there's NO WAY that the flanges are not sliding across the head when it heats up. If the flanges were totally fixed to the head, it would split on the first heat cycle. Mine lasts because there is enough slop in the bolt holes to allow it to slide some. Solid copper gaskets are a must. If the flanges of the manifold are "linked" together, then you'll likely have cracking problems.
As far as power goes. . . I have a crazy theory about how logs could be just as good as a tubular header. A long primary on a tubular header helps build momentum to draw exhaust out of the cylinder at the end of the exhaust stroke. The short primaries of a log don't contain enough mass for this to happen. However, there is Bernoulli and the pressure effect of velocity. You see, in the log, there's high velocity gas flowing perpendicular to the gas entering the stream from the primary tube. Bernoulli's principle tells us that high velocity gas causes dynamic pressure to drop. Basically, the high velocity gas in the log is "drawing" the exhaust out of the cylinder. So, you don't get inertial tuning of the primary, but you do get low dynamic pressure.
The folks over at forcedinductions.com did a log versus tubular test a while back and found that the tubular gained alot of power. However, they were testing the TTi kit versus PTK as far as I can tell. The TTi kit has a 2.5" log and ridiculous 2.5" downpipe. My personal log system has a 3" log and 3" downpipe (which I still think is too small).
Mike
Last edited by engineermike; Nov 4, 2007 at 11:01 AM.

The cracking issues are caused by lack of flexibility. Long primaries increase flexibility of the header. Keep in mind the exhaust header metal will be running around 800 deg F (swag) while the stationary cylinder head is less than 200 deg F. The header will grow quite a bit more than the head. The short primaries of the log can't flex very much without the stresses getting very high. I actually modeled my log manifold in FEA and found that there's NO WAY that the flanges are not sliding across the head when it heats up. If the flanges were totally fixed to the head, it would split on the first heat cycle. Mine lasts because there is enough slop in the bolt holes to allow it to slide some. Solid copper gaskets are a must. If the flanges of the manifold are "linked" together, then you'll likely have cracking problems.
As far as power goes. . . I have a crazy theory about how logs could be just as good as a tubular header. A long primary on a tubular header helps build momentum to draw exhaust out of the cylinder at the end of the exhaust stroke. The short primaries of a log don't contain enough mass for this to happen. However, there is Bernoulli and the pressure effect of velocity. You see, in the log, there's high velocity gas flowing perpendicular to the gas entering the stream from the primary tube. Bernoulli's principle tells us that high velocity gas causes dynamic pressure to drop. Basically, the high velocity gas in the log is "drawing" the exhaust out of the cylinder. So, you don't get inertial tuning of the primary, but you do get low dynamic pressure.
The folks over at forcedinductions.com did a log versus tubular test a while back and found that the tubular gained alot of power. However, they were testing the TTi kit versus PTK as far as I can tell. The TTi kit has a 2.5" log and ridiculous 2.5" downpipe. My personal log system has a 3" log and 3" downpipe (which I still think is too small).
Mike
I have built Cast manifolds. Log, and tube haeder setups. IMO Logs make for a great cost effective setup. I plan to do a dual Log setup for a front mount single turbo. I am building a street car this time around.
There is no doubt that cast manifolds are stronger. Tube headers make more power. Log manifolds are simple. I have made stupid power with them all.


