Big tube headers
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Big tube headers Would it be worth it for me to swap to a header with larger primary
tubes. I am currently running Headman LT's 1 5/8 stepped to 1 3/4.
The car is cam and boltons only right now and will be getting a set
of heads this winter. Right now the car runs really well with the current
setup. Just trapped 121.5 last trip to the track. I am thinking about
the Edelbrock Victor race headers 1 3/4 stepped to 1 7/8 with merge
collectors.....
What do you guys think. Thanks
tubes. I am currently running Headman LT's 1 5/8 stepped to 1 3/4.
The car is cam and boltons only right now and will be getting a set
of heads this winter. Right now the car runs really well with the current
setup. Just trapped 121.5 last trip to the track. I am thinking about
the Edelbrock Victor race headers 1 3/4 stepped to 1 7/8 with merge
collectors.....
What do you guys think. Thanks
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: TX
The cam is probably putting more air through but the exhaust ports on your stock heads probably dont absolutely require a bigger primary. But when you get those new heads, you'll probably want at least 1.75 right off the flange.
You are gonna get a slew of people telling you that you need bigger tubes. What you wont get is any proof of that backed up with dyno comparisons beween the two.
FWIW I have 1-3/4 tubes but a friend of mine who races dirt track says that his car is faster with the 1-5/8 tubes than the 1-3/4. This is an engine with about 14:1, decent heads, big cam, victor intake, etc.
FWIW I have 1-3/4 tubes but a friend of mine who races dirt track says that his car is faster with the 1-5/8 tubes than the 1-3/4. This is an engine with about 14:1, decent heads, big cam, victor intake, etc.
Smaller pipe size increase gas speed which in turn gives you good low speed torque. this also means more restriction at high speeds of course, but how much do you really go at a high rate of speed? Is this more of drag car than DD? Larger primary's WILL be lazy at low speeds and youll probaly feel it. Also these large primary's allow a portion of exaust gases to remain in chamber as exaust valve closes. cant burn this twice so it containates freash a/f charge, lowering cylinder pressure during next Combustion cycle. If i was you and i had this car for the occasional drag but mostly DD i would stay to the smaller side of header pipe size.
My .02$
My .02$
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: longview, tx
The million dollar question. Sounds like your car is definitely more strip oriented than street so if I didn't have any headers, I'd go big. Rebuying something you already have that seems to be working pretty well is always a tough decision. Edelbrocks sound like a great header for your application but I guess we'll have to wait til we hear back from ya! LOL
