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Home made Headers for a Nailhead, how to.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by CTFuzz, Oct 16, 2008.

  1. Here's how we built headers for the Nailhead in the 41 Biz coupe............
    Bought a box of these SS elbows and 2" tubes
    [​IMG]
    Next some 3/8 SS flat stock cut on the band saw.........
    [​IMG]
    Next problem, how to put a round tube into a square hole......We made a tool.
    [​IMG]
    made this for the shop press.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Worked pretty good...........
    [​IMG]
    Next start tack welding elbows and tubing into the shap you want.......
    [​IMG]
     
  3. After we got what we wanted everything got welded........
    [​IMG]
    Now the welds get ground and sanded and then polished...........
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Starting to look pretty good eh?
    [​IMG]
    All this gets welded together.......
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Here is what we have so far.............
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    We started building the colectors today............pic to follow.
     
  6. LeadSledMerc
    Joined: Nov 29, 2003
    Posts: 4,106

    LeadSledMerc
    Member

    Cool...so why'd you stop?
    3/8th's thick flanges...isn't that a little over kill?
     
  7. spinout
    Joined: Jan 15, 2008
    Posts: 333

    spinout
    Member
    from Dallas, TX

    Excellent.....excellent!
     
  8. 3/8" is thick..too thick! I'm building another set for my RPU and I will do it a little different.

    I stoped 'cause the bell rang...............
     
  9. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,790

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC

    Very nicely done sir.... can't wait to see the rest...

    I've got a couple sets of flanges waiting for projects to reach that stage. They're 3/8 as well. It's nice to not have to worry about warping....
     
  10. When we did the final welding, I bolted the 3/8 flanges to the stock cast iron header to help stop warpage........
    [​IMG]
     
  11. LeadSledMerc
    Joined: Nov 29, 2003
    Posts: 4,106

    LeadSledMerc
    Member

    HAHA...lookin good. I can't believe how nice your welds disapeared when you polished the pipes. Real nice job!!
    Keep the pics coming...:cool:

    I've just never seen any flanges that thick, but it sure makes sense for the warpage factor.
     
  12. HasonJinkle
    Joined: Mar 29, 2007
    Posts: 154

    HasonJinkle
    Member

    Man, those are tight- I've been mulling over making some noodlebasket headers myself and I figured if I was going to go through the trouble I'd do them out of SS as well.
    • What are the specs on the tube, 304 I ***ume? Those 90's look pretty thick, what's the wall thickness? I can get sch 5S pipe and fittings, at 2 inch that's about .065 wall or a heavy 16 gauge
    • It looks like you scored the fittings that you squared off somehow, could you expand on that some?
    • What collectors are you goilng to use?
    • Did you measure or estimate them for equal lengths?
    Again, nice work- I freakin' love making shiney things in stainless!
     
  13. saltflatmatt
    Joined: Aug 12, 2001
    Posts: 634

    saltflatmatt
    Alliance Vendor

    I love the way you make a round tube square.

    The headers look fantastic to say the least!
     
  14. stude_trucks
    Joined: Sep 13, 2007
    Posts: 4,752

    stude_trucks
    Member

    Super cool. I like this post and the work looks real nice as well. Very nice looking set of pipes and I dig the tech info. Wish I had the skills to do something like that but I don't think super glue and tape will hold up on headers. Hell of a good job with the band saw on the flanges too. Still not quite sure how you accomplished that with a bandsaw. You must have one hell of a nice bandsaw with a very strong but small blade.
     
  15. "When we did the final welding, I bolted the 3/8 flanges to the stock cast iron header to help stop warpage...."

    Great idea - much easier to fiddle around and get a good welding angle that turning a whole block upside down.

    Those are gonna be pissah!
     
  16. vectorsolid
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 498

    vectorsolid
    Member
    from Montana

    Genius idea making the tube square. I have a similar upcoming problem. I think you may have solved it for me. :)
     
  17. crf500
    Joined: Dec 1, 2007
    Posts: 195

    crf500
    Member

    good job man! these headers look alot like the ones me and a coworker just got done with for a twin turbo big block chev! you have done a great job the thick flanges seam like over kill but help with warpage. remember u can always mill:)! there is alotta bench hours and elbow grease in these things
     
  18. sideshow01
    Joined: Nov 5, 2004
    Posts: 96

    sideshow01
    Member
    from Dirty Jerz

    Awesome tech. I need to make a set myself. I'm specifically interested in the overall geometry, and how you pretty much kept the flow sort of high and parallel to the valve covers. I'm in the (slow) process of putting a nailhead into a 53 f100 with a camaro clip. I've run into some clearance issues with the headers and the steering gear. I was imagining something like this... so it's thanks for the visual.

    Are you planning on running the rest down through the fender-wells?

    Thanks!
    -BK
     
  19. 3/8" thick flanges are just about right, unless you like pushing gaskets out all the time.

    Very, very nice work, but isn't a nailhead a low rpm torquer? 2" primaries are awfully big . . .
     
  20. NoSurf
    Joined: Jul 26, 2002
    Posts: 4,842

    NoSurf
    Member

    Looks great!
     
  21. ironhunter
    Joined: Jul 20, 2002
    Posts: 406

    ironhunter
    Member

    Uh...no more overkill than a 9" Ford behind a puny-***ed SBC :)

    Good job on the headers man, and kudos to you for using a REAL TRADITIONAL engine!
     
  22. fiat128
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,426

    fiat128
    Member
    from El Paso TX

    Those are sweet! Thanks for posting that one, that's some great tech there. I love seeing nailheads in the tech posts.
     
  23. Thanks guys......................I'm hoping to build headers for my own car, a Nail powered '27 RPU. That will be a more traditional build.............here's a mock-up shot.
    [​IMG]
     
  24. LeadSledMerc
    Joined: Nov 29, 2003
    Posts: 4,106

    LeadSledMerc
    Member

    There is noooo other engine to use!! :D
     
  25. MrNailhead
    Joined: Jun 11, 2003
    Posts: 55

    MrNailhead
    Member

    Totally awesome job!!! I'll need a pair of headers for my 48 Ford F1 this winter. Your idea about squaring the pipe is just what I need. I hope you keep posting pic of the whole project

    Lee...
     
  26. Looks like sch. 40 stainless pipe 90s, not exhaust tubing. Yes?
     
  27. SCH 10 , 1.90 inch stainless, Richard
     
  28. power58
    Joined: Sep 7, 2008
    Posts: 432

    power58
    Member

    Thanks for posting your ideas. Great job. Will vote you in for Best Tech
     
  29. Carb-Otto
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 332

    Carb-Otto
    Member
    from FINkLAND

    Nice! Fabricatin' square shape to round pipe has been question mark in my mind for a while. Your idea seems to work fine, so I'll fabricate same thing same way to same kind of engine.
     
  30. amaralcf
    Joined: Dec 14, 2007
    Posts: 14

    amaralcf
    Member

    Hey, this sort of looks familiar! Yes, EXELLENT work! Great Job!
     

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