Does anyone massproduce 180 degree headers anymore? I uesd to hear the term thrown around a lot in the 60's I recall reading about some FE Ford Super Stockers running them and some guys on the roundy round circuit used to talk 'em up. I wonder if enyone manufactures them to fit into street rod chassis or do you need to get an engineering degree to properly weld up a set. Do they sound radical? Do they affect low and mid range?
I think Stahl has them and there was just a set on EBAY last week if you do a search of completed Stahl auctions it should come up.
They are a pain in the azz to install, practically require a straight front axle for ground clearance, and are simply not worth the trouble for the couple HP you gain with them... Besides, they only boost power in the lower and mid-range RPM's, so the real racers gain nothing by running them. Add to that the fact that they were INCREDIBLY expensive...
They connect the exhaust ports that fire 180* of crank rotation apart, to maximize the scavanging effect.
Ooh.......... That's a wicked nice looking bundle of snakes in the picture. I can see where an installation could be VERY CHALLANGING !!
The only problem with trying to run modern 180 degree headers, is most of them are only offered as crossovers. You'd have to eliminate the passenger seat, or set the firewall back alot to make them fit right. But they do sound very very nice! http://www.schoenfeldheaders.com/180_crossover.htm
Yeah, Speedway's race catalog has them. Not the best choice for hot rods, due to fitment, but damn they sound insane on a healthy motor!
I remember the first time I heard a car with 180 degree headers. It was at the NHRA '64 Nationals at Indy and they were on a super stock Galaxie. It sounded like a screeming 6 cylinder car and I couldn't understand what the heck it was doing in SS. Spent alot of time in the pits checking out what they were all about.
Dandy dick landy tried a set on his hemi...he raised the car for clearance&ran 1/2 the exhaust straight out under the front bumper?!? Sounded like it was turning 12.000rpm's...saw it bankinthe day at lions....being run at irnwindale circle track visit the pits >>lots good parts for sale from circle track companies&at cheap prices
180* headers make a 4 cylinder sound like a V8, and they make a V8 sound like an italian V12. I put a set on my 66 427 [FE] Fairlane many many moons ago. The 180* headers for the fairlane body were in 4 pieces! Installing them was a nightmare. The engine had to come completely out. Then the drivers side "header" was bolted to the engine. The passenger side was laid into the engine bay, and the motor was droped back in. Then with the engine still 6 inches off the motor mounts, you bolted the pass side on, and connected the forawrd crossover. Then bolt the engine in, and re-connect the clutch, and finally install the rear crossover!!!!! Total PITA! There was a noticable pickup in the mid-range RPM's. I cant remember the exact numbers, but I gained just one or two 10th's, and about a mile per hour over regular 4 into 1 headers. The roundy-round guys benefit from them because the boost happens at the exact moment they come out of a turn, but the rest of the car driving world cant use them, and they aren't worth the hastle IMHO.
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When I was a kid in the late 60's, one of the neighbors had a stock car and I remember the older guys oohing and awing at the new headers, they had to cut the firewall out as these wraped around the back of the motor and went out the passenger door of this '55 Chevy. Of course they had to start it and run it around the neighborhood a few times, WOW! a whole different sound for sure!
Doug's makes a version for FE Mustangs that have been made since the 60's. Hubert Platt and others won a bunch of titles with them. And they aren't actually too bad to install!
Installing regular headers in a '66 Fairlane is hard enough let alone ones like those. Bet they looked cool though! Do you have any pictures?
Wow! No hot valve adjustments...or any adjustments, I guess... 180 degree headers...neat. Learn something new everyday. Having already hated installing many a regular set of headers in 60's Fords, those under that F.E. scare the piss outta me! Ugggg....
No... Back then it was all fun and games. Never thought to take pictures... Never thought that 25 years later we would be taking this car stuff so seriously.
Good_ol_Boy - love the picture of the coupe. Same or real similar pic was on the wall at Mayfair (Taylor, MI) many years ago. Friend used to work there, and had the pic on his jacket. Believe the pic was early 60s.
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