80LS1T Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 Well after much frustration with my LT1 exhaust leak at the header. I am going to be making a set of headers for my LT1 280ZX! I was looking on Jegs.com and found a flange set but where can I get mandrel bends and straight tubing? Also should I go with a 1 5/8" tubing or 1 3/4"? Thanks, Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 I used "J" tubes and some of their accessories from Hooker. They have some neat rings that fit between sections of tubing that allow these sections to be brought together in perfect alignment, and welded in place without removing the rings. These tubes are mandrel bent and are of excellent quality, but unfortunately, I spent close to $300 for a set of tubes to make my headers, and that was in '88. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted September 30, 2003 Author Share Posted September 30, 2003 Im not worried about the cost. It would cost me $800 for a set of custom headers if someone else made them for me. Thats uncoated headers! So Im not affraid to spent a little money to make a set. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 http://www.burnsstainless.com is where I got tubing to make headers in the past... however they are a bit pricy there, and from what I've heard there are cheaper places to buy the more generic mandrel bends. Likely once you start looking for more exotic materials (Ti, inconel, 321) your options are really limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted September 30, 2003 Author Share Posted September 30, 2003 Yeah I dont need anything fance as far as metal is concerned. I am going to have them ceramic coated once they are done. Ok I found the J bends and U-bends on http://www.jegs.com.... now which ones should I get? The J's or the U's? I think the J's are cheaper. Also how many do you think I will need? Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted September 30, 2003 Share Posted September 30, 2003 I guess it mostly depends on how long you want the tubes to be. Shorty headers generally have a higher turns/straight ratio than the long tube headers. Constraints in space for the headers usually dictate more complex tubes (hence, more bends). If you'll not rag me too hard, here is a photo of my headers (welded with a crackerbox prior to my purchase of the MIG welder). These are what I would call a medium length header. I believe that when I purchase my tubing, I used a 1:3 ratio of U-tubes:J-tubes. The U-tubes had shorter arms than the J-tubes did. The collectors were the most expensive part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted October 1, 2003 Author Share Posted October 1, 2003 Well if mine turn out that nice I will be more than happy! I guess I would be going for a shorty headers. Now about the ports. Since I have D-Ports and they only sell square and round ports.....which one should I get? I know I will have to match them to my heads but which one will allow me to do that the easiest? Also I know that header lengths should be as equal as possible but what do you mean by 1:3 ratio of different bends? Does it matter what kind of bends you have? Oh and should I make 1 3/4" or 1 5/8" headers? Thanks, Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 You could always just take a gasket to a laser profile cutting place and have them cut them for you. It will be a little more expensive, but will be a perfect match. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 The ratio was refering to 3 J-tubes to one U-tube when I ordered them. Diameter of the tubing? Grumpy or someone else can best answer that question, which depends on what parameters your engine is built around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted October 1, 2003 Author Share Posted October 1, 2003 Oh I see what you mean by the ratio! How many do you think I should order to start out with? Also did you make the headers while they were on the car? I am thinking about making a "jig" so that I dont have to make them on the car. Basically Im going to copy the header on my passenger side and for the drivers side Im going to make the header work with the exhaust that I have now. Well atleast thats the plan so far! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I built a jig with 2x4s for the frame rails, then I set the engine block between them and went at it. The steering rod was the big problem because these tubes were going to be very close to the rod. I spent a lot of time insuring that it was correctly positioned while I built the tubes around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Dreamer Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Try this: http://www.headersbyed.com Go with 1 3/4" headers you won't be sorry. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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