exhaust pics....comments?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
exhaust pics....comments?
i wish i had a standard left hand drive car cause my life would be alot easier but the fact is I DONT . because my car is right hand drive i have a difficult job squeezing in a good exhaust on the right hand side of the engine as i now have a steering box there. the stock exhaust on my 81 snugs in only just as you can see on the pics but now that i have upgraded my motor etc etc the time has come for a decent exhaust. over here it costs about $2500 for a custom extractor system hpc coated,x, pipe and mufflers. i want to know how much hp improvement does that style of exhaust give me compared to just a good set of block huggers with a complete 2.5 inch or 3 inch exhaust run from that bearing in mind that my block huggers would have to be similar to the stock ones to fit. if i get a style of hugger where the front exhaust come down on 45 degree angle from the ports it WILL hit my steering box. hard to explain but hopefully you can see what i mean in my pics.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
And watch your motor mounts too. I had block huggers for a while. Then melted the poly out of my motor mounts.
Have you thought of replacing your steering box with rack & pinion steering - either manual or power?
Have you thought of replacing your steering box with rack & pinion steering - either manual or power?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
* to be honest all plugs on that side are a pain in the butt to change but now that i have done it a few times i have a technique thats not so bad.
* yes i have heard about block huggers causing trouble with heat and especially with how close my power steering box is . i think the seals in that wouldnt last too long. i will more than likely use heat tape to stop everything cooking.
* because of my space issues i think only block huggers or customs would work. im just doing my homework on it now before i jump in the deep end.
* over here they generally use a ford power steering boxes in corvette conversions but mine has a toyota box cause they have a smaller turning circle and also the box itself is a lil more compact. my car turns easy and smoothly so i have no complaints with that.i have never seen one here with a rack and pinion style .there most be some reason they dont do them but dont know what it is.
*i hope i answered all the questions and keep the comments coming . i really am interested to know how much performance is lost on huggers compared to a custom 4 into 1 extractors.
* yes i have heard about block huggers causing trouble with heat and especially with how close my power steering box is . i think the seals in that wouldnt last too long. i will more than likely use heat tape to stop everything cooking.
* because of my space issues i think only block huggers or customs would work. im just doing my homework on it now before i jump in the deep end.
* over here they generally use a ford power steering boxes in corvette conversions but mine has a toyota box cause they have a smaller turning circle and also the box itself is a lil more compact. my car turns easy and smoothly so i have no complaints with that.i have never seen one here with a rack and pinion style .there most be some reason they dont do them but dont know what it is.
*i hope i answered all the questions and keep the comments coming . i really am interested to know how much performance is lost on huggers compared to a custom 4 into 1 extractors.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
A rack & pinion system has all the steering mechanisms down low on the frame, not along side the engine. The only part that goes along side the engine is the u-joints that connect the steering column to the r&p. I'm sure someone could rig up a right side r&p the same way as Steeroids or Flaming River.
Here's a picture showing clearance around the Steeroids u-joint chain with full-length headers:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
McJack's Shorty Headers
Forget Block huggers. I just put McJacks shorty headers on my 78 L-82 4 Spd and they are an exact replica of the GM ramhorn cast iron manifold that will hook up to the stock exhaust or aftermarket exhausts designed for the Ramhorn manifolds. No clearance issues whatsever. It fact you will have much more room in the engine bay compared to the stock exhaust manifolds for EVERYTHING. I have 2.5 inch true duals with Monza Turbo mufflers that hooked up to the original exhaust manifolds and it sounded really good prior to the headers. Now it sounds after the header installation much deeper with the same exhaust, just a little louder, and pulls like a freight train in the upper RPM's. McJack's headers are a little pricey but they are a work of art (hand made), fit perfectly, and have zero clearance problems with the road or anything under the hood. Unless you are racing (real racing), you do not need full length headers. I waited 25 years for someone to come up with this type of shorty header that did not require a new exhaust system different from the stock 2-1-2 or true OE duals. McJack's has the answer for both SB and BB's. Awesome!
