How do the header companies make headers so quick?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,352
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
How do the header companies make headers so quick?
So the C7 hasn't been out all that long. Every tuner and their sister has headers for it already.
How'd they do it?
A. Did they just copy their C6 header and tweak it for the C7 and hope for the best?
B. Start from scratch w/ R&D trialing different designs on the dyno?
C. Throw a hail mary and turn a blind eye?
How'd they do it?
A. Did they just copy their C6 header and tweak it for the C7 and hope for the best?
B. Start from scratch w/ R&D trialing different designs on the dyno?
C. Throw a hail mary and turn a blind eye?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
I imagine with modern Computational Fluid Dynamics software, they just need the physical constraints and then they can design them very quickly. I could do a CFD on a set of headers in a few hours.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
SEMA Tech transfer program.
The CAD is available. Not leaked.
https://www.kooksheaders.com/media/w...ring_large.jpg
The CAD is available. Not leaked.
https://www.kooksheaders.com/media/w...ring_large.jpg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
So its more of a packaging issue than a diameter and length issue.
Plus the factory exhausts are not as screwed up as they used to be. This makes the tune for headers easier to find and somewhat less necessary.
I should also mention the header guys are fast, motivated, and good at their jobs.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,352
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Ok, so I understand all that.
But from what I can tell some headers were ready for install before C7's were delivered. Did these companies install them do a dyno pull, see a gain and then quit? Or did they say to themselves, "we have a gain, lets tweak the diameters and lengths and see if we get more gain?"
I'm going to venture a guess and say most of them made headers blind and got lucky.
No trial and error...just trying to get to market first.
But from what I can tell some headers were ready for install before C7's were delivered. Did these companies install them do a dyno pull, see a gain and then quit? Or did they say to themselves, "we have a gain, lets tweak the diameters and lengths and see if we get more gain?"
I'm going to venture a guess and say most of them made headers blind and got lucky.
No trial and error...just trying to get to market first.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,281
Likes: 2,509
From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
A couple of things...... GM actually supplies, loans cars to some they have that relationship with. Some shops can actually borrow a car from another vendor....... one who is not in direct competition. Say someone who produces turbos is buds with the guy producing headers.
Or in my case I loaned my car to a shop to use as the template.......they had a mock up just needed to do final fit and testing.
Plus look at the theard in this section about the performance shop doing the burnout at delivery. 2 days later the car was already transformed.
I'm not saying they are like Orange County Chopper ( not that I'd feel good about riding a quick built bike!!) but these guys are on top of their game!!!
Or in my case I loaned my car to a shop to use as the template.......they had a mock up just needed to do final fit and testing.
Plus look at the theard in this section about the performance shop doing the burnout at delivery. 2 days later the car was already transformed.
I'm not saying they are like Orange County Chopper ( not that I'd feel good about riding a quick built bike!!) but these guys are on top of their game!!!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
My guess is they start with a CAD of the available space, route pipes virtually, use a jig to spot weld a couple of prototypes together, and fabricate the final design based on what was found to work.