Tuesday, February 4, 2014
How to Build Exhaust Headers
Adding exhaust headers may be the single easiest accessory you can add to improve engine performance. When working with modified cars and motorcycles, you may find that no company manufactures a header for your vehicle. With a few parts, you can build your own exhaust headers for your project.
Instructions
- 1
Take stock of what is already in your car. The exhaust header depends on your transmission, body type (or what different pieces make up your cars body), input shafts and suspension among other things.
2Explore the interior of your car before you start. Installing headers require quite a bit of engine disassembly for most models. You certainly dont want to get your engine out with no idea how to put it all back together again.
3Buy header kits that contain all the parts you need to custom build headers for your exhaust system. Most kits include properly bent U-bends and J-bends, collectors, reducers, straight tubing, O2 bungs and flanges. Each piece needs to fit your cars build. Each kit fits your cylinder head.
4Save some time welding with a partially assembled header. Have the tubes shipped tacked to the flanges, so you can finish the welding yourself. This allows for last-minute customization without building the entire header from scratch. To save more time, choose kits or parts with tubes partially welded in place.
5Look for quality materials when choosing pipes, collectors and flanges to avoid warping and excess movement. When using older car parts, try to find pieces that are not misshapen or rusted in any way.
6Create the desired balance between performance and looks. Custom headers add a unique dimension to hot rods and racecars. Lake pipes, which run alongside the car, are popular choices to add show appeal.
7Grind the welds smooth for a polished finish and the best performance. This often ends up being the most time-consuming part of the project, so you may want to decide just how much time you want to spend trying to create perfection. A racecar will need smoother heads than a show car that is rarely driven fast.
