Headers choking me off?

[v8astregt]

The Sanderson's have suited me well up to this point with their 1.5" primaries. They were fine for my first engine, and are fine on my current engine... on the street.

This engine I have now is capable of much more than I planned for this car... at least 300 rwhp. I have Dart heads that flow well, and I knew my Sanderson's might not be ideal, but like always, money is the limiting factor.

So now I lead to this, which is probably already answered, but are my Sanderson's inadequate for me now? Part of what made me think this is that I'm always good off the line at the track, but always towards the end is where people start to catch me. There is an LS1 TA I've raced a few times... I always annihilate him off the line, but he always catches me. Plus, I've never been able to run faster than 110 mph. Don't know if it's related or not, but it seems my top end is hurting.

So it looks like I have to pony up the $450 for some Hooker's soon?

[King Monza Mike]

How big are the heads and how much compresion?

FWIW, you probably should. The Sandersons are cool for the "street rodder crowd" but they really dont make a whole lot of power.

[v8astregt]

I believe the intake runner is 200cc, that's what's stamped in the head as well. 64cc combustion chambers, flattop pistons, so I have about 10-10.5:1 compression.


I guess I could also mention the guy at the strip who said the hookers cut 4/10 of a second off his times. Do you think these headers could be choking me off that much?

[spyder_xlch]

This is just a guess but I'd say the 1.5" headers are limiting your top end. Going to larger headers should wake it up but should move your power up higher. You might lose some low end but if traction off the line isn't the best that may be a good thing.

[heinz057]

doe's it feel like it's laying down? maybe you have a fuel volume problem

[Fasterthansome]

Camshaft? gearing? Timing?

[Sirshredalot]

Id lean more towards gearing.....3.73's in a light car with decent power doesnt mix....what rpm do you cross the finish line?

Ive seen people make 480hp with 1 5/8 headers....although the larger hookers would not hurt anything...and might compliment your freer flowing heads....plus they look so dang cool!!!

God bless
-Shred

[mldeolde]

Josh- you want to borrow my 2129's for testing on your car? I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON AN A FULLY SMOG LEAGLE 305 SBC FOR THE IMSA FOR A WHILE NOW COMPLETE WITH STOCK CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS SO AS TO GET IT BY THE DMV SMOG POLICE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT YOU COULD PICK THEM UP NEXT IME YOU DROP BY THIS WAY. PUT THEM ON AND GET GOOD FUEL PRESSURE AND VOLUME TO THE CARB AND JET IT UP AND YOU WILL SEE A VERY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR TOP END FOR SURE...

[Sirshredalot]

Be forewarned....the 2129's are a beast to install....and youd better have a mini starter....and four arms to install it.

Over all Im very happy with my 2129's...I love the way they fill out the engine compartment.
I think youd lie em....especially if you ever plan on building up your engine more....they give room to grow.

God bless
-Shred

[chevyart]

guys are right in their analysis of your shortcomings. first, find out at what rpm your cam makes max power. that is the rpm you shoul just be reaching when going through traps at end of the 1/4 mile, not before or adfter. if too low then you need a gear change, as your tires are small already. secondly you could easily be starving for gas towards end of quarter. fuel pressure and fuel volume are two different things. you want to check your pressure (71/2 lbs) maximum going through traps. It may read this at idle and be way low down track due to gravity and a low volume fuel pump, or a very small fuel line, which will give you pressure with poor volume. same with garden hoses, etc.should be a 1/2 inch fuel line with around 7lbs of pressure going through traps and you need a good mechanical fuel pump (min 120-140 gal per hr0 or electric giving the same. make sure you use a fuel pressure regulator in front of carb. your headers should do the job for the rpm range you are in, providing they have a good flow design(tube size isnt the only consideration. One of the guys said you will loose bottom end and gsin top end with a larger tube. he is right, but you will beed diffwerent gears to raise the rpm,s or you will loose on top and bottom if you just change the tube size and nothing else. make sure float levels are correct in carb, and check jet size (take plug reading) and MOST IMPORTANT, make sure you are getting full throttle. floor gas pedal and have someone check carb butterflies for full opening. seen this on many cars getting only 3/4 throttlee ddue to incorrectly adjusted throttle linkageHope i heldep you some
chevy art

[v8astregt]

I think my gears are pretty good. I've got my shift light set at about 5800 rpm... which is exactly where my max power is at (I've dyno'd it). Running through the traps, I've revving high, just right before my shift light comes on.

I don't think fuel is the issue, I've got a holley blue pump, and actually I'm regulated at about 5 psi... it seems anything more and I've had trouble with fuel blowing through the needle/seat with much more than that. We'll see... I've got a memory fuel gauge... I've just never remembered to set it before I run! I'll try and do that this Friday.

And that's my biggest concern with the Hooker's... I love the Sandersons in that they go in without modification, and ground clearance is wonderful... I'm reluctant to butcher my fenderwell, but I might have to. I do have a mini-starter already though.

Thanks for the offer Bruce, I'd like to take you up on that but that's too much to ask. And if they worked, I wouldn't want to have to take them off to put my set on! I'll just have to keep my eyes out for a good used set.

[heinz057]

what size fuel line do you have , and how is the fuel tank vented, are you running a dual feed line.

[v8astregt]

Fuel line is 3/8". The tank is vented to the charcoal canister, which is then vented to the atmosphere.

[heinz057]

like chevyart said, i think you need 1/2" fuel line(if not bigger for the future) also from the regulator have each outlet going to each bowl.

[73astregt]

josh try to work with your setup and see if you can tweak it to where you want. idgo with the larger hookers as a last resort. as shred said they are a sob to install and i think(not shure here) that angle plug heads are better for plug and wire clearance with them. maybe thesmaller hookers will work better than the sandersons due to tube length, collector design.(shred what do you think?) and be a hell of a lot easier to install. with the larger hookers you might have to cut crossmember clearance, the starter is a bitch (a four hander as shred said) also steering shaft clearance can be a problem(i had to dent my hedders to clear the shaft) i think the larger hookers are more made for a car with a full race front end. im just saying what my experience was with the install of the bigger hookers maybe others have had better luck!