Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

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Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

Postby EVL VEGA » Wed Jan 13, 2016 1:04 pm

The new engine masters video is out.
https://youtu.be/azPKIjxmmdU

I think us H-Body guys can all feel a little better about our driver side headers getting all dented up for the steering. :mrgreen: :dance:
EVL VEGA
'73 Vega Hatchback (former Super Gas car)
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Re: Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

Postby spencerforhire » Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:48 pm

I just sent a link to this video to a customer of mine who's new block hugger headers I had to severely bash in a few tubes to get them on his car. He told me after a test drive that they worked as well or maybe a bit better than the old long tubes that I took off. I was reluctant to dent them at first, but this guy assured me they were cheap and he didn't care. The switch from long tubes to block huggers was done to gain over 2.5" of ground clearance. As it turns out, I guess I didn't do any major harm anyway.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

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Re: Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

Postby cjbiagi » Wed Jan 13, 2016 6:40 pm

Pretty cool test but if you are going to ding headers it's best to do it by holding a larger diameter steel pipe and hammering on that to more gently radius the dent. If done correctly it will look nicer if nothing else.
Clyde.........75 Monza 2+2
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Re: Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

Postby Kenova » Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:59 pm

Well, that makes me feel better.
I bought my Nova as a roller and managed to get the headers and exhaust with it. I took a closer look at the
headers (1 7/8" Hookers) and found a huge dent where the starter goes. The previous owner thought it was
wiser to bash in a new $700.00 set of headers rather than spend a couple hundred on a mini starter :rolleyes: .
Now I find out that dent may be worth some extra horsepower. :mrgreen:

Ken
My other car is a Nova.
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Re: Exhaust Header Bash! Testing Power Loss From Dents

Postby HardcoreABN » Sun Feb 21, 2016 7:45 pm

Honestly I think those headers were over sized to begin with. They never released any specs on the engine which further raises my suspicion about the headers being too big to begin with.
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