Author Topic: Headers on my 383 'vette! (Read 1002 times)

Morpheus · « **Reply #30 on:** June 18, 2005, 11:51:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Steve
I looked at the crate chevy motor as well but it used short rods and they were hyper instead of forged. Friends advised me that this motor might not hold up to heavy loads of sauce.

I ended up building a much stronger motor for about the same price plus I used my orignal block so, if I ever sell it, I can still say "all numbers match".

Thanks for the advice Rosco... I'm goin w/ Flowmasters.

Nice steve. Forged is the only way to fly if your going to spray it or if its going to see any boost. On one of my first motors when I was younger, still in high school and couldnt afford a nice forged rotating assy I went with hypereutectic. Alot cheaper, still strong through...to a point. In a 351windsor i was spraying it with a 175 shot and it was holding up. It wasnt until I turned it up to 200 that I finally melted a piston. After that, I made it a point to only use forged parts, and to wait if I couldnt afford them right away.

The crate motors from GM cost alot for what you get. Its the same way with Ford. And like you said, you can build a much stronger motor for the same price or less.

Looks nice man. Cant wait to see it when its done.

Steve · « **Reply #31 on:** July 12, 2005, 01:46:34 AM »

wheeeeeeeeeeeee! I was on vacation for 3 weeks in Northern Wisconsin. Bought 1.5 acres w/ 100' of frontage on a nice sand lake near Minocqua to go w/ our property on white sand lake.

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm currently having the 700r4 rebuilt to handle the twist from the new motor and the vette itself is in the shop for paint. Can't wait to get it back but it's been so hot here (115 or more) thati wouldn't drive it anyway.

Rosco, I believe the heads are Pro 1's.

That flowmaster sound... I notice a lot of pickups have a sound similar... never thought of it that way heheh. I put two stage mufflers on the car. Honestly, it seemed a little too loud but I've only driven it about 20 miles(muffler shop-home-bodyshop) since getting it set up.
How much will 3 stage mufflers hurt me?

Bodhi · « **Reply #32 on:** July 12, 2005, 02:03:21 AM »

Steve,

WRAP THOSE DAMN PIPES!

Steve · « **Reply #33 on:** July 12, 2005, 02:14:21 AM »

Wrap them.... the headers?

I've heard some people do this... is this to keep heat out of the engine compartment?

The headers are ceramic coated. Drove several miles w/ a spark plug wire resting on them, didn't even discolor the wire... cool stuff.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #34 on:** July 12, 2005, 02:17:48 AM »

flowmasters are ok . but everyone has them (i used to stock them 50-100 pr at a time) .. the 3 stage would of been quieter . but then so is some sort of resonator (small glass pack) installed takes alot of the rumble out.

the trick with 3 stage style mufflers that i do is use the 2 1/2's for 3 inch apps and trim them off so the 3in enters/exits nicely
(shorter muffler body )

you guys woulda drooled on what i had my paws on today .. '65 shelby gt 350 (yes a real one)

ive been installing alot of imco's lately there a really heavy excellent quality muffler that are cross between a turbo and flowmaster in sound .

edit .... Dont you dare rap them headers ... I'll personally road trip my arse down there and break your joystick .. the rap wrecks any header within 2 yrs

Staga · « **Reply #35 on:** July 12, 2005, 03:13:02 AM »

Using heat resistant tape like "Thermo-Tec" in headers will A)Keep temperature lower under your hood and B) keep exhaust gasses hot.
When exhaust gasses cool down they "shrink" and lose speed/momentum and aren't helping engine to pump out exhaust gasses from cylinders = engine doesn't "breath" as well as it could.

lazs2 · « **Reply #36 on:** July 12, 2005, 08:24:37 AM »

What are imco's? I use dynomax mufflers and they seem to work out... 2 chamber flowmasters on the Healey tho. 2 chamber are pretty loud..

so steve... you have an autromatic trans in a vette? Not sure I get it... you take a vette and with it's weak IRS and lousy weight transfer and low stance and.... hot rod it to be very loud and spray it with nitrous and then.... use an automatic trans?

If you wanted a quarter horse you picked the worst car you could... if you wanted a sports car... well.. hard to drive sporty with an auto and dragstrip susspension and nitrous right? a camaro woulda been better I would think or even an older sedan.

lazs

Bodhi · « **Reply #37 on:** July 12, 2005, 09:05:39 AM »

Steve,

Staga hit the nail on the head.

It is totally worth it, I will get you a number for some good exhaust wraps later today.

Steve · « **Reply #38 on:** July 12, 2005, 10:35:21 AM »

Quote

hard to drive sporty with an auto and dragstrip susspension and nitrous right? a camaro woulda been better I would think

I honestly dunno what dragstrip suspension is, or IRS. Please educate me, Lazs.
Some argue that unless you are a complete shifting expert(when drag racing) that having a solid Auto is actually better. As for the Nitrous: Well the motor is pretty strong on it's own. If I were to go for some "spirited" road driving the Nitrous would be shut off.

As for it being hot-rodded to be loud... I think it's probably too loud and that I'll tone it down some. I'm not looking to be obnoxious on the road.

I think a camaro would have been better too. I'll take a '69 , please! *

*already had the vette.

Wrapping headers... I think that by having ceramic coated headers that wrapping them would be redundant. Those w/ knowledge please chime in.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #39 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:11:14 AM »

IRS = Independent Rear Suspension

Vettes IRS is not known for being the most robust rear end around. They have a tendency to torque steer. The more horses under the hood, the worse the condition gets. It also allows a lot of body twist.
Pretty easy to twist up a Vette with the stock IRS and a high ouput motor.

indy007 · « **Reply #40 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:24:32 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Steve
Some argue that unless you are a complete shifting expert(when drag racing) that having a solid Auto is actually better.

I know a couple Supra guys that think that way, saying they gain almost a car length when the other guy shifts. Downside is finding a TC that can handle it. There's an 800hp single-turbo (no spray) I've ridden in that will explode its torque converter if the tires chirp. Very fast & scary though once its off the line & not broken.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #41 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:39:04 AM »

cermatic coated headers
1st it lowers the temp radiating off of them
2nd it takes the ole header ping noise out of them
3rd they cool down alot quicker
4th they dont rust out and stay looking good (if they dont get rock chiped ,or discolored from fluids)

thermal wrap

1st it retains heat inside and bakes the header
2nd the glue reacts badly w/ the heat
3rd it turns into a moisture trap and rusts out the header really fast

on your vette yes it has irs and it works really good in most conditions . its only limitation can be fine tuning because of the mono fiberglass leaf spring .

Dont worrie Steve it will be fine . ive been all over that type of vette with a "huge" hp stroker in it (est 750hp) and the car holds up and performs nicely.

Btw you want a drag car ???
'69 Camaro ???
Man i have the car for you .. an original 427 car .. fully chassied , caged , 4 link, anti roll bar,mustang 2 front end w/rack, set up for a big block and lenco.

still a roller ,,alll it needs is eng and trans. Quickest ET was 7.51 at 189 mph w/a 1200hp big block and 4 speed.

this car was a former Pro stock car from day one and was originally converted back in '69

email me and i'll tell ya how many $$$
i've got a pic or two of it somewere ...

Roscoroo · « **Reply #42 on:** July 12, 2005, 11:54:06 AM »

oh yea here Laz

http://www.imcoweb.com/products/Performance-Line/Performance%20Mufflers.htm

They're really nice mufflers if you were wanting a different sound besides flowmasters.

Steve · « **Reply #43 on:** July 12, 2005, 12:52:45 PM »

I've heard stories about guys who got oil on their thermal wraps(soaked in) .... then had a fire. Urban myth?

Skuzzy, thanks for the info. I'm going to put a dana 44 in the rear end if/when I destroy the current one. I'm only going to race... very infrequently. I like vettes, always wanted a hot rod. Like Lazs said, it's far from the ideal 1/4 horse but it satisfies two needs. If I race and become addicted, I'll buy an old camaro/chevelle and really get serious. For now, I'm just a vette enthusiast who likes hotrods.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #44 on:** July 12, 2005, 01:45:33 PM »

Enjoy what ya drive and drive what ya like.

People made fun of me when I dropped in a 9500rpm 289 in my 68 Falcon station wagon (High School ride), with a cross-boss manifold, 8 single-throated Webers on top, 4 speed top loader, a rear end from a Boss 302, front sway bar from a 67 Shelby.

They laughed until I stood on the pedal. Always made me grin.

You'll do well with that Dana. Just need to lock down the tires so they do not jounce around on ya. What kind of rear rubber you running?