Headers for LS1
 

There seem to be a couple of headers prefered.

I've heard the stock headers hit the wall on the ls1.

I don't have a maintrain yet to play with. If you flip the headers to the other side, wil they clear the sides? Or still a no go.

If they would clear. I might make a crossover tube to the front. No intercooler, and just run 6psi.

Preference isn't the issue. The Sanderson shorties work by dinging the #1 runner but quality is sub par. They're $250. I think with most shorites you should still cut off the 3 bolt flange and weld the proper bend to run parallel to the trans. Then you can just use slip joints and eliminate a potential leak.

The steering shaft is the problem with most headers. It hits the #1 runner usually. There's more room on the pax side, but access to the starter is a bitch.

These cheapy ebay shorties apparently fit according to modracer33 at m.net but there might be issues with the 02 position and there isn't even one at the collector on the pax side. They're copies of an Edelbrock.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XTUNE...item4ceb6d246e

Frank

Has anyone gotten a set of reasonable longtubes to work? I would imagine the biggest limiting factor is the steering arm.

Michael

Lee had a set of custom long tubes built. V8R reported about a 6rwhp difference between the long tubes they had built vs Sandersons headers, but had a 20+ degree increase in oil temps from them.

The longtubes created a 20+ oil temp increase? It's hard for me to believe they only made 6whp from shorties to longtubes. Might've been due to the exhaust they were running. Ls1toy on m.net has the sandersons and was unimpressed. He's supposed to be having some LT's made before too long. Should make for a good comparison. I'm looking to make over 400 and I'm not sure that shorties are going to get me there.

Michael

I fought the same battle for nearly two years before ordering the Sanderson headers..... Trust me :(

The temperature increase from the long tubes is apparently from the greater surface area of four smaller tubes when compared to one big one. This allows more radiant heat into the engine bay and helps heat the oil when the exhaust goes by the pan. As an added bonus, the footwell gets really hot.

Mine work just fine, but I used 4 coats inside & 4 coats underneath of thermal ceramic insulator paint ($36.00 a gallon) and have large hood louvers.

No interior heat problems at all, even in Arizona and bumper to bumper traffic, no problem. You can see my collectors extend well past the tranny bell-housing. I heat sheilded my starter and the two rear-ward ureathane bushings of the upper control arms.

It's all good.:) - Lee

I could use a set on the jeep right about now if it does what you say it does! This poor trucks interior just will not warm up! :p

Lee do you have any other pictures of your headers. It seems like your the only one who has successfully gotten a set of LT's made that will fit.

Thanks,
Michael

Does this engine give off a lot more heat than the stocker so the long tubes would be a concern, or does the engine bay just hang out a little hotter and it is no big deal?

Are you asking if it makes more heat than the stroker FM sells for the Miata engine? The big difference is that the exhaust on the Miata-engined cars runs right where Mazda designed it to go. Also, almost every stroker has a turbo on it and that changes the heat distribution quite a bit.

Thankfully, GM did a much better job of designing the engine's cooling system than Mazda did so we're mostly concerned with radiated exhaust heat instead of trying to keep the engine cool.

FWIW, Thermal Research has the exhaust we built for Elvis at their shop, and we just shipped them our plastic engine to play with. Probably 60 days out on production ss block huggers and complete exhaust.

I'd make sure the LS1 starter can be pulled without removing the headers, and that the header has a bit more clearance than the Sandersons at the starter.

Are you guys installing the 6.0 truck starters in your conversions or are the crate motor starters shorter than the standard F-body starter?

The 5.3 starters are not smaller! And the cheapest Rockauto F-body starter is even longer than the Delco part.

I've had some fun with the Sandersons and starters. :mad:

Frank

We're using truck starters, I think they're the 5.3 ones. Packaging makes it tough to clear everything. We put insulating blankets on the starters and heatshields on the motor mounts.

The primary benefit of a good set of long tubes is not enhancing the top of the power curve power. Long tubes really enhance midrange torque and give you more tq/power under the curve. A properly sized (as in diameter) set of shortys isn't going to cost that much high rpm power.

FWIW, we've seen 415 or so at the wheels out of the 480/376 LS3 crate motors. With NO tuning done at all, factory ecu as supplied for the crate motor. This is with the Sandersons.

PS for Frank. Thanks for the input. I just checked and Chuck has built more clearance in front of the starter, has much of the fixturing done.

hey LS2 V8 Miata, what longtubes are you using exactley and what all did you have to do to them? i want LT's not shortys... ive got a set on my c5 and love them!

Just a progress report, preliminary jigs are built and Elvis is waiting for a truck ride to CA for final fitting. Getting closer!

I built them myself from scratch, used GM OEM flanges and bought 4 into 1 collectors, tig-welded anf jet-coated. First headers I ever built.

im sure youve been asked this before but are you willing to make another set? and how much?

You're Right and I'm flattered, but the Real problem is, even if I wanted to, My Car is totally unique in that Nothing in my k-member corresponds to any of you guys kits. I could unbolt my headers today, send 'em to you and nothing would fit your car.

Looking at the Quality of the Kits and Components, I believe with the Talent these guys possess, a little patience and they'll have a first rate set of headers available to you, at a fair price, in the not too distant future.

Good luck! I barked up that tree a year or two ago :p

They are actually working on a set :)

any update on those longtubes?