Bob Drake's Cast Iron Headers

Henry, thanks for your informative and thought-provoking posts on this topic.

Henry Floored said:
.....The Flathead Ford, to my knowledge is the only side valve "vee" type engine that runs exhaust ports through the block.....
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FWIW, the 30-31 Oakland (and 32 Pontiac) V8 engine ran the exhaust through the block. However, the Oakland design was much better (thermally) than Ford's. In the Oakland, the exhaust exiting the right bank of cylinders passed across the top of the engine through an external manifold (heating the carb in the process) and joined the left bank manifold. Then the combined right and left exhaust passed through a single passage in the block between the front and rear pairs of cylinders, exiting out the side of the block. The block was a single casting.
 
Henry Floored & scooder, I'm with you on the thinking.

Now back to the watch building. Fenton cast iron headers are a " FIT ALL PRODUCT ", which means they don't fit anything well.
Just have your muffler shop bend up a set of duals using the stock exhaust manifolds, use your choice of loud mufflers & everything will be good.
 
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Thanks, 42 Merc. That's what I've decided to do. What Henry Floored and Scooder say makes sense intuitively...the easier it is for the hot exhaust gases to get out, the less load there should be on the cooling system.

Just received my Brockman "Mellowtones" today (really fast service, by the way). It's off to the muffler shop later this week. I plan on saving some money by not purchasing any kind of headers and instead, use my existing manifolds.

Again, thanks to everyone for all the advice and knowledge. I now not only know how to tell time, but how to build a watch, too!
 
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rheltzel said:
Thanks, 42 Merc. That's what I've decided to do. What Henry Floored and Scooder say makes sense intuitively...the easier it is for the hot exhaust gases to get out, the less load there should be on the cooling system.

Just received my Brockman "Mellowtones" today (really fast service, by the way). It's off to the muffler shop later this week. I plan on saving some money by not purchasing any kind of headers and instead, use my existing manifolds.

Again, thanks to everyone for all the advice and knowledge. I now not only know how to tell time, but how to build a watch, too!
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I have Brockman's on my '40, love em'.
 
To clear possible ambiguity,
I fully agree with JWL's findings on the dyno in his book 're headers on a stock block. And I believe the reason that they don't make a difference is the hurt and disruption to the exhaust gas before it gets out of the block. All the damage is done before the exhaust gas gets to the manifold. Therefore changing the stock manifolds for tube headers don't make a difference.
Can't argue with the facts from his dyno testing.
Martin.
 
My engine machinist tested on a dyno and found the stock manifolds out performed the Fenton headers. I have tube headers on my roadster purely for looks. (pictures in public album)
 
scooder said:
To clear possible ambiguity,
I fully agree with JWL's findings on the dyno in his book 're headers on a stock block. And I believe the reason that they don't make a difference is the hurt and disruption to the exhaust gas before it gets out of the block. All the damage is done before the exhaust gas gets to the manifold. Therefore changing the stock manifolds for tube headers don't make a difference.
Can't argue with the facts from his dyno testing.
Martin.
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Probably right. Who can argue with a dyno and scientific testing. I think it misses the point a little bit though and I have a hard time articulating my point sometimes.

We've got a lot to think about if a restrictive log manifold doesn't hurt power. I thought I explained that the exhaust ports need some improvement which is why I always take measures to do so.

I think we have touched on a subject that needs a little more attention.
 
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