I have a set of headers, I think I got the SS set. It does give off alot of heat. Is there a heat wrap that would help this? I always thought wrapping them would cause them to rust?? Is that true?
Tom
Tom
Thorley headers heat
- Thread starter Billygoat
- Start date
Correct, wrapping is not a good idea. Thorley offers ceramic coated which helps a bit with the heat, but headers don't help that much overall. OEM manifolds are still available from Cinnabar.
Try to better manage your igition timing and set the vacuum advance lines like they did on the 455 from 1970. The earlier 455's had the vacuum advance canister hooked up to manifold vacuum, and also make sure your mechanical advanced its working properly. The Olds exhaust manifolds are very thin and dont really contain heat like other thicker caast iron manifolds. I have headers and I didnt notice a differance in heat or sound when I switched to headers the same way that I did when I switch my SBC and LS engines to headers.
Other things to check are the muffers, if they are internally correded they will restric flow and contain heat. Moving the mufflers to the back can also help keep the heat moving away from the front of the coach.
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Headers are going to put off heat just like cast iron manifolds do. They do cool off faster than cast iron. I like wrapping small parts of header tubes when we are worried about burning wires or things of that nature. Wrap does trap heat and can lead to cracking welds if they are really wrapped up.
I'd bet that you would probably notice a greater improvement with headers on a fuel injected engine vs. a carb engine (unless you are actually tuning the carb engine; checking plugs, needles and jets, timing etc). Most people arent.
They certainly wont hurt, but depending on what level of effort you put into the overall package, can help. If I have to pick stock manifolds or headers, I'd do headers every time
I'd bet that you would probably notice a greater improvement with headers on a fuel injected engine vs. a carb engine (unless you are actually tuning the carb engine; checking plugs, needles and jets, timing etc). Most people arent.
They certainly wont hurt, but depending on what level of effort you put into the overall package, can help. If I have to pick stock manifolds or headers, I'd do headers every time
i have an aluminum (flashing) heat shield mounted on inner fender.. which were melting and 7 inch vents just beneath the floor to exterior (gills) larry
I replaced the (other performance company) mufflers at the front (off my headers) due to a droning noise at cruise. If you can move them to the back (as suggested by @icsamerica), I think you'd definitely see less heat and noise. If you're doing it yourself, the front setup is easier to do, in my opinion.
Lots of V8’s will drone around 2200-2400 RPM with ‘performance’ mufflers. I still love the sound of foxbody 5.0 Mustangs with flowmasters.
I think that a 23 to 36’ exhaust system probably isnt the most efficient system out there. We are probably working towards a happy medium at the end of the day.
I think that a 23 to 36’ exhaust system probably isnt the most efficient system out there. We are probably working towards a happy medium at the end of the day.
I believe I might have that done. I have a pair of Maxflo mufflers right behind the engine that contributes to the heat I’m sure. I’ll just have my muffler shop move one of them to the back. I’ll guess I’ll have a spare muffler available when I need one.
