Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

I read a couple articles recently claiming it not to be a proven out advantage. Can anyone relate A/B testing that has proven out that stepped headers are an advantage ?

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

About everybody has them. I did A-B-A test them on my SS LT1 car. Built on the same jig. Both dyno & race track, since we don't race dynos.
When I ordered the headers I have now from Jere Sthal, he wanted to see everything from my testing. dyno sheets, time flips, etc. He agreed that my engine does not like them. Only place mine showed anything with the steps was below 6000 RPM. My converter hits at 6200. Thinking it may hit the converter harder, and may show something. Only showed a loss at the track also. Foot brake car may run quicker with them. My torque & power was down with the step headers from 6000 to 8500. Didn't run it above that on the dyno.
Wasted money on merge collectors as well. Mine likes big tubes and collectors. I'm probably doing something wrong.

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

I'm no world beater but I've run both and I found nothing.

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

Merge collectors slowed me down in 1/8, et and mph. Never tested 1/4. Working on smaller, longer tubes and smaller collector instead-small motor low HP.

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

Header design, including single or double step headers, or 4-2-1 (Tri-Y) headers, as well as merge collectors, requires development of a package.

You cannot simply bolt them on and expect improvements, it just does not work that way. Making them work requires changes to the camshaft, as well as the fuel and ignition tune, in order to see positive results.

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

The merge collectors needed a different fuel curve to get as good as I could get them, but still down from straight 3 1/2" collectors. My friend Pete Peery found no gains, last I heard, from merge collectors on his LT1 SS GT car. Some engine love them. I even pulled some exhaust duration trying to make them work. I only run 4 degrees split with the straight collectors.

Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?
 

Each car/engine is different mine was 10hp 12 lbs better with
Merge collectors on hooker super comp headers then
Picked up ,06-,07 with burns designed step headers.
I have seen other injected cars not like merges also.