Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ?

greatinspirational · 07-26-2015, 07:36 PM

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 ?

Ed Wright · 07-26-2015, 09:10 PM

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.

Ed Carpenter · 07-26-2015, 09:39 PM

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

MikeMoller · 07-26-2015, 09:59 PM

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.

Alan Roehrich · 07-26-2015, 10:54 PM

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.

Ed Wright · 07-26-2015, 10:54 PM

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.

ron mattson · 07-27-2015, 09:28 AM

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.

07-26-2015, 07:36 PM	#1
greatinspirational Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 74 Likes: 6 Liked 30 Times in 14 Posts	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 ?

07-26-2015, 09:10 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	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. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

07-26-2015, 09:39 PM	#3
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Have Stepped Headers Been Proven Out ? I'm no world beater but I've run both and I found nothing. __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

07-26-2015, 09:59 PM	#4
MikeMoller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 637 Likes: 27 Liked 254 Times in 78 Posts	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. __________________ Mike Moller NHRA 203 Q-R-T/SA Last edited by MikeMoller; 07-26-2015 at 10:13 PM.

07-26-2015, 10:54 PM	#5
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,104 Likes: 1,560 Liked 1,784 Times in 407 Posts	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. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

07-27-2015, 09:28 AM	#7
ron mattson Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: cloquet mn Posts: 465 Likes: 17 Liked 66 Times in 29 Posts	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. __________________ Ron Mattson 5015 STK