Flat collectors

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by joespanova

This all originates from the situation of having a friend needing a set of headers for his 85 Bird ( small Chevy ).

He has a nice 400 ( Brodix cnc'd , 14-1 comp , Tim Cole put together some cam lobes for me ) just a decent combo. I "THINK" with this engine and a car that weighs in the neighborhood of 2700 lbs , 9.30s to 9.50s will be no problem. I did the engine so I know its a nice combo .

However , for what he's doing with it Stahl , Lemons etc etc were a little pricey..............so he opted for the Hedmans ( Hustlers )......all they had in an 1 7/8 was a "flat collector" deal , for his car.

I know they are less popular , but I have no idea what the "adverse" effects could be.

Just curious as to what difference it would make.... if it's a bracket car?

[joespanova]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Just curious as to what difference it would make.... if it's a bracket car?

Well , since you asked , none ........I suppose. LOL

But I'm not a bracket racer by nature "at all".

I figure class racers may have some useful info though , if anyone would know if its not a good design , they would.

[Kevin Lang]

Joe you also have to run a remote oil filter with them because you cant get at the oil filter with the flat collector. just one more draw-back to that style......sorry.

[joespanova]

Originally Posted by Kevin Lang

Joe you also have to run a remote oil filter with them because you cant get at the oil filter with the flat collector. just one more draw-back to that style......sorry.

Not in this case..........we didnt. There is approx 1 1/2 between the filter and collector.

Using a K&N HP2002

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Kevin Lang

Joe you also have to run a remote oil filter with them because you cant get at the oil filter with the flat collector. just one more draw-back to that style......sorry.

Not true, although you will make a mess all over the headers changing it.

[chris ok]

lay a pig mat over the headers before dropping the filter. I finally started doing it since I got my regular headers coated.

[FastbackTom]

This may seem a little irrelevant to some, but the VW Formula Vee guys have debated flat style 4-1 versus the more traditional square 4-1 collectors for a long time. Those guys run old, stock, small port single carb engines that have been tweaked by some pretty bright guys since the 1960's. At 50-some-odd hp output, they'd give their eye teeth for 3hp. Since you don't see one style or the other exclusively in use, my guess is there isn't a lot to be lost, or gained, if the rest of the header has been sized and constructed right.