Header Opinions Wanted

[jrhone]

Looks like I am in the market for a new header.  I currently have a very old Ireland Step Street Header.  My engine is a lightly modded M10.  9.5:1 pistons, 292 Cam, Weber 38 carb.  What are the current options?  I can replace it with the same.  Ireland also sells the Tri-Y design (Alpine Style) and that looks intriguing.  Top end also has their long header.  Pros and Cons of each?  Thanks!!

[Simeon]

By long header do you mean 4 into 1? Always believed that that kind of header is a full race item that flows a lot but doesn't get any 'pulse' effect to scavenge from adjacent cylinders in the firing order which helps when 'off the cam'. 

 

The tri-Y might be a good choice?

[69Bimmer02]

Is your head stock or modified? If fairly stock, you may just want to go with a TII manifold or a shorty header. Not much reason to go with full headers on fairly stock exhaust valves/ports.

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[AceAndrew]

6 hours ago, Simeon said:

By long header do you mean 4 into 1? Always believed that that kind of header is a full race item that flows a lot but doesn't get any 'pulse' effect to scavenge from adjacent cylinders in the firing order which helps when 'off the cam'. 

 

The tri-Y might be a good choice?

 

The 1.5" "STEP" header design works decently enough on street hotrod engines.

 

JR - Just as an FYI regarding the TopEnd headers.  They are the original Ireland design... over time the supplier's quality got worse.  Jeff (with his new "awesome" manufacturer) designed the step header as a clear improvement and moved on.  TopEnd basically just scooped in afterward and started buying/selling them.

 

What you have now is just fine, the Tri-Y might give you a tad bit more power in the mid-range and a whole lot more sexy.  Aside from the look, my favorite part on the Tri-Y is the fitment.  Worked quite a bit during prototyping on getting everything to line up nicely underneath.

 

Lastly, the simple Shorty and downpipe is still a decent option.  

 

Cross comparing the Step header, Tri-Y header, and the Shorty header .... we are looking at maybe 5hp differences at different points on the curve given your engine spec (so not huge).  The strongest being the Tri-Y, but go figure it's the most spendy/sexy.

Edited August 8, 2017 by AceAndrew

[69Bimmer02]

I recently installed the shorty header and am pleased with both the sound and looks versus cost on a relatively stock head.

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[71bmr02]

Gonna jump in, I have a mildly modded engine, 272, 9.5:1, 1.8i head, twm inta ke with tep 32/36.  I tried "long tube" headers and killed my bottom end/torque just as Simeon indictated.  I installed a Tii exhaust and havnt looked back.  BMW engineers pretty much got that one spot on.  find a tii manifold and resonator and do whatever you want from the resonator back.

 

 

[inkatouring]

There's really very little performance gain with headers vs. a tii manifold on most street engines, such as yours.  That said, the Supersprint/Alpina/bag-o-snakes headers provide more low-end torque, which I think is a good thing.

[jrhone]

Thanks guys. I spoke with Jeff Ireland and got some great info. The Step header design is specifically for better mid range. He said I probably wouldn't feel the difference between that and a 4-2-1 design but the 4-2-1 would probably make a few extra hp. From the research I have done their 4-1 Step header makes more power over stock throughout the rpm band. It's Step mimics the properties of a 4-2-1 design.  That 4-2-1 sure is sexy though. Lol. Gonna sleep on it and see what the wife says. My next project was going to be 5 speed install. Now I gotta spend some coin on this instead.

[AceAndrew]

1 hour ago, inkatouring said:

There's really very little performance gain with headers vs. a tii manifold on most street engines, such as yours.  That said, the Supersprint/Alpina/bag-o-snakes headers provide more low-end torque, which I think is a good thing.

 

Actually there is a fair amount to be gained from a decent header over a Tii manifold.

 

Jeez, its already been four years since I posted this....  Independent back to back dyno of a Tii header and system vs Stg.2 Step header and system.

 

stock run: 94.9hp/97.1torque  

ie stg.2 step run:  102.65hp/105.81torque

 

 

Edited August 9, 2017 by AceAndrew

[markmac]

Chassis Dyno or Engine Dyno?  Just curious.