I measured the lengths of the topspeed headers i just received, and the driver-side one is approx 1 1/4" shorter than the other one; is this normal?
Btw, weight each header =6.5lb

 

Make sure you are measuring on the inside of the bend, this may account for any differences.. or it may simply not be equal length.

Chris

 

I don't think they ever claimed them to be equal length.

 

I think he is talking about the actual legnth of the header itself, meaaning the left header and the right header. And yes, mine is the same and i think its supposed to be like that.

 

yeah he's not talking about equal lenght but rather, this:

 

It would seem to me that a perfect header would be one that flowed each cylinder at exactly the same rate.

Lengths and bend characteristics could affect the flow rate of each runner.

I'm not an expert, but it would seem logical that a runner with a significant curve or bend in it would flow differently than a straight one. Add in a length difference and things get even more complicated.

Now look at how all these runners are welded to the collector. This area must have some effect on flow.

I can't comment on the Top Speeds, but I know that on old domestic V8's certain brands of headers (like Hooker) would yield more horsepower on a engine than others (BlackJack). It would have to be a result of engineering differences.

Couple all of that with the fact that our plenum's are somewhat restrictive to certain cylinders (not feeding them so well) and you really get a complicated breathing system out of this engine.

I think the only test or analysis here is to try it and see what happens.

 

i measured from the same two most distal points on each header.
One measured approx 18" from tiptotip, and the other 19 1/4". Would some exhaust expert pls tell us if this is normal? Could it be that we got such a good price in the group buy because we bot rejects? Just asking.

 

Equal length only refers to the lengths of the tubes in any 1 header between the head flange and the merge collector. As AxionF117 mentioned he seems to be referring to the overall length of the headers as a whole. I wouldn't worry about. How they perform is all that I would worry about. The header design debate could fill volumes and people still wouldn't agree... My 2¢

 

yes, i meant overall length; thanx for clearing that up; i guess there's nothing to worry about the 1 1/4" difference in overall length.

 

No offense...but werent those the headers that were like 150 bucks...I mean for that price you cant complain for that difference...my grandfather always said "you are what you eat"...oh no wait...I mean..."you get what you pay for"...yep that ones right...

 

They are equal length, he means...