AMT '37 chevy headers

[Mattblack]

I'm hoping that someone who's built the AMT '37 chevy kit can help me out. I've built the headers up separately and I'm pretty sure that they can only go together one way... but I've ended up with 2 different shapes... ?

I did trim the ends of the top one to try to 'adjust' the angle of the collector.

If it's just how they are (it is an old AMT kit after all) I may look at swapping them for a pair from the spares box.

[slusher]

Fist one is the drivers side bottom one is the right side..

[Ace-Garageguy]

That's the way they go together correctly.

Headers aren't necessarily symmetrical in the real world because of cylinder firing order, and trying to get exhaust pulses to enter the collectors in a particular order to encourage cylinder scavenging.

[Mattblack]

5 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

That's the way they go together correctly.

Headers aren't necessarily symmetrical in the real world because of cylinder firing order, and trying to get exhaust pulses to enter the collectors in a particular order to encourage cylinder scavenging.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was 99.9999% sure they were right, but don't recall seeing asymmetrical headers before.

Now, do I swap them anyway, having spent ages getting them lined up using the engine as a jig... or invoke the 'you can only see one side at once' rule?

[Bainford]

19 minutes ago, Mattblack said:

Thanks, that makes sense. I was 99.9999% sure they were right, but don't recall seeing asymmetrical headers before.

Now, do I swap them anyway, having spent ages getting them lined up using the engine as a jig... or invoke the 'you can only see one side at once' rule?

Personally, I think the asymmetrical headers provide a hint of authenticity. As Bill said, they are rarely symmetrical as they are made to fit the space available while trying to maintain specific tube lengths. Also, an odd shaped header may be to avoid a clash with other components such as steering gear, etc. if you do swap headers, be sure the new ones clear all obstacles. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Mattblack said:

...I was 99.9999% sure they were right, but don't recall seeing asymmetrical headers before.

[Mattblack]

1 hour ago, Bainford said:

Personally, I think the asymmetrical headers provide a hint of authenticity. As Bill said, they are rarely symmetrical as they are made to fit the space available while trying to maintain specific tube lengths. Also, an odd shaped header may be to avoid a clash with other components such as steering gear, etc. if you do swap headers, be sure the new ones clear all obstacles. 

You're right, I don't even know if the others I have in mind will fit and can see myself getting into world of pain...

It's funny, they just look 'odd' to me, but when I think about it an engine with it's ancillaries on generally isn't symmetrical anyway. 

[redscampi]

4 hours ago, Bainford said:

if you do swap headers, be sure the new ones clear all obstacles.

Yep, get out the ball peen hammer and start wailing on those brand new ceramic coated, high buck pipes. Hurts every time, but seems necessary almost every time when your building hot rods.

Not Chevy and not mine...:)

Edited July 21, 2024 by redscampi

[Ace-Garageguy]

42 minutes ago, redscampi said:

Yep, get out the ball peen hammer and start wailing on those brand new ceramic coated, high buck pipes. Hurts every time, but seems necessary almost every time when your building hot rods.

Ummmmmm...no.

Though I really do love seeing quality work like that performed by highly skilled craftsmen, obviously master car builders.

I must be doing it wrong.

EDIT: I found the thread that photo came from, and apparently the guy actually thinks he did good...and a buncha other clowns defend him.

Anyone who'd post that on the web and be proud of it, and folks who'd defend him...well, kinda self explanatory.

Edited July 22, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[redscampi]

12 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Ummmmmm...no.

Though I really do love seeing quality work like that performed by highly skilled craftsmen, obviously master car builders.

I must be doing it wrong.

Just a little humor. A lot of the prefabricated headers made for specific applications do not fit very well and I've seen lots of dimpled headers in otherwise nice cars. Personally I think it's a short cut and looks like one most of the time. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

40 minutes ago, redscampi said:

Just a little humor. A lot of the prefabricated headers made for specific applications do not fit very well and I've seen lots of dimpled headers in otherwise nice cars. Personally I think it's a short cut and looks like one most of the time. 

Frankly, I just can't understand how anyone anywhere anytime can justify making a mess like that.

Yeah, I'm well aware bought headers often have fit issues.

I've been building cars for over 5 decades, and I've never let a car leave with even dimpled primaries.

And I'll fix interference issues for free if the client can't afford it, because I'll never be associated with mangled hacking messes.

But, you know, that's just me. And I'm so very very glad I'm wired like that.

Rant over.  

EDIT: Probably the same guy, after "learning to weld and doing it right".

Edited July 22, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Bainford]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

EDIT: I found the thread that photo came from, and apparently the guy actually thinks he did good...and a buncha other clowns defend him.

Anyone who'd post that on the web and be proud of it, and folks who'd defend him...well, kinda self explanatory.

That's the new standard. Plan for success by keeping the bar low. I blame it on the 'a-prize-for-every-participant' mentality of the last couple decades. 

[espo]

20 hours ago, redscampi said:

Yep, get out the ball peen hammer and start wailing on those brand new ceramic coated, high buck pipes. Hurts every time, but seems necessary almost every time when your building hot rods.

Not Chevy and not mine...:)

Sort of defeats the whole reason for having headers in the first place. More noise and back pressure in one barbaric modification.  

[stavanzer]

On 7/21/2024 at 5:15 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Frankly, I just can't understand how anyone anywhere anytime can justify making a mess like that.

Yeah, I'm well aware bought headers often have fit issues.

I've been building cars for over 5 decades, and I've never let a car leave with even dimpled primaries.

And I'll fix interference issues for free if the client can't afford it, because I'll never be associated with mangled hacking messes.

But, you know, that's just me. And I'm so very very glad I'm wired like that.

Rant over.  

EDIT: Probably the same guy, after "learning to weld and doing it right".

My Dad, was a Welder. He taught Metal Shop in High School for 9 years. He would have failed the student who turned that in.

[bobss396]

The old long-tube headers were fairly symmetrical, like the Black Jacks I had in a Chevy C30. There was a ton of room to install those. I had a '66 Nova with Hedman headers, the driver-side was in 2 pieces to get around the clutch linkage.