Headers, Where to buy?

[backkraker]

Hello to all, Looking for a set of headers for a 3.0 liter milano.New or used Coated vs stainless, live in the northeast so corrosion is a concern. I have checked IAP not sure about quality or coating. Any help would be appreciated.
Joe K.

[Gilles]

I got a set of CSC ceramic coated from from Andy at Performatek, they look and sound great

[junglejustice]

There is an opinion that CSCs are a bit small for the 3.0 however, they do look real pro! I like them - spendy for such a small diameter header though, but the small diameter makes fitment easy. If you want SIZE then the fitment of the fasteners becomes the trade-off with other headers... Fits the ports fine, but hardware is tight.

I have a set of the South African BIG ones - good for the 3.0 - 800 USD includes the 2000 degree thermal heat barrier ceramic coating (as these are steel.) Looks great, they work and the coating helps to keep the heat inside of the headers real well and protects against the rust...

They come with a pair of down-pipe bends and flanges, but DO require an exhaust shop to cut and weld the down-pipes to fit your car - not too much though - basics for a good welder...

I also have a set of the original Shankles (NOS) and down-pipes - these were stainless but after sitting some years even they pick-up some brown, so I had them coated with the same coating as above - a bolt-on fit only IF your current setup is completely stock.... 500 bucks takes them - see pics here...

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/show...d=1#post239969

[75evo]

JJ,

I thought you said the SA ones are still 1.5" ID. Are they are actually 1.625" ID?

[junglejustice]

...I forget now what they are... I'll check here (in SA now), re-measure and post...

[Greg Gordon]

Hi Joe,

Everybody who has CSC headers seems to like them. However JJ is right about the size issue, they do have pipes too small for optimal performance. I think that makes them easier to manufacture and install. Of course they should still be better than the stock headers.

The IAP headers have the same size issue. They are less expensive however there is a lot more labor involved in installing them. This is because they have a history of not fitting correctly without some minor machining. Of course you can't coat them until you are sure they fit. That means they have to be put on, then taken off and sent out for coating, then put back on. The labor expense will exceed the cost savings.

The headers JJ sells are almost certainly the best ones from a performance standpoint. They are unique in that they are made by people who specilize in Alfas, not just a company with a pipe bender and some jigs. The price seems pretty good to. However we would need to see a picture of them attached to the driver's side head to know if they will fit your car.

JJ, Joe's car is getting supercharged at my shop. I don't know if the headers will fit with the supercharger without seeing a picture.

There is no question that headers will help a supercharged car. The additional horsepower creates additional exhaust. It's entirely reasonable to assume that a system designed for a 180 hp car will be restrictive on a 280 hp car. However the design issues are not the same as for a normally aspirated car. For example the normally aspirated cars have header issues like trying to get the tubes equal length for optimal scavanging, collector design and position etc. With a supercharged car you can throw all that out the window, and just look at the size of the restriction. Look at the exhaust on a top fuel dragster. It does only one thing, get the exhaust away from the head with as little restriciton as possible.

The real issue with headers on a supercharged car becomes one of a cost/benifit ratio. An $800 set of headers will cost about $1100 with installation and the down pipe set up. That amount of money could provide an intercooler. Or it could provide a modern fuel injection system like Gotech (something JJ also imports). A lot less money could be used to set up a computer controlled water injection system which would provide benifits at least equal to headers. So from a cost/horsepower point of view on a supercharged motor headers don't compare well with other mods. HOWEVER!!! There is one big reason to buy headers now and put off the other things. Those other items can be added at any time with relative easy. Headers are relatively more difficult to add in the future. Adding headers later would involve removal and reinstallation of the entire supercharger kit.

[backkraker]

Thanks Greg for an excellent explanationon on the header issue. very interested in the inter-cooler found some inter-coolers on the Megasquirt site for $200

Joe K.

[Greg Gordon]

No Problem,
We got the Group 2 boxes today. That stuff is incredible. As soon as the clutch shows up it's going to start to come together pretty darn quick.

Greg

[Greg Gordon]

On the intercooler subject there are plenty of good air to air types around $200. I like used OEM units as they are very well made. It takes time to set them up with brackets and plumbing but once installed they are ultra reliable as they have no moving parts. I am a little concerned about the effect on cooling and air conditioning as it sits in front of the radiator and condenser.

On the other hand the PWR barrel type liquid to air unit doesn't significantly block the radiator and it cools the discharge air very well, but it's expensive at about $1000 (by the time you get the pump, heat exchanger etc.) and relatively complex

[backkraker]

Greg is there any site that I could view this intercooler?

[Rookie ROX]

http://www.pwr.com.au

Intercoolers -> Liquid to Air -> All prices in AUD

Or at least that's the most likely site Greg would nominate for intercoolers

ROCK ON
R~R

[Greg Gordon]

Joe, I will PM you.

RR, thanks that's exactly the site I was thinking of.