Custom Side Pipes and headers

Texas-Saluki · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:00 AM

All,

Does anyone have a recommendation for a place that can build custom side pipes and headers? I have slip joints on mine which just do not seem to work with EFI... so I need to get a set that can seal tight so I can get an accurate AFR

Thanks

Michael P. Wole · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:41 AM

Cant help you with the side pipe/header situation but saw you name and wondering if you are just texas dog or really went to SIU.
I am from class of '65 & '70.

SSSammy · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 08:09 AM

Chris, have you given up trying to seal the slip fit joints? There is a lot of history on this topic. for instance:
sidepipe seal

You can also take the headers and pipes to a muffler shop and have the headers expanded to fit better.

The next economical approach would be to retrofit flanges on your existing pipes. This assumes the flanges will fit through your body cut-outs. Measure first

Sam

Texas-Saluki · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 08:21 AM

Michael,

Yep... SIU-C grad from 1995 :-)

not a lot of people understand the name unless they are familiar with the school

I am originally from Schaumburg and have been down here for about 11 years

and always a big dog

sharpe 1 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 09:16 AM

I put flanges on my midstates to fix that problem. Works fine.

jwoodard · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 09:21 AM

Chris,

Give Taylor Sims a call at Dallas Performance, 972.494.5343. His shop is in Garland at 3108 Benton St., 75042.

He does excellent work and has neat projects underway at his shop.

flyboy1997 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 09:32 AM

Chris, Lonestar does it but not sure if they would for a non Lonestar product.
Keith Craft ( in Plano ) does also, I have my Excalibur in his shop now getting a set made & some other mods 972-578-3550. Starts mine next week! Wendell

Danr55 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 09:36 AM

Chris, Check with Cobra Restorers. They built the side pipes for my Contemporary.

Michael P. Wole · #9 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 09:43 AM

Big dog...I went to SIUC long before there was an -E , so it was and always will be SIU to me.
I have lived in So Illinois for the past 15 years and get back to campus once in awhile.
THey have come a long way in the last few years with thier athletic programs.

I got an Assoc in AutoTech from what was VTI back then and is now the School of Technical Carriers.
Got my BS from the School of Technology.

CHRIS DAMSCH · #10 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 01:57 PM

Chris,

What high school did you go to in Schaumburg? What year did you graduate? I went to Schaumburg, 1992

I know somebody with an earlier BDR that had the flanges welded on to his slip fit headers/pipes. Solved all the leaking problems.

Tim Brewer · #11 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:04 PM

Chris, there is a fab shop on mill street in Lewisville called Meyer Enterprises, They are about a 1/2 a mile north of main street on the left. Alan Meyer is the owner and is a great guy. They fab and build race car chassiss and just about everything else you could imagine, top notch. They custom built my headers on my car several years ago. Maybe I'll see you around town sometime,
Tim

CHRIS DAMSCH · #12 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:08 PM

I think Keith Craft in Plano also does sidepipes.

Jon Miller · #13 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 07:41 PM

Chris,
Do them yourself, nothing better than justification to buy more tools! All you will need is a hack saw and a MIG welder. Maybe a grinder too, if your welding skills are anything like mine.....

Mine are equal length ceramic coated headers with stainless side pipes. Total cost was less than half of what I would have had to pay for the sidepipes alone.

Good Luck!
Jon

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Slick61 · #14 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHRIS DAMSCH

I think Keith Craft in Plano also does sidepipes.

true that!

Rob at Keith Craft Motorsports in Plano did the custom headers & sidepipes on my Backdraft.

Austin_Snake · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 09:32 AM

Before buying all the "box of bits" and welding up your own you might check out this system for designing and fabricating headers. This system is being used on the car I am finishing up at the present. I am running and undercar exhaust mated to a 351W.

icengineworks

Fortunatly this company is in Austin TX and so I was able to see this process first hand.

Later,
Richard

FFR427 · #16 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 09:40 AM

Chris,
I have to second what Jon said... do it yourself and write off the cost of the welder in the cost savings. I was a little intimidated at first but it only took 2 weekends to fab mine... plus about 2 weekends for final welding and smoothing. I used the finishline flanges and that was the most expensive part of the entire project.

RodKnock · #17 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 10:20 AM

I had a beautiful set of headers built by Boyd at Sanderson Headers in South San Francisco, CA.

Cobra #42 · #18 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 11:05 AM

Taylor Sims at Dallas Performance just finished doing a set of pipes with Howe Racing mufflers and Howe merge collectors. Very pleased with his work, nice young guy, he did most of the header & pipe work at Keith Craft and decided to go out on his own. 972.494.5343. His shop is in Garland at 3108 Benton St., 75042.

He isn't cheap, but the best never is, he has a new in ground DynaJet dyno so you can tune your car and get before and after RWH reading. But if you want outstanding work he's the guy and also has several neat projects underway at his shop.