Block Hugger Headers

[jbarila]

I would like to use block hugger headers instead of cutting the wheel wells.
Summit makes a set for street rods that looks like they might work. (Summit SUM-G9063-1).
Will these work? What have club members used.
Thanks for the help,
JB

PS. This forum was a great idea!!

[kstevusa]

Probably Not!,  most of us would have used a pre-fab header if available.   Steve Carrick and Ted Lathrop have some headers,  Steve's are thru the fender & Ted's are "Hugger", but i think require his X-Member.   there is so little room between the rails.  also with the Ford, the oil  filter or lines can be a obstruction.  my car has the oil filter at left rear like a Chev V8.  less trouble to mount the filter at rear than in engine compartment or in inner fender well.  also a lot cleaner to change.   we did a custom header kit from Hedman.  Joe Schafer made his from an existing set, but had to re-route. several other took this route.   headers , the front cover, and pulley system are major hurdle.  Joe has a good system.  just reduce the thickness of your X-Member and go for it!
SAFETY FASTER

[Moderator]

Ted's are "Hugger", but i think require his X-Member

That doesn't match my understanding... I'm pretty sure Ted designed them to work regardless of crossmember. It's clearance to the stock steering shaft/u-joint that I'm not so sure about.  At any rate, they're exceptionally nicely made.

You can see Ted's ("Fast Cars") block hugger headers on this car:
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/TerrySchulte.htm

Steve sold his header business to Ted, so now Ted offers both styles. There's a little more info about that at the end of this article: http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/2007-TechSession2.htm

Ted's contact info is here:
http://www.britishv8.org/Sponsors/fastcars.htm
I'm sure he'd be happy to give you the details.

[Anonymous User]

Go custom - find a header maker in your town and have a set made the way you want them!  Your search for bolt-on headers will likely be fruitless...

[MGB SS]

As kelly mentioned above I used a set of headers, but for the for the flanges only,  I had my local muffler shop bend up a couple sticks of 1 1/2" pipe into as sharp of bends as he could then I cut and matched to make my fenderwell headers.  I looked at a lot of block huggers and didn't see anything that I thought would work.  I don't have a lot of money in mine but I do have a lot of hours, this winter I will get them Hot Coated

[StagByTriumph]

Hi John,
I have a similar question in the Engines and Transmissions Forum

http://forum.britishv8.org/list.php?6

Do let me know what you find out as I need a set for my 3.5 rover in my Stag.

[StagByTriumph]

Where is the photo?

 I  was scanning some photos and there is a shot on this site of someone dropping a Rover into an MG.  Engine is on the cherry picker over the engine bay  with a clear view of the block huggers.  Anyone know where it is??

Please send me the link if you find it.

[Moderator]

Ha! Just a couple moments ago I pasted a link to that header article/photo into your other thread. You'll also find that photo and one from a different angle in the excellent How-It-Was-Done article about Paul and Mary Schils' pretty burgandy MGB GT.

[PaulV8]

Is this of any help?

[67MGBV8]

Anything is possible if you have the time.  Check out the "headers by ed" web site, it has some great information on header design. I built a set based on his theory of header design, and I must say that they pull really hard throughout the RPM range; from 1500 to 6000. Check out these pictures I took just prior to dropping in my Buick 215.

[MGB SS]

Chris

Are those equal length?  They look good, what was some of the theory that makes them different?

[jbarila]

After careful thought (and small wallet) I bought a set from summit. Bare steel street rod type.
I thought I could use it for parts and custom make a set and then have  them Jet coated. I did the first fit in the engine bay last weekend and on first look they look like they will fit through the fender wells with little mod. required. Over the Holiday I plan on fitting the engine mounts and then I will fit the headers. I'll post pics when I find out if they fit.
Thanks for all the answers!
Happy Holidays!!

JB

[StagByTriumph]

That is a great photo!  I bet you had as much fun wrapping yours as I had wrapping mine!

Curious, where did you get your headers?  I do not think my first set had the collector and down pipe as far rearward as yours.

I'll have to take another look.

Thanks!

[67MGBV8]

Joe, yes they are equal length. They are 1-1/2" OD x 38" primaries into a 2" collector. You'll notice that in order to get them to install I had to add a break joint flange so that I could drop the engine in from the top and then from below I bolt up the header extension. They run into a 2" stainless steel dual exhaust with an "H" pipe located below the transmission.  When I built them, I was reluctant to cut holes in the inner wings, because it just looked cobbed up to me.  The stubby block hugger style is just not meant to be thought of as a performance header.  Long equal length primaries are said to give the maximum torque that the engine is capable of delivering at engine speeds most often used on the road. Ed's idea is that the curves make little difference in the function of the header (look at  the "nest of snakes" layout in formula race cars, you know that they don't want to leave any horsepower on the table) The challenge with an MGB is that there is darn little space between the "frame" rail and the block. I originally built these to accommodate the stock Buick starter, but the switched to a mini-starter. I moved the engine mount as far forward as I could to get room fore and aft. I sent the whole works out to Jet-Hot.  When I originally built them up with a bare block and heads, they fit without inner wing modification, but after the weight of the assembled engine came into play the rubber V8 mounts I used flattened out a bit and I had to and dimples in the inner wing to clear the rear pipes.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I guess it was only a matter of time before another disciple chose to follow the path of true enlightenment, and it's interesting to note the similarities. 1-3/8" ID x 36" compared to 1-1/2" OD x 38", 2-3/8" collectors into header mufflers vs 2" collectors and an H pipe. If you have not run it yet you are in for a treat. My first engine with these headers was a high compression Buick 215 with the hottest cam Comp Cams sold for it and a 600 Holley double pumper. It screamed. Eventually all of the trips to 7 grand were too much for the stock cast pistons though and I broke a piston skirt. The headers eventually made their way onto the blower mill in the car now, and with a little tweaking will be used on the blown 340. I could make a better set now than I did back then, but I'm glad I don't have to.

Jim

[PaulV8]

Yes it was alot of fun wrapping them!  Although i did it off the car so it was slightly easier. They're stainless steel from the MGB hive, www.mgbhive.co.uk/.

[Moderator]

Paul, when are we going to get to see a "How It Was Done" article on your car?
(Instructions are here: http://www.britishv8.org/British-V8-How-To-Contribute.htm)

Chris, I can't get over how glossy your inner fenders are. I think I'll be pasting that photo into the "photo gallery"!

[PaulV8]

As it goes i was looking through my pictures earlier, we're just fitting the new brakes to the car.  Once they're on i'll take some pics of the finished article and i'll sumbit a full write up  Hoping for maiden voyage next week!  Just waiting on the mallory to arrive.

[Bruce Mills]

I bought mine several years ago from http://www.tsimportedautomotive.com/ They apparently have come down quite a bit in price and are now 275 us