Header flanges?
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Header flanges?
How thick should flanges be for an exhaust header?
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Re: Header flanges?
3/8" minimum. 1/2" better.
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Re: Header flanges?
Keith, if you are thinking of making a homemade header, yourself, I have a commercially made header flange that might save you some time. it is 1/4" thick if I remember. Contact me if you are interested.KWTownsend wrote: ↑Tue May 06, 2025 3:48 pmHow thick should flanges be for an exhaust header?
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Re: Header flanges?
3/8 minimum.
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Re: Header flanges?
Keith can't use my header flange because it is for use on a T without an overhead. He has a "Fronty" and can't use it. someone who didn't give their name, messaged me that they would take it if Keith didn't. They are a mystery person.ModelTWoods wrote: ↑Tue May 06, 2025 8:36 pmKeith, if you are thinking of making a homemade header, yourself, I have a commercially made header flange that might save you some time. it is 1/4" thick if I remember. Contact me if you are interested.KWTownsend wrote: ↑Tue May 06, 2025 3:48 pmHow thick should flanges be for an exhaust header?
: ^ )
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Re: Header flanges?
As I recall the header plate that Mark supplies with his Rajo kit is 1/2 inch thick. I still managed to put a minor warp in it while building my header.
Andy
Andy
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Re: Header flanges?
Working slow with a drill press, oil and a hole saw it's pretty easy to make one.
"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail"
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Re: Header flanges?
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/8 ... 1543505202
This old post has a .pdf file showing the dimensions to make your own. Chad, I just noticed that this was from your inquiry about it years ago!
This old post has a .pdf file showing the dimensions to make your own. Chad, I just noticed that this was from your inquiry about it years ago!
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Re: Header flanges?
I have been building custom headers since my teenager years, 3/8" is your friend, bevel inside and out, match distances within 3% flow check if you can!
Hank
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Re: Header flanges?
From previous discussionKWTownsend wrote: ↑Tue May 06, 2025 3:48 pmHow thick should flanges be for an exhaust header?
: ^ )
By Scott Elliott, Tigard, OR on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 - 06:32 pm:
Here is a pdf of a Header flange. It shows the dimensions between the ports and the bolt hole spacing. You might want to make the 2.25 dimension 2.50
Include the picture instead of the PDF of it
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
The header will be for a Frontenac. My son will do the fabrication and satisfy a "design and build" requirement for his welding classes at the local community college.
He will make one from steel, and if all goes well, a second one from stainless steel.
He made flanges 1/2" thick.
He will make one from steel, and if all goes well, a second one from stainless steel.
He made flanges 1/2" thick.
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Re: Header flanges?
What is the best tubing to use to fabricate the rest of the header?
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Re: Header flanges?
Stay away from aluminized and galvanized tube. Bare steel or stainless steel is best for welding. Stainless is a pain to work with, if you’re gonna build a bare steel header as a pattern, consider having it ceramic coated and be done with it!
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Re: Header flanges?
Speedway Motors sells very nice U bends for making headers in all sizes. First time buyers if you sign up for email you get a 10% discount.
Good quality VW J tubes work also but the cheaper ones don't have the best looking bends. The ends of the J tubes are smaller than the tube
this makes them easier to fit in a flange if that is the size you are using. I made the header for my speedster out of J tubes. The smaller end
can be pushed through flange & welded on the engine side of the flange so if there is any warpage it is in the direction that causes the least
issue.
Craig.
Good quality VW J tubes work also but the cheaper ones don't have the best looking bends. The ends of the J tubes are smaller than the tube
this makes them easier to fit in a flange if that is the size you are using. I made the header for my speedster out of J tubes. The smaller end
can be pushed through flange & welded on the engine side of the flange so if there is any warpage it is in the direction that causes the least
issue.
Craig.
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Re: Header flanges?
Not recommended but my grandfather would use electrical conduit as it was cheap and available then paint it black. I bought the bends from summit last time. His header is still going great after 30 years so it it possible to cut the holes out with a torch, pick up material at home depot and build it in your backyard under a shade tree.TeveS-Nor Cal wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 5:07 pmWhat is the best tubing to use to fabricate the rest of the header?
"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail"
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Re: Header flanges?
I used long u bends that came from speedway motors via Amazon. That gave me two primaries from each one. Same source for the cones. I gout the straight 3 inch tube from a muffler ship since normal shipping is only 4 foot pieces. I had them bend it a slight bit to follow the contour of the body.
Andy
Andy
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
A big box of material ordered from Stainless Headers arrived yesterday. Stay tuned...
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
Here is what he's got put together so far...
Mild steel, 3/8" flanges, 1-1/2" steel pipe (1-5/8" OD).
Still learning about heat and warping...
Now I need to find some 1-5/8" ID flex pipe.
Mild steel, 3/8" flanges, 1-1/2" steel pipe (1-5/8" OD).
Still learning about heat and warping...
Now I need to find some 1-5/8" ID flex pipe.
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
Spencer is now working on the stainless steel unit...
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Re: Header flanges?
Lookin good! Noticeable improvement with both tube fitment and welding. I like your flange bracing, did it keep the flanges in place?
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
We got the engine running but it was running really rough. Very sputtery and the intake manifold was really cold. I arranged a heat tube from the carburetor to an area near the exhaust header and it ran considerably better, so we made a heat collector and plumbed it into the carburetor. It runs much better.
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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- First Name: Keith
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Re: Header flanges?
We got the engine running but it was running really rough. Very sputtery and the intake manifold was really cold. I arranged a heat tube from the carburetor to an area near the exhaust header and it ran considerably better, so we made a heat collector and plumbed it into the carburetor. It runs much better.
: ^ )
: ^ )
Last edited by KWTownsend on Tue Jun 10, 2025 11:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
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Re: Header flanges?
What carburetor is that, Steve?
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Re: Header flanges?
Keith,
Looking good! I do not envy your son making the flanges out of stainless steel unless he has access to plazma or better still abrasive water jet.
Looking good! I do not envy your son making the flanges out of stainless steel unless he has access to plazma or better still abrasive water jet.
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Topic author - Posts: 1381
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 6:51 pm
- First Name: Keith
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Re: Header flanges?
Bill,
He cut them with a plasma cutter.
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He cut them with a plasma cutter.
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Re: Header flanges?
My Racer sports a Winfield SRBD.