Your opinion please on a Ypipe variation

DFX, The Ramchargers system looks pretty turbulent to me. When the exhaust hits those end caps, it has to go somewhere. I don't think there is a boundry layer that forms at the Y. Maybe i'm wrong, but I picture water instead of air (since I can picture it) and water being shot down those pipes or any exhaust/muffler with a wall to hit would cause considerable turbulence. Flow measurements would be interesting, but I don't know where to go or how much it would cost. I guess I just look at it and feel like it just makes sense.

Sanderson Headers found out that their roadster headers were getting very hot (discoloring their coating) where the exhaust hit the blockoff cap. So they developed their power caps. Here is their article. For those of you looking at our Lakes-style Limefire and Jayster outside chassis headers for your street rod, I have a tech tip for you that will save you grief, frustration, and possible damage to your headers!

You may know that our outside chassis headers are available with or without connections for an under chassis exhaust system. The ability to have a throaty open exhaust, or a quiet and capped header with an under chassis system, has been something we have offered for as long as we have built these headers.

We have found that if you are using a STOCK or MILD engine in your street rod there is not really an issue following the normal directions for installation. But, if you happen to have an engine with some decent modifications and making pretty good horsepower you might damage the header or header coating at the end of the collector where the under chassis adapter is located. The reason for this problem is the turbulence created in the limited distance of dead space just after the under chassis connection and the end cap on the header (when the header is capped and exhaust gasses are being routed through an under chassis exhaust system). The turbulence in this area causes the EGT's (Exhaust Gas Temperatures) to rise dramatically, which in certain applications could exceed the thermal capacity of the header coating - causing damage and discoloration. The problem only seems to occur on high power engines, and engines which are regularly turning considerable RPM's - but definitely would not hurt, and is also beneficial on all applications.

The solution is relatively simple, but adds slightly to the cost of your headers. What we did was to design a component named the "PowerCaps" to solve this issue. The PowerCap slides into the collector tube and provides a smooth redirection of exhaust gas flow from the collector tube into the under chassis exhaust tubing. The PowerCap bolts securely into your header using the end cap flange, removing the turbulence area. Another benefit of using the PowerCaps is in improved horsepower by improving air flow into the under chassis exhaust.

We will be updating the product details on all of the Limefire and Jayster headers to recommend this component - mostly for those applications making pretty good horsepower. Feel free to ask questions about this product and how it solves problems with Lakes-style headers.