header size for stroked small block?

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gold68dart

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I am building a 416cu small block for my dart and I plan on going with TTI headers. This is a 4-spd street car with occasional trips down the track. My friend said I would be better off with the 1 7/8" instead of the 1 5/8" step headers. You guys with stroked small blocks which size headers did you go with? Anyone have clearance issues with the 1 7/8"? If I'm gonna dump a nut into these things I want to be sure I have the right ones!

Thanks!
 
400, 700 or some horsepower in between?

Unless it's a full kill build, 1 7/8 headers are a complete waste of time, money and space. And if you are building a 600+hp sb, tti headers are the wrong ones for max performance.
 
It should be 475 to 500 hp. How about the rest of the system...is 2.5" ok or should I step up to 3"? TTI said I can fit 3" pipes over the rear axle without issues. I've always heard that 2.5" is the biggest that can fit.

Also X vs H pipe? It the "X" just a hype or is it really beneficial?
 
My 500 HP 416 has the 1 7/8 TTIs with 3" collectors. Automatic if that matters. I had the exhaust shop hook up a Jegs generic 3" X pipe into 3" flowmaster 40s. The car picked up over a 10th over open headers with the X pipe and mufflers. I then added 8" x 3" cherrybombs in front of the flows to take away some of the resonance bark and now the sound is perfect to me - deep and throaty with a really nice sound when it comes up on the cam. a little longer cherrybomb would probably further mellow the sound. The exhaust dumps at the rear axle. Be sure to also buy turndowns if you are gonna go that route so the shop doesn't have to make them cause most shops do not have mandrels for 3".

I did a little deburring of the inside of the X pipe to make the flow better.
 
Considering it is a stepped header, smaller is not exactly what I wold call it but certainly better. It seem's that the trade off point is right there, at that level of power/performance. A few pounds of torque and HP is a super small amount. Certainly a help in a purchase of a better part for the money being spent out of your hard earned dollars. You might as well spend it wisely.
 
crackedback said:
The 1 5/8-1 3/4" headers would perform better on that engine. 1 7/8" headers will give up torque in the mid range and HP up top. Are the difference big, not really, but the smaller header performed better in the following test.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticle...mall_block_performance_test_baseline_1_2.html
Click to expand...

I agree with Cracked. I'm running 1 5/8 with full 2.5 X-pipe TTI systems. Motor, a 408 stroker, dyno'd at 450hp and 465tq with el-cheapo Summit 1 5/8 headers, but now using TTi's in the car. Street motors need low end torque. Check out pics at these links: http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=60549 and; http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=97994, this is in my 72 Demon with TTi 1 5/8 headers...very tight.
 
Since 1 5/8 is better why not save some money and a set of dougs.
 
i used TTI 1 5/8 step headers on my 408ci 415hp 468tq 67 cuda and can't imagine the 1 7/8 would be better. redline @ 5400 thou. maybe @ higher RPM?
 
I have a set of 1 5/8"-1 3/4" TTI step headers with their X-pipe ending with Dynomax Ultraflow mufflers at the rear housing. My race-only 360 also picked up with the X-pipe exhaust system over open headers with collectors. It was about .05-.10 and I had to jet down a number or two over the best I could get with my open headers - on my particular combo. I shift around 6700.

Like Salty Dog mentioned, he 1 5/8"-1 3/4" step headers shouldn't be confused with or called "1 5/8". I think it would be safe to say that they help retain lower end torque whiel providing better flow at higher rpm's like a bigger header. I've always felt that staying a bit on the conservative side tends to provide better overall results anyway, ESPECIALLY on the street.

I believe OU812 compared a few headers and found TTI stepped headers to work the best on his stroker.
 
Running 1 5/8"-1 3/4" TTI step headers with TTI 2 1/2" H-pipe, Dynomax Ultraflos, and 2 1/2" TTI tail pipes to chrome tips. Does not drone. Not real loud and I picked up a bunch of power over the Dynomax Super Turbos that were on there before. Here is video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBrgD1K68A"]414 Stroker Cuda Pulling Out Of Garage - YouTube[/ame]
 
I've always felt that staying a bit on the conservative side tends to provide better overall results anyway, ESPECIALLY on the street.
Click to expand...
Best advice there, rarely followed though.

In rare cases, fitment comes over performance.
 
Hi, I have a 340 stroker in my 72 4-speed Demon. I tried to use the TTI 1 7/8" Heaaders because I'm running the INDY large port Heads. I ended up returning the TTI'S because they had a lot of clearance problems around the torsion bars. I went with a custom made stainless step header (1 3/4'-1 7/8"). Costly, but I had no choice. If you are not running the big port SB heads the smaller TTI step headers or another brand should work fine. I did use TTI's 3" X headpipe and tailpipes w/ Magnaflow 3" mufflers. Everything fit good. I hope this helps you, Joe Arceri
 
I’m currently building a 550 HP pump gas 416 stroker for the Dart. My head porter (Shaddydell) recommended the tti 1-7/8 header. I just received them last night and they are a nicely made. After reading this post I can only hope they fit ½ as good as they look. They will be used with E-Heads and a 727 transmission. I will report how they fit in the next month or so.
 
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