Thread: Ram Horns vs Shorty Headers

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OK, I should not make more out of this than necessary, but looking at other buildups which are of much higher quality I was reluctant to cut the painted 'glass but something had to give AND even if I gained 1/2" with the Speedway rams horn at the outer dimension, the problem here is the lower edge and it is not clear to me that the rams horn would solve this problem after spending $350 plus shipping. So with input from the wife's checkbook balance, I decided to make the "$400 relief". Here is a second picture at an angle showing the new relief-notch as well as a peek at the universal joint on the Vega box. The flex joint is slightly behind the bolts on the header-connector and completely clears the connector flange. On a previous post someone suggested the good idea of using a wooden dowel for mockup so you can see that if the dowel was a D-bar, I can bring the column down at a fairly steep angle and use only one universal joint at the bottom to still clear that back spark plug. Hey, how about that 3/8" manifold bolt next to the dipstick, I guess you all knew that is fun to tighten. According to the Chilton's '63-'82 Corvette manual (the block is a '76 Vette 350, slightly upgraded) the manifold bolts should be torqued to 20-22 ft-lb. so I set the wrench to 21.5 ft-lb and if the aluminum gaskets leak I will try DennyW's suggestion of putting on wet gaskets. The only good that comes out of my angst here is that it should clear up the argument that tight-fit tube headers DO fit a Brookeville Vega box installation for a SBC. As for the Bebops edge, I should have trimmed this before painting but we have heard that before! I was able to touch up the edge of the 'glass with a good matching rattle can color using my finger for a paint brush. As Dave Severson told me two years ago the first build has a few errors and if I did this again I would buy the cheaper full stainless steel tubing headers and maybe if the ceramic coating does not last that is an option that would fit with the plumbing I have now. Just for the record, those stock rams horns on Brian's Wild Canary really look good and should last a long time but you can see the straight-down part of the connector causes a clearance problem that seems to be fixed with the tight-fit tubes. In fact I have more nostalgic respect for that kind of an installation as to how it would have been done back in the '60s but at my level of skill I am thankful for all the aftermarket refinements available now! Well maybe my angst has served to clear up a clearance question, sorry about my stress! Just as the $3K T-bucket buildups went way over budget I started out to build this roadster for under $20K, HAH! Still I am trying to be aware of costs, thanks for all the help I get from this FORUM!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Don,

It looks great! You should be very proud of the work.
I am not sure I could have taken a blade to that paint job!