Headers for BETA

[PAV]

Hi all I am lookin for a nice set of headers for my lancia zagato.
Cermaic coated OR Stainless.

If they are new standard steel headers, I will just get them ceramic coated at a facility I know.

Will need to plug in that O2 senor

BR,

pv2

[DJ]

How 'bout these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180333780701&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=#ht_500wt_1254)? Already got the bung.

[Jim Keller]

Be leary about installing a header on your Beta.

I don't think, other than having a custom one made up, anyone is making headers for Betas new.

If you look at that header on eBay, you'll note how long it is and that it doesn't have a flex connector at the end, it also doesn't have the bracket to bolt it to the engine block.

So what happens?, I'll tell you, I had on on my 76 Coupe 1800, it cracked all the time where the tubes turn down from the head due to flexing stress and had to be removed constantly and re-welded. I know this as I helped my buddy Mike, who I sold it to, once or twice over the years he had it, and those were not the only times he had it off to repair stress cracks. He ended up installing a stock manifold in the end to eliminate the hassel.
It also puts a lot of stress on the head and manifold bolts there as they have to resist all the forward and back rotation of the engine due to that being the only mounting point. I highly discourage the use of them. They do not improve the exhaust flow to any measurable degree on a street car over the stock. If you have an older style manifold, I recomend looking into replacing it with a newer set up from a fuel injectd car as they have header like flow, stabilizing bracket to relieve the strtess on the head connection and flex joint at the cat connection

That's just my opinion though

[davidb]

My two cents: I put an ANSA header on my '78 Sedan WAYYYY
back when during the Oil Embargo [Carter era]. Reason? Gas
stations seemingly always had leaded gas left, unleaded no.
Plus leaded gas was lots, lots cheaper than unleaded. Next
obviously the CAT went bye-bye. HP increase neglible [seat-of
the-pants]. I also put on an ANSA "hockey stick" & resonator.
Nice sound but that header was a nightmare to install. I had to
constantly check the "U" clamp header to ctr. section for tight-
ness due to flexing of the engine. Worst, WORST of all a header
has no heat shield for the rack rubber accordions. I musta fried
3 booties w/that header & those booties are a bitch to install.
Lastly try & find those booties NOW. Virtually impossible !!!!

[PAV]

yes I saw the header in E-Bay, it does seem to make sence that the engine even if it is held fairly solid by the engine will still rotate. A few degrees of rotation can sure make a big change when you get out to the end of that pipe.

Seems the Lancia folks used a spring type of system to hold the exhaust in place and reduce/ keep the pressure off of the pipes.

I will keep the stock system as I do not have a race machine.

Although the it is a hot street machine now, I could live without the issues.

Can't wait to spin it up a bit more, I keep it under 5K RPM for now.


Will post some photos of the Budget Zagato pretty quick.


It really spins up with all the nice changes we made to the engine.


It is now on 500 of the 1K miles for break-in and it really runs sweet.

No hot running, no fluid leaks, no gasket - seal blowouts, no weird noises - except for some vibrational buzzing from where the exhaust is located, no smoke, no weird smells.

I wish my origional rebuilder after $6K could have done so well.


Have a happy 1!~

pv2

[Jim Keller]

Pav, you have a heck of a lot more self control than I do! 500 miles and you still haven't wound it up yet? not even once?! I would NEVER make it that long! LOL Glad to hear it's purring along great for you!

The header on my Coupe got that heat wrap cloth you soak down after install and it hardens up for heat protection, didn't do crap for preventing cracks though

My thoughts to solve the problem is:
1) make a heat shield
2) add a bracket to the header for the block
3) modify it to add a Honda style exhaust flex connector and what ever brackets to body needed to stabilize the pipes past the flex connector
4) have it all jet coated inside and out to lower heat and prevent rust

Or option 2:
Go to a professional, spend about $800 plus/minus, and have mandrel bent tubing headers made up out of stainless that have a good flex connector designed in and also designed to terminate at the cat so you don't have to remove it, in my years I have found that doesn't help the car and sometimes, can actually cause problems, leaving it in keeps everyone happy! LOL

Yea, I remember those leaded/unleaded days, punching out the guts of plugged up cats for friends cause someone punched out the gas filler to allow leaded gas in the tank, which proceeded to plug and over heat the cat causing the car to lose all power and least we forget, all those carpet fires on the passenger sides! LOL, stuff like that