The truth about headers.....

[PrOxLaMuS©]

I have been searching and searching for the best choice for my L28e..... with N42 head, for performance.

My first modification, I plan on getting exhuast.
However, ontop of the exhaust, I naturally have a choice for headers.

According to my research based off of this Forum, Zcar.com and HybridZ, a new set of headers is completly useless.. *UNLESS* you get equal length headers. This will allow the flow to be improved, but based off of people who have purchased headers, they rarely feel a big difference, other than the sexy sound. Also I have read that new headers, will increase your Temperature under tha hood.... compared to the stock manifold

What I am trying to ask, by everyone who reads this thread, is would it be worth it to buy MSA 6-1 headers with Turbo exhuast or should I keep my stock exhaust manifold and Turbo exhaust?

I just really want something that I can feel. Will I be able to with MSA's headers?

[LanceM]

Hedders are part of a package of performance parts. If you are not going to change the cam and carbs you don't really need headers and won't really notice any improvement in performance. They will raise the underhood temps also. I would say that if you are not going to be doing any other engine mods I would stay with your current setup.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

so my current setup as in stock exhuast and stock manifold?

Or my future setup with the 2.5" turbo exhuast with the stock manifold?

BTW thanks for your response

[JEFF]

Ceramic coated headers will reduce under hood temp.

- Jeff

[clive parker]

Yes headers make a world of difference but only if used with head mods and carbs as a breathing package, Best to go with 6-2-1 as opposed to 6-1 which is only good for top end power, the 6-2-1 will give you much better torque

[PrOxLaMuS©]

hmm..
2 people have brought up with Carbs... but I don't have carbs

[mellow]

Hey,
this is what ive found, i have genie 6-2-1 headers on my 260...
if your going to put one a 2 1/2 pipe and a turbo exhaust i suggest getting the headers also, if not for the extra bit of power for the sound atleast, your 2 1/2 pipe will sound much better with the headers!
sorry im also a carby man too tho
mellow

[Gav240z]

If you want your car to go faster I would start with modifying the engine head and cam don't bother spending the money on extractors or exhaust systems.

What you also need to understand is that while it might flow a bit better you'll on get 10HP at most with a stock engine.
If you can notice a 10HP increase in power your a better man than I.

Look into upping the compression , port and polising, increasing capacity etc...

Sometimes the wrong amount of backpressure can hard your engine more than help it.
You could burn valves etc...

You have an L28E but even with the mods your computer may not even be able to compensate for it and therefore it won't get you very far.
If you want a serious kick install a turbo.

[1975yellowBSPZ]

I have fuel injection, and headers, so I suppose I can speak to this somewhat (just barely as I'm new to this too). If you are going to get a free flowing exhaust and want to see a real differnce from it, and you want to keep the FI, I recommend getting the larger msa throttle body
http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merch...ry_Code=PFFC14
the ram air:
http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merch...ry_Code=PFFC12
and updated fuel rail.

This combination will help and give a noticeable increase in performance, but to get more performance out of the fi setup, you'll need a decent cam.

I have heard a lot of talk one way or the other about fi or carbs, but the fi is really a pretty decent setup with the above mods.

BW

[Gav240z]

Alot of the Aussie guys use the Ford 65mm throttle body I think it's a straight forward swap.

I'll agree on the FI set up with those mods I think you need all 3 to really get anything from it.

FI is great if you use the car regularly,
Carbs are good once you understand them and can keep them running well.

When it's freezing outside FI win's hands down .

[rudds67]

hey if u want power ... they make a v8 conversion for the z... it takes about 2 weeks ...but you cant beat it..no mater what u do..turbo or not..you will alway have more power from jus a stock v8 ,.. yea its cheatin but well worth it...


steve



Long live the z...

[PrOxLaMuS©]

i am anti V8 sorry

I personally love the L6.. and the sound of an straight 6. Also when I drive my Datsun Z, and when I beat those Civic's, Accords, and non-turbo Eclipses.. I am proud to drive a Nissan...
powered by a Nissan.. especially an "pre" Skyline engine. Since the early Skylines did have L28's and what do ya know, many years later.. still straight 6's just with DOHC and Twin Turbo.. ohh baby.


Anyway.. I guess I won't get headers overall, since someday, within the next year, I will be getting an L28eT.. and my headers will be useless with a turbo.. duh

Thanks for all your help guys

[rudds67]

hey,

yea i dont blame ya..theres nothing like the sound..

u said u will be getten rid of your old engine..how much do u want for it..i might need it..mine is smokin cuz i used mysreal oil.( lower the vistssity of it and now its going through the valve seals,,,im in the middle of flushin it out but if that doesnt work..i wil lbe in need of a engine...
thanks,

steve


Long live the Z

[PrOxLaMuS©]

well... i think that will be a while till my engine craps out...
107,000 miles..... new gaskets, oil chaged every 3,000 miles, 20W50 heavy stuff...... new injectors......

So... I dunno.. unless someone wants to trade L28e incredible condition... for an L28eT ha.. i wish

[Gav240z]

no but there was a guy selling all the bits you'd need for a turbo set up.
exhaust manifold, intake manifold etc...
was in the for sale section check it out.
I'd love to buy it but once my poor Australian money is converted and the items shipped here I'm a little worse for wear than what he is asking.

[KEINsm]

Originally posted by PrOxLaMuS©
I am proud to drive a Nissan...
powered by a Nissan.. especially an "pre" Skyline engine. Since the early Skylines did have L28's and what do ya know, many years later.. still straight 6's just with DOHC and Twin Turbo.. ohh baby.

Actually, the Skyline engines never exceeded 2000cc of engine displacement until the 90's. This was due to Japanese GT race class regulations which restricted the engine size. Also a good idea for saving the Japanese driver a few yen for car registration fees.
The Skyline 2000GT series had an L20 with twin SU's.
The 2000GT-R had the legendary S20 with triple Solex's.
Oh yea, another cool fact. The '65-69 2000GT had a Prince G7 engine with 3 Webers! !
Nissan is so rich in racing heritage!

[PrOxLaMuS©]

wise ass

[z_boi]

Hey, Wat car does the 65mm throttle bodies come from? and wat would u need to modify to make them work properly?

[Tiburon]

I have a 76 FI 280z with the L28 and I put the 6 into 1 headers on it....along with the 2.5 inch exh system....

with the stock engine, the initial take remained unchanged....good throttle response...and a nice rumble....but where I noticed the immediate difference
was in the midrange during acceleration....the top end was definitely there

Who ever says shorty headers don't work, they are full of it....
tubular headers will almost always outflow a stock cast manifold...the quality of the header will always come into play.

I had my header thermal barrier coated inside and out and the under hood temps were reduced by over 100 degrees F and keeping the heat inside the header also helped out the powerband by increasing the exh gas scavenging
effect and keep the fuel rail and intake runners from getting too hot.

Extractors or headers are the most practical way to add bolt on power to your engine.

The carbs, camshaft or TBs along with fuel and ign upgrades compliment the exhaust system and eachother...

[clutchdust]

well, since you guys brought it up.... the 240 i'm picking up is still mostly stock except for the (apparent) retrofit of roundtops. i'm pretty mechanical by nature and fully intend to tweak this little dude. i'm currently thinking of new cam with a fresh head re-work, including a fair amount of porting, maybe a slight mill to bump compression and full exhaust. will the pair of roundtops support this? top end sounds good to me, i have no qualms about rapping an engine to 6000 all day long!