Need advice adapting racing headers to street

[The Watson]

I purchased these QSC racing headers recently and am impressed with the quality and the product in general. they have nice merge collectors and good welds. I intend to use them, but I noted that instead of the typical muffler flange they have a v-band set up. There appears to be room for a short piece to transition from the v-band to a typical street muffler flange so I can go that route if needed. But I "got to thinking" about whether I should go with more of a racing setup and use a straight through dual muffler system, just with more noise friendly mufflers. Is there a need or advantage to having both headers empty into the same muffler? I know many cars do not do so.




Thanks in advance for your thoughts/examples/links
Chuck

[Walt Fricke]

I'd be inclined to convert whatever muffler I got to V band rather than the other way around. V band is a much better deal. Of course, you need to trial fit these to see if they will line up with mufflers made for the stock headers - like what your '74 came with.

[milnejk]

Burns Stainless has the clamps and some nice stainless mufflers. I got my clamps from Burns, but used Aero stainless mufflers purch on Ebay.

You will prob. have to do some fab and welding.

May be loud for street. My application was for track use where there are sound restrictions.

John

[toddu]

Here's an example of a Dansk muffler that has been adapted for VBand clamps -






Todd

[Geneman]

Todd thats beautiful setup gorgeous are they also rarlyl8? i had the raralys you sold me welded up with the v bands great system

with your bursch do you know what kind of decibels its putting out?

thanks Frank

[toddu]

They aren't Rarlyl8, they are from William Knight. They l look a lot like the QSC ones above, but they are slightly different.

With the Dansk it is not all that loud. Between the exhaust and the carbs it's a wonderful sound, especially when it gets over about 4k on WOT.

Todd

[The Watson]

Thanks everyone. I like what Todd has shown and will also investigate dual mufflers further.

[Mahler9th]

Reviving an old thread as I am considering the same type of QSC headers. My application is a 3.6L racing engine. I am curious about how well these fit and what the quality is like.

They appear to be replicas of headers designed and built by one of my local contacts, but at a much lower price point, and likely manufactured offshore.

Any comments from the OP (The Watson) or anyone else?

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving.

[The Watson]

Mike -

I am doing a full resto and rebuild and have not fitted mine yet. But I can tell you that the finish quality and welds are very nice. Just don't count on any customer support from QSC. I recommend so long as you know you will have to work outside the box a bit.

Cheers,
Chuck

[Mahler9th]

Thanks for your response. I have heard of quality and fitment issues with some QSC header products, but have yet to find any info on these parts.

I may buy a set and show them to some folks in my network. The three people I have in mind have extensive experience. One is at JWE, one at S Car Go, and one is my friend and engine builder. The former two have experience with poor quality/poor fitment 911 headers made offshore, but as far as I know have not seen or used these parts. I might also ping some LA area contacts that may be able to go to the importer and check them out.

I'd still like to reach out to anyone viewing this thread whom has actually fitted and run these.

[turbobrat930]

my.02

QSC is not a quality product. After you see the product from RarlyL8, Marco Manzie, and others, you will see the difference. BUT, for the price, they are what they are.... YMMV

Take a look a Burns stainless 3-1 merge collectors. (these are just about $500 a side, for thier turbo double wall slip fit v band collectors).. Those are quality...

to me, QSC is something to put on a stock beetle... not a high performance Porsche engine...

Again, just my .02

[toddu]

Mike - maybe reach out to William Knight. Ask him about "his" headers.

Todd

[Mahler9th]

Thanks for your perspectives and suggestions.

Brad:

Thanks for your perspective. But do you have any experience with the parts pictured? QSC make a variety of header products for Porsche applications, and I have read about some of them in forums here and elsewhere.

I am replacing S Car Go headers that sell for over $3k, and am very familiar with European headers, Borla, Bursch, et cetera, as well as those that can be made by "Porsche friends" like Pete Weber (Quiet Horspepower) who's shop is 15 minutes from my house. And so is my engine builder/friend.

I spoke for about an hour today with the gentleman who designed and builds the S Car Go headers (whom I have known for a while). As you may know, S Car Go sold a less expensive version of their headers for a while (made in Asia), and he gave me some perspective. And by the way, his name is Mark and he is now the technical editor for Excellence, which is great.

What I am looking for is any relevant experience with the headers pictured above.

Todd:

I am familiar with William Knight-- the 993 case my build is using came from him. And we have mutual "Porsche friends," like some of the folks up in Oregon. I have not yet contacted him. I know he offered a set of stainless, stepped S Car Go Headers some time ago here on PP, but if I wanted to pay that much I'd just get some directly from Mark. Mark shared with me the likely origins of those parts William was selling.

I am still seeking perspective on this particular QSC design largely because it may be similar enough to the form factor and performance of my present headers, saving me valuable fab time.

I may buy a set and check them out (and show them to some folks around here if they merit that exposure), as long as I can return them. They are sold on EBay, and I think I can ensure that the stated return policy is followed as I have at least one connection I might be able to motivate at EBay if there is trouble (college classmate is the CEO).

Anyway, I am still looking for perspective. I know it is a long shot. My default choice will be another set of European headers, with which I have had excellent experience.

[toddu]

Mike, the headers in my pic came from William. They were more than QSC I'm sure, but they were not s-car-go money either. Mike Bruns turned me on to them, he's "tested" them on his dyno.

Todd

[The Watson]

Mahler -
Nice job of keeping the thread "on point" and fact based. My $.02