914 Headers

gopack · 02-12-2004, 08:12 AM

I was just wondering if any one has tried the kerry hunter headers?http://kerryhunterenterprise.com/ look pretty nice and are at a reasonable price when compared to the tangerine racing ones.http://www.tangerineracing.com/Super_Header.htm (Am I the only one that noticed the web pages look identical?). I live in NM, and he is actually local (fairly).

I think i will be a strictly summer driver with this car, so heat is not an issue, but what about defrosters? can i just keep the fan and ducts? any one running headers on a daily driver or weekend warrior?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Zero defrost/defog capability. All you'll get is cold air, and that can somewhat sorta sometimes help get fog off the inside of the window--but not that well and never frost.

The K-H headers work pretty well. They should offer noticeably more power than any variation of the stock exhaust. I am told that they are somewhat leak-prone (but not at the head, where real damage can occur) at least at some point in their operating range, but all that means is extra noise.

They are loud. A Supertrapp is not really much of a muffler at all, even when set up at its most restrictive and least-loud.

George somebody (Nardel?) in Henderson NV makes "European Racing" headers, which are partway in both price and performance between the K-H headers and the Tangerine headers.

The Tangerine Racing headers are, from all reports, simply the best. Period. Chris Foley, who is Tangerine Racing, has begun to add a section of heat exchanger wrapping to some part of the header system. So you can have at least some small amount of heat--probably enough to defog your windows, maybe even enough for a little defrosting. Probably not enough for cabin heat.

His "Phase 9 Silencer with Quiet Can" muffler is also very civilized. Not new-car-Honda quiet, but probably a bit quieter than a stock muffler that's been rusting and getting beat around for 30 years!

So the question is, how much power and other benefits are you willing to trade off for money?

--DD

Alfred1 · 02-12-2004, 08:53 AM

In the February 2002 issue of GRM they tested a few different exhaust set ups on their newly rebuilt (and tweaked) 2.0L motor. The Kerry Hunter system with a Super Trapp muffler increased the output by 4.9 hp over the stainless steel heat exchangers and stock muffler and the CFR (Tangerine) header and Quiet Can muffler increased hp over the KH system by 0.6 hp. For only a 5.5 hp increase, I'll probably stick with SS heat exchangers and a stock muffler.

gopack · 02-12-2004, 09:12 AM

is there a way to get that article on line? I'd love to read it. if it is only 5.5 HP i wouldnt bother. my car is severely limited already by the low atmospheric pressure (high elevation) so i was thinking any gain may be worth it, but if i lose heat and more importantly defrost, i think not at the price. besides that just means i can extend my driving season when (if) i get it done!

Jake Raby · 02-12-2004, 10:26 AM

In a direct test on one of my 2270 engines Tangerine made 18HP MORE than any other system!

bperry · 02-12-2004, 04:13 PM

Jake,
Wow that is impressive. I'm guessing that is 10% or more.
Is that extra HP above the other headers such as Kerry Hunter and
European Racing headers or just combinations of heat exchangers?

So overall, approximately much are you able to squeze
percentage wise on your Tangerine system setup over a system
with the "stock" type of stainless heat exchangers with an optimal
muffler setup?

--- bill

joes · 02-13-2004, 07:22 AM

I use K-H headers I like them ok but... I had problems with the fit to the heads. one flange wasn't welded straight and I had to twist the pipe to get it to fit up. It still leaks somewhere untill it warms up. They also rust fast. I spray them with exhaust paint twice a year to try to make them last.