Custom Header

[ehjorten]

I recently received my custom header for my '91 Crew Cab with an LS 6.0 LQ4. This was a custom header to fit the stock column linkage and stock 4L80e transmission behind a 2004 LS 6.0 LQ4. I found that a 2010 Camaro full-length header fit nearly perfect for the RH side without having to cut any ears off of the transmission. I did have to slightly notch the upper flange of the frame rail to clear one tube, but other than that it fit perfectly up to my exhaust that was in it from the stock 454 with Doug Thorley Tri-Y headers. The Driver's side was a different story. Nothing fit that worked with the stock column linkage. I looked at things like the Lokar cable shift stuff, but it just looked to hokie for me with the brackets and cable wrapping around the column, etc. and a straight Lokar bent rod has issues with inadvertently shifting the transmission when the frame flexes.

So...I designed a new header and 3D printed it to confirm fit. After that I shopped it around to see who could build it. I finally settled on GP Headers in Barnesville, MN. Zach said it would be 8 weeks from receipt of my 3D printed header to shipping out the custom 304 stainless header. It ended up being more like 14 weeks because Zach said that they just had a lot of work come in and they were behind. When I received the header, it made the 14 weeks totally worth it! GP Headers had the best price I found and they used my 3D printed header to create a jig and replicate it. So stoked to be past this little hurdle.

[Shifty]

Every little aspect of this is awesome!   

Nice welds too...

[bd]

Beautifully executed, Eric, right down to the 'pickle'!  And the pipes enter the collector to pulse rotationally.  Well done!!   

[ehjorten]

Beautifully executed, Eric, right down to the 'pickle'!  And the pipes enter the collector to pulse rotationally.  Well done!!   

BD...I wanted to also make them all equal length, but then that opened up a whole other can of worms with routing and clearance. The other side, stock 2010 Camaro header isn't equal length, so I didn't fuss over it...much.

[bd]

Just as well.  Equal-length tubes tend to narrow the torque curve making it peakier at a specific RPM.  Not really what you want on a daily.  Although with a street tune, you likely wouldn't measure much difference on a dyno, certainly not enough to feel.  You might perceive a difference in the exhaust tone.  Nonetheless, your header build is impressive.

[JohnnyPopper]

Wow that is impressive!!!

I'm more impressed that you could create a 3D model first!

Why did I stop programming 20 years ago?!?!?!?

[VileZambonie]

Perfect!