MY09 SSV exhaust manifold = SHIT!!!

[HRT 8]

Have a gander at the stock exhaust manifold that I removed from my car yesterday.

Anybody who thinks these things are ok and dont leave too much power on the table are kidding themselves.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n248/HRT8/HEADER.jpg

Clearly seen by the dark circle on the flange is the size of the exhaust port on the head. Also clearly seen is the amount of metal that interupts the flow by being less than port size.
The larger areas were as much as 6mm. The least was 1mm and this pic was a typical example of all the ports. I didnt pick out a bad one by any means.

BTW X force headers wont bolt up to a stock catback if anybody tries, and you need an 02 sensor wiring extension on the passengers side. :doh:

[NuffNuff]

are some of the pipes rusted on yours? the ones further back on mine are

[SSV8TE]

Gday mate,
This is how holden get more out of the hsv hey??:rofl:
Just change to slightly better headers and few other mods that if were put on there standard v8's would improve performance and economy dramatically and put holden well out there.
Still love the ve's but as you and most of us are doing first thing is the exhaust then the cai. Not that much in dollars but big improvements on rwkw.
The exhaust manifolds are shocking hey?

Good thread mate,:bow::bow:

Andy.

[Tyre biter]

I saw the same with mine the other day when changing systems and yes, not great - you'd think the internal diameter of the standard header would be the same as the diameter of the port - just cheap and careless of them - anyone say 'billion dollar baby' - makes you wonder just what that $1b went on?


BTW X force headers wont bolt up to a stock catback if anybody tries, and you need an 02 sensor wiring extension on the passengers side. :doh:

On the X-Force O2 sensors, normally there is no need to buy and fit the extended sensors, just cut the cable ties that bind the sensors to other wiring and you can (usually) get enough 'play' to reach just fine. Hope this will work for you.

Cheers

[10sec_rx7]

Have a gander at the stock exhaust manifold that I removed from my car yesterday.

Anybody who thinks these things are ok and dont leave too much power on the table are kidding themselves.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n248/HRT8/HEADER.jpg

Clearly seen by the dark circle on the flange is the size of the exhaust port on the head. Also clearly seen is the amount of metal that interupts the flow by being less than port size.
The larger areas were as much as 6mm. The least was 1mm and this pic was a typical example of all the ports. I didnt pick out a bad one by any means.

BTW X force headers wont bolt up to a stock catback if anybody tries, and you need an 02 sensor wiring extension on the passengers side. :doh:

the exhaust ports are not that big... the hole in the gaskets are that big which leaves the carbon marks on the manifolds... it actually takes a lot of head porting to have the ports the same size. either way the stock manifolds are still not much chop :)

[German Statesman]

I matched the ports on a set of 4V open chamber Cleveland heads to the extractors I bought and I went from 11.7s to 11.1 then 11 flat in a street reg XD sedan with a low buck Boss motor made out of a warranty 351W ambulance short motor and the 4Vs off a XA RPO83 GT.

I then put an insulating block under the carb, ran a flex fuel line to the pressure reg through an ice can, and made up a stainless steel airbox surrounded by old insulation from a dead hot water system.

Best result was 10.89 and I cracked the windscreen on takeoff.....I was then banned until I got a 'chute :confused:

[Marco]

So what sort of % improvement would you be looking at through headers alone? I'd like to cut out inefficiency in my exhaust, but not at the cost of having a loud/droning car or not being emissions legal anymore.

[Tecca]

So what sort of % improvement would you be looking at through headers alone? I'd like to cut out inefficiency in my exhaust, but not at the cost of having a loud/droning car or not being emissions legal anymore.

I have heard you get about a 10% improvement on headers alone? anyone correct me if im wrong. You might aswell pick up a whole system to complement the headers tho! you will want a full system sooner or later and it will give it so much more flow.

[Delft Maloo]

the exhaust ports are not that big... the hole in the gaskets are that big which leaves the carbon marks on the manifolds... it actually takes a lot of head porting to have the ports the same size. either way the stock manifolds are still not much chop :)

dale is 100% right as usual.

[SS Enforcer]

So what sort of % improvement would you be looking at through headers alone? I'd like to cut out inefficiency in my exhaust, but not at the cost of having a loud/droning car or not being emissions legal anymore.

It's hard to say exactly what difference but there is a fairly large improvment from stock manifolds to extractors. It looks like HRT8 is going extractors with stock cat back so this will be interesting to see how it turns out.

cheers

[planetdavo]

I saw the same with mine the other day when changing systems and yes, not great - you'd think the internal diameter of the standard header would be the same as the diameter of the port - just cheap and careless of them - anyone say 'billion dollar baby' - makes you wonder just what that $1b went on?

Slabs of Corona....:rofl:
These come as supplied straight from the Yanks that designed them, and the Mexicans that make the motors.

[Marco]

It's hard to say exactly what difference but there is a fairly large improvment from stock manifolds to extractors. It looks like HRT8 is going extractors with stock cat back so this will be interesting to see how it turns out.

That's exactly the sort of thing I had in mind - keep us posted HRT8!

[SS346]

I really wouldnt call the ve casties shit, the make more down low/midrange power and torque than most aftermrket headers, based on an unopened l98 with an otr maf and mafless.

i was asked to do some testing by a leading exhaust manufacturer,

below are the results.


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj170/ss346/Headertesting.jpg

i would spend my money on the 1 5/8>1 3/4 headers, though the 1 3/4 headers were a little more interesting, (not on the graph)

[HRT 8]

That's exactly the sort of thing I had in mind - keep us posted HRT8!
Its a shame they wont mate up to the stock catback off the shelf. They leak pretty abdly as the falnges cannot be tightened sufficiently. They do sound very different to the stock headers with some V8 note out the back.

They install very nicely with no suprises bar the pass side O2 sensor wiring. As for seperating the wiring loom slightly, I have a bloody big set of mits on me an I was unable to get to the loom where it attches to the back of the pass side head. I doubt however that I would have obtained enough slack for it to work to my satisfaction.

Holden use a funny type flange on the catback which cannot pull tight to the back of the 3" cats. It would be a very quick fix for any competant exhaust fitter to cut them off and replace them with some "normal" flanges.

I had been in contact with my local exhaust guy who makes my systems for me. Had he not been able to get the car in early for a custom twin 3" then the flanges would have been modded to allow me to use the car till such time as the custom system was built.
I even had intentions of dynoing b4 and after the headers were fitted to see the outcome, but like most of my intentions, thay flew out the window pretty fast.

[carneb]

I really wouldnt call the ve casties shit, the make more down low/midrange power and torque than most aftermrket headers, based on an unopened l98 with an otr maf and mafless.

i was asked to do some testing by a leading exhaust manufacturer,

below are the results.


i would spend my money on the 1 5/8>1 3/4 headers, though the 1 3/4 headers were a little more interesting, (not on the graph)

Very Interesting! What cats were used with the 1 7/8 and step headers? Were the 1 7/8 long tube or shorties?

[SS346]

the 1 7/8's were long tube, infact all after market headers were the same length, all after market headers were bolted to a 4" body cat

[driftn]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to do some basic exhaust mods on a budget (VE SSV M6).
After seeing the picture above it looks like the standard manifold is quite restrictive.
Would i see any real gains by swapping out the standard SSV exhaust manifold with say a GTS manifold/cats or would it be far better to spend the extra coin and go for a set of 1 3/4 pacemakers and keep the standard cats?
I have pricing for the pacemakers but what would i expect to pay for a second hand set of GTS Extractors/Cats?
Appreciate any info you guys may be able to share.

[Wonky]

driftn,

I had a set of GTS extractors and cats put on the day I picked up my GTS. Cost a fair bit in labour as they spent an extra hour or so apparently trying to work out how to get the dipstick to fit properly with the GTS extractors. Unfortunately the sponsor I used to use back then never did a before and after run so I don't know how much it picked up. Also had a 3" catback fitted.

Many months later I went to Pacey 1 3/4 4-1s and high flow cats. Picked up 14rwkw in doing so and I know of others eg. Mustanger who picked up about the same.

Gary