Header clearance and ride hight

[Illahe]

The winter project is a set of chassis headers. While mocking the collector location up, I thought it would be best to get some opinions on ground clearance. Right now the collector is three inches from the ground, and about 12-16" behind the front tire.

The car is oem strut. 80's Daytona. I wouldn't mind increasing the ride height. Is there any simple solution?

Lastly, the tubes are 5/8" from the back of the tire at full steering lock. should I be concerned with the temperature that close to the tire wile on the return, turn around.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

The winter project is a set of chassis headers. While mocking the collector location up, I thought it would be best to get some opinions on ground clearance. Right now the collector is three inches from the ground, and about 12-16" behind the front tire.

The car is oem strut. 80's Daytona. I wouldn't mind increasing the ride height. Is there any simple solution?

Lastly, the tubes are 5/8" from the back of the tire at full steering lock. should I be concerned with the temperature that close to the tire wile on the return, turn around.

View attachment 1716492859

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On the track? I’d send that.

If you race where the return road is like a back alley… then I’d be looking for a bit more room.

But it’s hard to get.

How tall are your front tires?

 

[Illahe]

On the track? I’d send that.

If you race where the return road is like a back alley… then I’d be looking for a bit more room.

But it’s hard to get.

How tall are your front tires?

24.7 I believe. Hoosier list them as 25, and I'd like to get 26" in there, but the fender wont take it.

Can I machine a spacer and sandwich it under the strut and tower? Or is that going to Fk everything up.

 

[33IMP]

Is this gonna be a wheelstander? What is the rear suspension?
I think I'd run it too, as a pure drag car. But I'd build some suspension stops to keep em from crushing coming down from a wheelstand.
(And I'd probably wrap the headers nearest the tire. )
I don't know the answer about the strut. Is it a coil-over? Taller spring possible?

 

[Illahe]

Is this gonna be a wheelstander? What is the rear suspension?
I think I'd run it too, as a pure drag car. But I'd build some suspension stops to keep em from crushing coming down from a wheelstand.
(And I'd probably wrap the headers nearest the tire. )
I don't know the answer about the strut. Is it a coil-over? Taller spring possible?

OEM struts up front with coil over 4 link out back.

Going to a trans-brake next so I'm hoping on seeing some skyline!

I like the bump stop idea! Thanks for the input!

 

[33IMP]

Have you got room above the collectors, that you could bend em upwards a bit with a floor jack? (I did that with some peculiar angled hooker adjustables, many years ago.)

Transbrakes are fun!

 

[Illahe]

Have you got room above the collectors, that you could bend em upwards a bit with a floor jack? (I did that with some peculiar angled hooker adjustables, many years ago.)

Transbrakes are fun!

I' don't believe so. I'm going to hug them as tight as possible to the firewall and floor.

 

[33IMP]

I'm assuming a small block.
Do you have raised ex port heads? If not, are they a possibility down the road? If so, allow for a bit of room from the header to the floor.
(Ask me why I'm thinking about this).

 

[str12-340]

and so there is the reason that after 5 or 6 brands/flavors of headers, all my street cars are back to manifolds...

 

[Illahe]

I'm assuming a small block.
Do you have raised ex port heads? If not, are they a possibility down the road? If so, allow for a bit of room from the header to the floor.
(Ask me why I'm thinking about this).

Yes, LA block. Standard port, CNC'd aluminum heads. I have some 1 3/4 primary adapters and a nice set of flanges along with a box of 1 3/4 along with 1 7/8 bends.

 

[Illahe]

the 72 Dart thats in the family has manifolds with an accurate exhaust system. I cant run the camshafts/engine combos that I personally run with manifolds, until I get an education in "Stock appearing technology."

 

[Illahe]

Yes, LA block. Standard port, CNC'd aluminum heads. I have some 1 3/4 primary adapters and a nice set of flanges along with a box of 1 3/4 along with 1 7/8 bends.

The 72 Dart that's in the family has manifolds with an accurate exhaust system. I cant run the camshafts/engine combos that I personally run with manifolds, until I get an education in "Stock appearing technology."

 

[72bluNblu]

The lowest I've run a Mopar being used as a street car/daily driver was 3.5" to the collector flanges, that was on my '72 Challenger. It's doable but speed bumps and things get to be a pain when you're using the car frequently. It doesn't take a lot of change to make a pretty big difference though, I run my Duster at ~3.75" to the collector flanges and it's not that bad. Large speed bumps require some care and some cross-axleing but it's manageable. I've been running close to that height for years now.

For a drag strip only car I don't think 3" to the collector would be a big problem. On the street it would really depend on how you're using the car and the roads you intend to drive. Down the block to the local car show probably not an issue, weekly trips to the grocery store parking lot and the speed bumps are going to be a PITA.