TTi required with QA1 ??

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BigB6958

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Hi all,

I am installing the QA1 full replacement kit into my 67 Dart GT convertible, and I am now questioning the need to buy TTi headers given the amount of new space created by not having the torsion bars or the steering box in there any longer. TTi makes their units specific for the car as it was stock to allow for needed clearance. Now that clearances are no longer an issue, my thoughts are I can go with headers and exhaust systems that are a lot less expensive but still very good quality.

Thoughts?

B
 
Well, probably. My Dart had tti's on it with the stock front suspension when I bought it. I installed Gerst front coil overs front suspension and had no problems. So not sure why they are specific. I will say that I can not use a stock starter, only a Dakota or aftermarket mini starter will fit. This is on a small block.
 
CRUZE 418 said:
Well, probably. My Dart had tti's on it with the stock front suspension when I bought it. I installed Gerst front coil overs front suspension and had no problems. So not sure why they are specific. I will say that I can not use a stock starter, only a Dakota or aftermarket mini starter will fit. This is on a small block.
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Thanks for the feedback. Was beginning to worry if this was a dumb question or maybe nobody knew the answer. The QA1 kit eliminates all (or most of anyway) the stock design restrictions for why TTi headers created their excellent design - except maybe the starter. Hadn't thought of that But a mini-starter will do the job and should eliminate that problem too. TTi are just so darn expensive compared to other brands. I have asked QA1 and await their response, and will post on here if/when they get back to me.
 
Seem like several people recommend Doug's, but have not seen them on a car, not that I noticed anyway.
 
I love my Doug’s, but like the TTI’s they’re designed to work around the torsion bars and factory steering boxes.

Doug’s and TTI’s fit with the factory stuff the best. Thing is, I don’t know that anyone makes a header of similar caliber that are designed to fit a Mopar with a coil over conversion. Sure, you can use a cheaper header and it’ll clear everything, but, the cheap headers are designed to work around the factory steering links too, and most of them go under so their ground clearance is **** compared to the TTI’s or Doug’s.

So I guess that’s the real question, are there better headers than the Doug’s or TTI’s that are actually made to take advantage of a coil over conversion?
 
72bluNblu said:
Doug’s and TTI’s fit with the factory stuff the best. Thing is, I don’t know that anyone makes a header of similar caliber that are designed to fit a Mopar with a coil over conversion.
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i can't speak for a QA1 set up but on a car equipped with an alter-k tti fit great.. with the coil over set up there is much less stuff to have to clear so theres no issue there.. QA1 set up i don't know but would like to think its the same in the fact that theres just less stuff to clear.
 
abodyjoe said:
you can probably go with a cheap header but its gonna hang low and shroud the #5 and #7 plugs as usual.
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Excellent info, thank you. To buy the TTi's in Canada I am paying approx $2000 for the set.....need to determine if those two inconveniences are worth paying an extra $800 to $1200 as compared to other brands.
 
72bluNblu said:
so their ground clearance is **** compared to the TTI’s or Doug’s.

So I guess that’s the real question, are there better headers than the Doug’s or TTI’s that are actually made to take advantage of a coil over conversion?
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Yes, that is the question I guess. I am leaning back towards the TTi set due to that fact. They are expensive for a reason....they work and they work well.
 
On the 70 Duster I built with my dad we used Qa1 K member and Qa1 upper and lower control arms. He went with Dougs D453 headers on the blueprint 408 stroker the only place that needed a little clearance was down low from the 1.03 torsion bar diameter. He mentioned several times the Dougs were the best fitting and easiest headers he's ever used.

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When you have a slight conflict with header tubes, remember that you can move your engine up or down up to 1/2" by loosening the block motor mount bolts. Depending on whether you had the engine weight on when tightening them or had the engine lifted.
 
abodyjoe said:
i can't speak for a QA1 set up but on a car equipped with an alter-k tti fit great.. with the coil over set up there is much less stuff to have to clear so theres no issue there.. QA1 set up i don't know but would like to think its the same in the fact that theres just less stuff to clear.
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Oh I’m sure they fit fine!

But isn’t one of the whole arguments for a coil over conversion that you have more room for headers? So isn’t that whole argument completely negated by running the same exact expensive headers that would work with a torsion bar set up because they’re still the best headers available? I mean maybe they’re a bit easier to install but how often do you remove and install your headers?

If there was a high quality header available that was designed for a small or big block Mopar that took advantage of the space created by having a rack and no torsion bars a conversion would make more sense right?
 
72bluNblu said:
Oh I’m sure they fit fine!

But isn’t one of the whole arguments for a coil over conversion that you have more room for headers? So isn’t that whole argument completely negated by running the same exact expensive headers that would work with a torsion bar set up because they’re still the best headers available? I mean maybe they’re a bit easier to install but how often do you remove and install your headers?

If there was a high quality header available that was designed for a small or big block Mopar that took advantage of the space created by having a rack and no torsion bars a conversion would make more sense right?
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My thoughts exactly. I asked QA1 and they told me to ask TTi, which is hilarious because, yea sure, TTi is going to say "Don't bother buying ours, go get someone else's". My guess is that other brands will now work better since there is less crap in the way. Time to do more research.
 
72bluNblu said:
So isn’t that whole argument completely negated by running the same exact expensive headers that would work with a torsion bar set up because they’re still the best headers available?
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no, if those cheap *** headers didn't hang low then it wouldn't be an issue. the coilover set up will make any of the header choices much easier to fit due to the extra room... the choice comes down to if you want to hit the headers on the ground or not.
 
abodyjoe said:
no, if those cheap *** headers didn't hang low then it wouldn't be an issue. the coilover set up will make any of the header choices much easier to fit due to the extra room... the choice comes down to if you want to hit the headers on the ground or not.
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Which I don't, and if thise cheap *** headers hit the ground and get destroyed and I have to buy a second set to replace then the entire savings goes out the window.
 
abodyjoe said:
no, if those cheap *** headers didn't hang low then it wouldn't be an issue. the coilover set up will make any of the header choices much easier to fit due to the extra room... the choice comes down to if you want to hit the headers on the ground or not.
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Yeah, you missed the point. If you have to buy TTI’s or Doug’s anyway then there’s no real advantage to the coil over conversion from a header performance point of view.

The cheap *** headers still hang too low regardless of the suspension, the expensive headers that fit the torsion bar cars are still the best ones to buy, and the coil over conversion only makes the expensive headers slightly easier to install. No performance gain for the exhaust.

So, if no one makes a special Mopar header for coil over converted A-bodies, then the conversion isn’t an exhaust performance benefit unless you’re having custom headers made.

BigB6958 said:
Which I don't, and if thise cheap *** headers hit the ground and get destroyed and I have to buy a second set to replace then the entire savings goes out the window.
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Exactly. So you buy TTI’s or Doug’s and have the same cost and performance as a torsion bar car.
 
72bluNblu said:
Yeah, you missed the point. If you have to buy TTI’s or Doug’s anyway then there’s no real advantage to the coil over conversion from a header performance point of view.
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there is still going to be a ton of extra room and make install easier.
 
72bluNblu said:
Oh I’m sure they fit fine!

But isn’t one of the whole arguments for a coil over conversion that you have more room for headers? So isn’t that whole argument completely negated by running the same exact expensive headers that would work with a torsion bar set up because they’re still the best headers available? I mean maybe they’re a bit easier to install but how often do you remove and install your headers?

If there was a high quality header available that was designed for a small or big block Mopar that took advantage of the space created by having a rack and no torsion bars a conversion would make more sense right?
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BOOM. Drop mic. /thread.
 
72bluNblu said:
Yeah, you missed the point. If you have to buy TTI’s or Doug’s anyway then there’s no real advantage to the coil over conversion from a header performance point of view.

The cheap *** headers still hang too low regardless of the suspension, the expensive headers that fit the torsion bar cars are still the best ones to buy, and the coil over conversion only makes the expensive headers slightly easier to install. No performance gain for the exhaust.

So, if no one makes a special Mopar header for coil over converted A-bodies, then the conversion isn’t an exhaust performance benefit unless you’re having custom headers made.



Exactly. So you buy TTI’s or Doug’s and have the same cost and performance as a torsion bar car.
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It’s amazing the money people spend to change parts to parts that aren’t any better and as you say, you still have to run the same headers.

I do not know how guys bash the headers and oil pans.

I’ve run big tube headers and deep pans since 1981 and I’ve never smashed either.

I suppose if you live in Hazzard county and Boss Hogg and Rosco P. Coltrane are constantly on your ***, then maybe you need headers that tuck up tight and a stock pan.

I’m a long way from Hazzard county so I don’t have that issue to deal with.
 
BigB6958 said:
Hi all,

I am installing the QA1 full replacement kit into my 67 Dart GT convertible, and I am now questioning the need to buy TTi headers given the amount of new space created by not having the torsion bars or the steering box in there any longer. TTi makes their units specific for the car as it was stock to allow for needed clearance. Now that clearances are no longer an issue, my thoughts are I can go with headers and exhaust systems that are a lot less expensive but still very good quality.

Thoughts?

B
Click to expand...
I just installed Doug’s 453’s and no issues. I can’t see paying more for the TTI’s. And I have the QA1 front suspension on a dart with manual steering and a mini starter plus a 90 degree oil filter. All plugs were easy access going back in none of the tubes hang below the suspension to drag like the old headers I took off which were dredful to remove
 
JoeDragster said:
I just installed Doug’s 453’s and no issues. I can’t see paying more for the TTI’s. And I have the QA1 front suspension on a dart with manual steering and a mini starter plus a 90 degree oil filter. All plugs were easy access going back in none of the tubes hang below the suspension to drag like the old headers I took off which were dredful to remove
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Good feedback. I appreciate it. In speaking with some gents up here in Calgary with extensive Mopar experience I am being told to not bother with coil over units like QA1 and AlterKation and just stick with oroiginal stock style system, as they are saying the new unbits handle poorly and actually take away from the driving experience. Has anyone else had this experience? I mean that is a lot of coin for either of those two products that could be way better spent on other aspects of the build....if it's truth. I get the feeling there is a lot of opinions on this subject based on individual preferences, so again, feedback is important. I am not racing this unit so perhaps stock style suspension and steering is the route to go.
 
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