MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Curtis Jacobson

I saw a picture of some headers you have done (located at
http://www.british-cars.org.uk/kimber/v8_conversions/engine/tubeex/tubeex.html)
I was wondering if you are manufacturing them for sale?

Bruce





Bruce

Bruce,

Thanks for the compliment, but I won't be making any more headers. Making one
set was great fun for myself and two good friends (one of them a really skilled
welder) but they've both moved and besides, my day job keeps me too busy now.

If I were making another set, I'd go up a tubing size, and I'd route through the
fender wells. (I guess that's the fashion now?) I'd probably do try-y's again,
instead of 4-into-1's. I guess it's stupid, but I think try-y's just look cool on an
MG-V8. (Kinda retro...) I can't testify about how well they flow, since I've only
tried one way.

Sand-bending is really fun and also economical. It's not too hard, at least with
two or three friends working together. You have to figure out your own tricks
(like how to orient the seam relative to the bend, or how to get the right heat
where you need it...)

If I were buying headers, I'd pay extra for stainless steel.

-Curtis
Curtis

Curtis,

Could you explain Sand-bending?

Thanks,

Al
Al

Al,
If Curtis doesn't explain it, here's the concept...
Pack the tube with sand and then cap the ends to keep it in. The sand will prevent the walls from collapsing while you form the bends. At this point you can apply force (and heat if required) to get the desired shape.

Here's a BIG TIP:
Contact your electrical supply company and see if they sell "CLX type cable". It is quite popular down here and you can get some scrap pieces pretty much for the asking. Get your CLX in the approximate diameter of your header tubes, cut eight pieces to the length of the tubes you want to end up with, (mine were for a V6) Make up some flanges out of plywood to use to complete your "model".
Bend the (cable) tubes one at a time, starting with the hardest one until you get them all to fit. Run a big wood screw through your (fake) flange into the cable, tie the tubes together with hose clamps and head for the muffler shop.
My local muffler shop has done plenty of header work, but claimed that this was the best mock up he's yet seen.
My finished headers can be seen in the V8 Newsletter a few issues back, or at the V8/V6 Conversion link from this site. Or e-mail me.
Randy
Randy Forbes

Randy,

Thanks for the explanation on Sand-bending. I'm also a subcriber to the V8 Newsletter, so look at your headers again.

I made my own RV8 style using mandrel bent pipes, flanges for a 215 engine and other parts purchased from J C Whitney and Headers-By-Ed. I had to do a lot of cutting,filing and welding. A lot of work. The next time I need headers I think I'll buy RV8 Style sold by some of the venders that advertise in the Newsletter.

Al
Al

Similar to Randy's method of using "CLX" cable
I used flexible aluminum heater duct from NAPA to pattern 1 5/8" fender well headers for a 3800 V6 conversion.
Don Zeigler

Randy explained sand bending well. In case someone decides to give it a try, I can
add that you shouldn't cap the ends too well. Leave holes to let hot air out, but keep
sand in. Before bending, we had to get the tubes dark-cherry-red hot with an
oxy-acetylene torch. It takes some practice to know where to put how-much heat.
One guy manages that while the another trys to apply a real even bending force. We
just pushed against old pipe... For my headers, I think we used 0.060" wall tubing.
We tried sand-bending other stuff with thinner walls, and had more problems with
collapsing, tearing and bursting. No matter what, you're gonna make some scrap
bends, but tubing is cheap and the process is really fun. Making headers was one of
the most fun parts of my whole project.

Curtis

This thread was discussed between 11/06/2000 and 15/06/2000

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now