MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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jbarila
John Barilaro
Red Sox Nation!
(60 posts)

Registered:
11/02/2007 08:29AM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB Ford 302/5L

Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: jbarila
Date: November 02, 2007 08:35AM

I would like to use block hugger headers instead of cutting the wheel wells.
Summit makes a set for street rods that looks like they might work. (Summit SUM-G9063-1).
Will these work? What have club members used.
Thanks for the help,
JB

PS. This forum was a great idea!!


kstevusa
kelly stevenson
Southern Middle Tennessee
(985 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 09:37AM

Main British Car:
2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.2L DOHC/ VVT / 6sp. AT

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: kstevusa
Date: November 02, 2007 10:40AM

Probably Not!, most of us would have used a pre-fab header if available. Steve Carrick and Ted Lathrop have some headers, Steve's are thru the fender & Ted's are "Hugger", but i think require his X-Member. there is so little room between the rails. also with the Ford, the oil filter or lines can be a obstruction. my car has the oil filter at left rear like a Chev V8. less trouble to mount the filter at rear than in engine compartment or in inner fender well. also a lot cleaner to change. we did a custom header kit from Hedman. Joe Schafer made his from an existing set, but had to re-route. several other took this route. headers , the front cover, and pulley system are major hurdle. Joe has a good system. just reduce the thickness of your X-Member and go for it!
SAFETY FASTER


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 02, 2007 12:09PM

Quote:
Ted's are "Hugger", but i think require his X-Member

That doesn't match my understanding... I'm pretty sure Ted designed them to work regardless of crossmember. It's clearance to the stock steering shaft/u-joint that I'm not so sure about. At any rate, they're exceptionally nicely made.

You can see Ted's ("Fast Cars") block hugger headers on this car:
[www.britishv8.org]

Steve sold his header business to Ted, so now Ted offers both styles. There's a little more info about that at the end of this article: [www.britishv8.org]

Ted's contact info is here:
[www.britishv8.org]
I'm sure he'd be happy to give you the details.


Anonymous User


( posts)

Registered:
12/31/1969 07:00PM

Main British Car:


Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: Anonymous User
Date: November 02, 2007 01:02PM

Go custom - find a header maker in your town and have a set made the way you want them! Your search for bolt-on headers will likely be fruitless...
zENG3.JPG


MGB SS
Joe Schafer
Central Michigan
(150 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 06:46AM

Main British Car:
1971 Mgb 1991 5.0 Ford

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: MGB SS
Date: November 02, 2007 08:09PM

As kelly mentioned above I used a set of headers, but for the for the flanges only, I had my local muffler shop bend up a couple sticks of 1 1/2" pipe into as sharp of bends as he could then I cut and matched to make my fenderwell headers. I looked at a lot of block huggers and didn't see anything that I thought would work. I don't have a lot of money in mine but I do have a lot of hours, this winter I will get them Hot Coated
headers.JPG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2007 08:15PM by MGB SS.


StagByTriumph
Glenn Merrell
Colorado
(37 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 12:11PM

Main British Car:
1973 Stag Rover SD1 3.5 w/ 3.9 EFI

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: StagByTriumph
Date: November 03, 2007 05:01PM

Hi John,
I have a similar question in the Engines and Transmissions Forum

[forum.britishv8.org]

Do let me know what you find out as I need a set for my 3.5 rover in my Stag.


StagByTriumph
Glenn Merrell
Colorado
(37 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 12:11PM

Main British Car:
1973 Stag Rover SD1 3.5 w/ 3.9 EFI

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers - photos?
Posted by: StagByTriumph
Date: November 03, 2007 05:17PM

Where is the photo?

I was scanning some photos and there is a shot on this site of someone dropping a Rover into an MG. Engine is on the cherry picker over the engine bay with a clear view of the block huggers. Anyone know where it is??

Please send me the link if you find it.



Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 03, 2007 05:38PM

Ha! Just a couple moments ago I pasted a link to that header article/photo into your other thread. You'll also find that photo and one from a different angle in the excellent How-It-Was-Done article about Paul and Mary Schils' pretty burgandy MGB GT.


PaulV8
Paul Avery
England
(18 posts)

Registered:
11/13/2007 03:57PM

Main British Car:
'78 B Roadster V8 , '96 RV8 , '75 MGB GT Jubilee '77 B Roadster , '71 B Roadster , + others

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: PaulV8
Date: November 18, 2007 07:38AM

PA180163small.JPG

Is this of any help?


67MGBV8
Chris Jones
Denver, Colorado
(36 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 03:11PM

Main British Car:
1967 MGB Tourer 215 c.i. Buick

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: 67MGBV8
Date: November 18, 2007 10:05PM

Anything is possible if you have the time. Check out the "headers by ed" web site, it has some great information on header design. I built a set based on his theory of header design, and I must say that they pull really hard throughout the RPM range; from 1500 to 6000. Check out these pictures I took just prior to dropping in my Buick 215.
shots from old laptop 074.jpg
shots from old laptop 090.jpg


MGB SS
Joe Schafer
Central Michigan
(150 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 06:46AM

Main British Car:
1971 Mgb 1991 5.0 Ford

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: MGB SS
Date: November 19, 2007 06:58AM

Chris

Are those equal length? They look good, what was some of the theory that makes them different?


jbarila
John Barilaro
Red Sox Nation!
(60 posts)

Registered:
11/02/2007 08:29AM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB Ford 302/5L

Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: jbarila
Date: November 19, 2007 10:12AM

After careful thought (and small wallet) I bought a set from summit. Bare steel street rod type.
I thought I could use it for parts and custom make a set and then have them Jet coated. I did the first fit in the engine bay last weekend and on first look they look like they will fit through the fender wells with little mod. required. Over the Holiday I plan on fitting the engine mounts and then I will fit the headers. I'll post pics when I find out if they fit.
Thanks for all the answers!
Happy Holidays!!

JB


StagByTriumph
Glenn Merrell
Colorado
(37 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 12:11PM

Main British Car:
1973 Stag Rover SD1 3.5 w/ 3.9 EFI

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: StagByTriumph
Date: November 19, 2007 05:09PM

That is a great photo! I bet you had as much fun wrapping yours as I had wrapping mine!

Curious, where did you get your headers? I do not think my first set had the collector and down pipe as far rearward as yours.

I'll have to take another look.

Thanks!


67MGBV8
Chris Jones
Denver, Colorado
(36 posts)

Registered:
10/24/2007 03:11PM

Main British Car:
1967 MGB Tourer 215 c.i. Buick

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: 67MGBV8
Date: November 19, 2007 10:21PM

Joe, yes they are equal length. They are 1-1/2" OD x 38" primaries into a 2" collector. You'll notice that in order to get them to install I had to add a break joint flange so that I could drop the engine in from the top and then from below I bolt up the header extension. They run into a 2" stainless steel dual exhaust with an "H" pipe located below the transmission. When I built them, I was reluctant to cut holes in the inner wings, because it just looked cobbed up to me. The stubby block hugger style is just not meant to be thought of as a performance header. Long equal length primaries are said to give the maximum torque that the engine is capable of delivering at engine speeds most often used on the road. Ed's idea is that the curves make little difference in the function of the header (look at the "nest of snakes" layout in formula race cars, you know that they don't want to leave any horsepower on the table) The challenge with an MGB is that there is darn little space between the "frame" rail and the block. I originally built these to accommodate the stock Buick starter, but the switched to a mini-starter. I moved the engine mount as far forward as I could to get room fore and aft. I sent the whole works out to Jet-Hot. When I originally built them up with a bare block and heads, they fit without inner wing modification, but after the weight of the assembled engine came into play the rubber V8 mounts I used flattened out a bit and I had to and dimples in the inner wing to clear the rear pipes.
shots from old laptop 095.jpg
shots from old laptop 121.jpg


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: November 19, 2007 11:30PM

I guess it was only a matter of time before another disciple chose to follow the path of true enlightenment, and it's interesting to note the similarities. 1-3/8" ID x 36" compared to 1-1/2" OD x 38", 2-3/8" collectors into header mufflers vs 2" collectors and an H pipe. If you have not run it yet you are in for a treat. My first engine with these headers was a high compression Buick 215 with the hottest cam Comp Cams sold for it and a 600 Holley double pumper. It screamed. Eventually all of the trips to 7 grand were too much for the stock cast pistons though and I broke a piston skirt. The headers eventually made their way onto the blower mill in the car now, and with a little tweaking will be used on the blown 340. I could make a better set now than I did back then, but I'm glad I don't have to.

Jim
MGB-Buick 215.jpg
Most of EFI installed.JPG
MVC-168S.JPG
MVC-265S.JPG



PaulV8
Paul Avery
England
(18 posts)

Registered:
11/13/2007 03:57PM

Main British Car:
'78 B Roadster V8 , '96 RV8 , '75 MGB GT Jubilee '77 B Roadster , '71 B Roadster , + others

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: PaulV8
Date: November 21, 2007 01:10PM

Yes it was alot of fun wrapping them! Although i did it off the car so it was slightly easier. They're stainless steel from the MGB hive, www.mgbhive.co.uk/.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: Moderator
Date: November 21, 2007 01:18PM

Paul, when are we going to get to see a "How It Was Done" article on your car?
(Instructions are here: [www.britishv8.org])

Chris, I can't get over how glossy your inner fenders are. I think I'll be pasting that photo into the "photo gallery"!


PaulV8
Paul Avery
England
(18 posts)

Registered:
11/13/2007 03:57PM

Main British Car:
'78 B Roadster V8 , '96 RV8 , '75 MGB GT Jubilee '77 B Roadster , '71 B Roadster , + others

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: PaulV8
Date: November 21, 2007 04:25PM

As it goes i was looking through my pictures earlier, we're just fitting the new brakes to the car. Once they're on i'll take some pics of the finished article and i'll sumbit a full write up Hoping for maiden voyage next week! Just waiting on the mallory to arrive.


Bruce Mills
Bruce Mills
Vancouver Canada
(71 posts)

Registered:
11/28/2007 09:31PM

Main British Car:
1974.5 MGB Roadster 3.5 Rover

authors avatar
Re: Block Hugger Headers
Posted by: Bruce Mills
Date: December 01, 2007 09:32PM

I bought mine several years ago from [www.tsimportedautomotive.com] They apparently have come down quite a bit in price and are now 275 us


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