Project: SuperHatch's Drag VH powered S14

[tmorgan4]

Headers look good. What are you making them out of?

[SuperHatch]

Headers look good. What are you making them out of?

Thanks!

Its 16ga Mild Steel Mandrel Bent 1.75" tubing. It was a kit from summit racing. I'll see how well they come out before I tackle a stainless set that's closer to equal length.

[ultrapulse]

Thanks!

So does anyone here have experience or opinions about Aluminum versus Steel driveshafts? It's the last component I need to order to finish the drivetrain off and I want to make the best choice I can. A Steel shaft will cost me 350 and an aluminum one will be 450, so cost isn't so much an issue.

Thoughts?

I would go steel as mentioned above. I have a near std z32 man turbo that I thrash often. To start with I ended up going ali, but after some time it got vibes and was found to be twisted and a small mount bent. It freaked me out so I just went to steel and have had no issues since. It only weighs like 1or 2 kgs more as its still one piece unlike the extremely heavy std 2 piece one. BTW the car got dynoed last wekend and did 200.2 rwkw, with very linear torque, so prob similar to a factory vh I would think. Anyway go steel for reliability (and price). After all no real difference in weight all things considered.
Modified by ultrapulse at 2:10 AM 7/9/2008

[SuperHatch]

I would go steel as mentioned above. I have a near std z32 man turbo that I thrash often. To start with I ended up going ali, but after some time it got vibes and was found to be twisted and a small mount bent. It freaked me out so I just went to steel and have had no issues since. It only weighs like 1or 2 kgs more as its still one piece unlike the extremely heavy std 2 piece one. BTW the car got dynoed last wekend and did 200.2 rwkw, with very linear torque, so prob similar to a factory vh I would think. Anyway go steel for reliability (and price). After all no real difference in weight all things considered.

Thanks for the advice!

I actually already ordered a cromolly driveshaft. Like you stated, it was marginally heavier, much stronger, and cheaper to boot. I'm expecting it to get delivered next week.

[SuperHatch]

Just an update... one header done, other one halfway done...





Also got all the piping to do the exhaust, and some new wheels for the zed.

[USsil80]

wow that is pretty ... quick question though... how far below the frame rail do the collecters sit?...

[SuperHatch]

wow that is pretty ... quick question though... how far below the frame rail do the collecters sit?...

Thanks! They sit about 1" below the framerails. That gives me about 1/2" between the collectors and the floorboard. FWIW They are even with the trans pan.

[Carl H]

nice looking headder!now its 'almost equal length' correct?

[SuperHatch]

nice looking headder!now its 'almost equal length' correct?

Almost, but not quite. Cylinders 1 and 5 are much longer than 3 and 7, but with the limited space, and this being the first header I've ever made, I got as close as I could...

[craigztoyz]

Superhatch,

Thank you for your input on a non VH topic.

Rocks now point of it was respect of engines, and what other engines out there are amazing like this was when new.

Appreciate the input, What a difference holding down a button can make.

On your ride, I want to make headers too, but fitment seems a pita on a Z32 drivers side. I like how close you got to equal length. close enough

[SuperHatch]

Superhatch,

Thank you for your input on a non VH topic.

Rocks now point of it was respect of engines, and what other engines out there are amazing like this was when new.

Appreciate the input, What a difference holding down a button can make.

On your ride, I want to make headers too, but fitment seems a pita on a Z32 drivers side. I like how close you got to equal length. close enough

No problem, enjoy it...

I'll be honest with you, if I could have made the stock mani's work, I would have. As much work as this is taking it's got me down a bit about the whole project. I just keep going on youtube to listen to other VH powered cars to motivate myself. To this day I have never driven a VH powered car, not even a stock Q45, it better be worth the wait.

[craigztoyz]

No problem, enjoy it...

I'll be honest with you, if I could have made the stock mani's work, I would have. As much work as this is taking it's got me down a bit about the whole project. I just keep going on youtube to listen to other VH powered cars to motivate myself. To this day I have never driven a VH powered car, not even a stock Q45, it better be worth the wait.

I think we all go to youtube to listen for motivation. The pathy sounds awsome!

I know these engines since they came out, and have driven them a bit over 15 years, you gotta go fro a ride in a good Q to appreciate what you are doing. Great car, great engine, only gets better.

On the side note, I beat a 07 stang gt with the toy, and am setting it up tonight with a 06 vette auto(4spd) flat run and a 40 roll. I think I may take the start, roll, is gonna be close.

[SuperHatch]

I think we all go to youtube to listen for motivation. The pathy sounds awsome!

I know these engines since they came out, and have driven them a bit over 15 years, you gotta go fro a ride in a good Q to appreciate what you are doing. Great car, great engine, only gets better.

On the side note, I beat a 07 stang gt with the toy, and am setting it up tonight with a 06 vette auto(4spd) flat run and a 40 roll. I think I may take the start, roll, is gonna be close.

I don't know man, the GT doesn't surprise me, but those C6's, even with autos, are dang fast. I think it'll come down to drive from a dig, and you might get your butt handed to you from a roll. Either way, let us know how it turns out.

[npez]

I don't know man, the GT doesn't surprise me, but those C6's, even with autos, are dang fast. I think it'll come down to drive from a dig, and you might get your butt handed to you from a roll. Either way, let us know how it turns out.

I'm with Steve on this. With 400 at the wheels with my old setup and my bud in his C6 convertible still pulled away - not by a whole lot, but he still did. I'm always a car length away from a good friend of mine when we go to the 1/8 mile track - he's got a 93 cobra with novi-2000 supercharger. Of course he's got 40-50 HP on me with that though. Don't think that'll be the case when mine's twin-turbo though

Nick.

[npez]

No problem, enjoy it...

I'll be honest with you, if I could have made the stock mani's work, I would have. As much work as this is taking it's got me down a bit about the whole project. I just keep going on youtube to listen to other VH powered cars to motivate myself. To this day I have never driven a VH powered car, not even a stock Q45, it better be worth the wait.

Don't get down. I can tell you I had a 99 Q45t with VH41 and even with the lower displacement the engine is amazing - super smooth and pulls hard even at 4100 lbs. You should have a screamer when you're done. Be patient the end in near!

Thanks,Nick.

[SuperHatch]

Don't get down. I can tell you I had a 99 Q45t with VH41 and even with the lower displacement the engine is amazing - super smooth and pulls hard even at 4100 lbs. You should have a screamer when you're done. Be patient the end in near!

Thanks,Nick.

Thanks for the kind words Nick... I'm be as patient as I can be!

More updates, 90% finished the second header. Just need to weld the collector to the primaries and the v-band flange onto the collector. Then when I get a Torque converter bolt/oil pan interference issue worked out the motor gets dropped back in, and maybe even fired up!

[Carl H]

are you designing the manifolds to be bolted to the motor and then the motor dropped in?or can they be removed in car?

[SuperHatch]

are you designing the manifolds to be bolted to the motor and then the motor dropped in?or can they be removed in car?

They need to be installed with the motor. There is simply no room to get them off of the exhaust manifold studs on the head with the motor in the car. Even if I switched to bolts, I still don't think there would be sufficient clearance to drop them. As it is I needed to remove the steering column to get them out with the motor.

[Mettler]

They need to be installed with the motor. There is simply no room to get them off of the exhaust manifold studs on the head with the motor in the car. Even if I switched to bolts, I still don't think there would be sufficient clearance to drop them. As it is I needed to remove the steering column to get them out with the motor.

Welcome to my nightmare!!! I'm making mine equal length though, so they're gonna be even harder to get in/out. Taking off the steering column is hell annoying too!

I plan to drill out & tap the stud holes, and fit thread inserts in for additional strength, so I can safely use capscrews to hold the manifolds on without stripping out the alloy threads.

[SuperHatch]

Welcome to my nightmare!!! I'm making mine equal length though, so they're gonna be even harder to get in/out. Taking off the steering column is hell annoying too!

Tell me about it. Luckily the dash is out of the car right now so it was all very easy to get to. I'm not looking forward to it once everything is all buttoned up.

Can't wait to see progress pics of your setup man...

[Mettler]

Oh true... progress thread here!

I was gonna post up on nico once I'd finished my exhausts... you guys work so hard and fast on your cars though that I didn't want to create a thread yet, and then have it lie dormant for ages without updates. I'm real busy and don't often spend much time working on my car anymore... so I'm fairly impressed with the speed that you got yours done!! >_<

[craigztoyz]

I like the mounts.Great work with the headersWish we had Sunanium here in TX

[SuperHatch]

Oh true... progress thread here!

I was gonna post up on nico once I'd finished my exhausts... you guys work so hard and fast on your cars though that I didn't want to create a thread yet, and then have it lie dormant for ages without updates. I'm real busy and don't often spend much time working on my car anymore... so I'm fairly impressed with the speed that you got yours done!! >_<

True dat, my project lay dormant for almost 9 months while I built another car, so I understand what you mean. I'm amazed I've made as much progress in the last few months as I have.

I can't see the pics of your car from work, firewall blocks them, but I'll check 'em out tonight when I get home... sunanium, lol...

[craigztoyz]

I hate when projects sit. I have a bad habit of tring to build a few at a time, and you can't. You have to do one at a time. Takes a lot out of you to stay focused on a longterm project that requires hundreds of hours to make drivable.But you respect what you built, know what it can do, and how to fix it.

OT - last night took the toy out, with vette. Held down button, ready...

from dead stop, i took him to about 60 or 70, and he pulled hard by, other then that, got my tail spanked, but not by much for a truck as big as my suburban was.

Thanx again, craig

back on topic, You got your header kit from summit right? which part #? I'd be useful to numerous people in time.

[SuperHatch]

I hate when projects sit. I have a bad habit of tring to build a few at a time, and you can't. You have to do one at a time. Takes a lot out of you to stay focused on a longterm project that requires hundreds of hours to make drivable.But you respect what you built, know what it can do, and how to fix it.

OT - last night took the toy out, with vette. Held down button, ready...

from dead stop, i took him to about 60 or 70, and he pulled hard by, other then that, got my tail spanked, but not by much for a truck as big as my suburban was.

Thanx again, craig

back on topic, You got your header kit from summit right? which part #? I'd be useful to numerous people in time.

That's one of the reasons I havn't dug into the Z just yet. I don't want two vehicles completely torn apart. Plug doing the wiring in the S14 will help prep me for the Z job...

For the headers I bought the following:

Qty. 1 - "1-3/4" Hedman Multiple Bend Kit" Summit P/N - HED-12021 $270 for the setQty. 1 - "Edelbrock Competition Merge Header Collectors" Summit P/N - EDL-65803 (These are sold as a pair) $100 bucks for the pairQty. 2 - "Hooker Alignment Weld Sleeves" Summit P/N - HOK-12102HKR $30 bucks each

Total cost was $430... I used the flanges off of the stock manifolds.

Other costs... The exhaust, which turned out to be more expensive once I got the V-band flanges, universal X-pipe, mandrel bends, and the pair of mufflers. There will be more details on the exhaust setup in the next couple weeks.

Funny, I thought you meant you were racing these cars in your oil starved Z, but in the toy is even funnier. I would expect nothing less than the C6 stomping all over it once up to speed. The GT is a nice kill...

[craigztoyz]

Thanx, I like Headmen, used there headers on 2 builds, worked well, and that charcoil grill paint at Wallyworld, made them look good to this day.

Yeah, I am not driving the Z at all, till I am confident of it's oiling.With all the junk off, truck flys, and controlling it, made for a lot of fun, but gas, is making me take it easier. Thanx again for the tip.

How low are your headers going to sit(not at frame, but collector), about as low as motor/trans or more? Most of the time I see full length's they sit too low, yours dont look that way.

[SuperHatch]

Thanx, I like Headmen, used there headers on 2 builds, worked well, and that charcoil grill paint at Wallyworld, made them look good to this day.

Yeah, I am not driving the Z at all, till I am confident of it's oiling.With all the junk off, truck flys, and controlling it, made for a lot of fun, but gas, is making me take it easier. Thanx again for the tip.

How low are your headers going to sit(not at frame, but collector), about as low as motor/trans or more? Most of the time I see full length's they sit too low, yours dont look that way.

The lowest point on the collector is even with the bottom of the trans oil pan.

[SuperHatch]

Just another update...

Got the headers done and the motor back in. This time the custom flexplate, torque converter, and everything else needed to run the motor are all installed. Driveshaft is in too...















Got the driveshaft in. It's a custom 1-piece unit from The Driveshaft Shop.

*** end where it connects to the GTR diff...

Front end in the TH400... Can anyone who is more familiar with domestic trannys tell me if this amount of the driveshaft yolk showing is normal? There is about 3" in the trans...

[elwesso]

looks awesome!

Im not a domestic guy but thats about the same as my Q45 with an aftermarket driveshaft. You have to be able to slide it forward to get the driveshaft out.

[SuperHatch]

looks awesome!

Im not a domestic guy but thats about the same as my Q45 with an aftermarket driveshaft. You have to be able to slide it forward to get the driveshaft out.

Thanks!

I figured it was an acceptable amount, I just wanted some reassurance.