Ricambi Header experience

[1983Pinin]

Hi folks,

I need to replace the exhaust downpipe and probably the center exhaust in my 83 Spider, and while I lust for the Allison complete exhaust solution ,I have too many other things to do with this car that I can't justify the expense.

I see that Auto RIcambi has a header plus downpipe for a little more than the downpipe so am considering this option.

I saw a post or two about this setup, and would like to hear more from those running this setup.

Pros and cons? I know heat becomes and issue and saw a lot of postings about heat protection of components near the header.
Any comments on construction quality and longevity of their header and downpipe? Performance???

I am going to keep the cat conv in line.

Thanks!
--Peter

[ebrown0104]

I can't speak for the Ricambi header, but I'm using a Vick's stainless header (and full exhaust) on my car:

http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=4204

It fits well, and even after a 30-40 mile drive, I can pop open the hood and original plastic overflow bottle is cool and the steering idler/damper is only warm to the touch.

[1983Pinin]

Thanks for the info ebrown. I don't know how I missed that one!
--Peter

[vandor]

Since the exhaust ports come horizontally out of the head, the 'new design' creates a very sharp angle at the head-header junction with no bend at all, just an abrupt change in direction. That cannot be good for flow.

[chrisg]

Wait, Csaba, do you mean on the vick one mentioned upthread?

interesting stuff to follow, though at the moment I remain a fan enough of the factory 4-2-1 setup. The concept of any header (not to fault any design...I would expect it's the inherent nature of a header's construction) not causing some heat issues for things like the battery, coolant tank, coil, motor mount, alternator (all residents of the right side of my 124 engine bays) is interesting also!

Chris

[vandor]

>Wait, Csaba, do you mean on the vick one mentioned upthread?

Yes.

> I remain a fan enough of the factory 4-2-1 setup.

That is a very good choice up to 120-130 HP.

[So Cal Mark]

there is a lot of power to be found in a well-designed header, far more than what the cast iron manifold can provide.

[chrisg]

guess it's a balance of power gains w/ (in my case) a basically stock 1608 TC vs. the minor hassle of properly insulating the area against an increase in heat. And, by that I mean, how much improvement do you realize with the header being the only variable? That said, I've had cars with headers, but the cost/benefit of a header when there aren't other engine improvements is something I don't have a good feel for.

[pdx124]

Does the Ricambi header line up with the engine's horizontal exhaust ports better than the new vick's design?

http://www.autoricambi.us/product/EX5-4 ... --1979-85/

[131]

[quote="chrisg"]guess it's a balance of power gains w/ (in my case) a basically stock 1608 TC vs. the minor hassle of properly insulating the area against an increase in heat.quote]

Why is there going to be an increase in heat? It's not like a stock manifold doesn't get hot.

[chrisg]

That's a thermodynamics question I don't know the answer to, but my non-scientific experience has been that tubular headers leaving the exhaust ports radiate heat more than the cast iron manifolds. True, either way it's quite hot. And I could be dead wrong on this...now that you ask, I can't say I have ever taken measurements to verify what it seems like. Thanks!

[vandor]

[quote="pdx124"]Does the Ricambi header line up with the engine's horizontal exhaust ports better than the new vick's design?

all headers where the pipes come out horizontally will line up with the ports. The only one I've seen that is available today that does not come out horizontally is the 'new design' in the link above.

[So Cal Mark]

I've done a fair amount of dyno testing with our headers on stock engines, comparing the results to cast iron manifolds and one other well known aftermarket header and significant gains are possible with the right header design

[RRoller123]

Mark, is that in a particular RPM band, high or low or across the whole range

[So Cal Mark]

gains were across the entire rpm range but percentages were much higher from 6k since high rpm is where the stock system is very restricted. Even midrange gains were in the 10% hp and 15% torque though