Difference between Euro and USA headers?

I was asked by a parts source if there is a difference between the headers on USA vs Euro Dinos.

He is a large supplier, has seen the stainless steel headers offered by superformance and dinoparts.de and thinks his fabricators can do better job for lower prices, but he needs to decide which header to start with if there is a difference.

Thank you.

 

Yes - the U.S. headers have a spacer between the header and the head to provide for air-injection port. This changes the entire geometry of the header. In addition, the U.S. header was shrouded with a head shield.

Jim S.

 

I think the bend in the headers is different too, the US headers have to get around all the air pump/alternator junk.

DM

 

Somewhat related answer- Soon after I got my L series (Euro obviously) in fall '01, I thought it would be cool to install Tubis, and discovered at that time that L-series Dinos have 206 headers, and that Tubi did not make (and still do not make, though I'm no longer interested in such non-stock things) exhaust systems to fit the latter. So yes, there is a difference at least between early/L-series headers and later US models. FYI.

 

Um! US headers are a pretty neat Item, mild steel flanges and stainless tubes and collectors. I dont think you can do much better except bell out the entry into the header. The shielding on most Dino's is long since deteriorated and so it is advisable to remove these tin and fiberglass covers and wrap these with header wrap and as I did further wrap the header wrap with 321 S.S. .002 foil. this makes for a truly permanent fix and a protective for the wrap. Keep the alum. spacers and bell out the enty's on those as well. They come with a interferance to provide turbulance for the air injectors and need to be modified for performance.

 

Lousy photo sorry, more if they are of use
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The supplier also wanted me to ask if there was a preference on the type that he makes; USA or Euro version?

He has seen the Superformance and dino.de ones and thinks he can provide superior quality and price, stating:
"Can you ask the people in the Ferrari forum what they would prefer?maybe I can get some feedback from them. Ask them if they would purchase a set of stainless steel headers, brushed finish with aircraft quality welds for less money than what superformance is charging"

 

We build ferrari manifolds all the time. Contact us at [email protected] for a price quote and options.
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I have played with my headers a few times. US heads have oval ports. Air injector spacers have oval ports, There is a front and a back set and there is an up and down. The stainless tube headers have a smaller diameter than either the major or minor diameters of the oval ports. Might be worth while seeing if header tube diameters are different for US and Euro versions. Would bigger be better? Or worse?

I removed insulation and shields on headers and plugged air injectors. See my Dino Saga.. for details. No need for insulation and shields if no air injection. Just protect wiring to alternator and starter. Fiberglass tubing does well.

Let us know if anything interesting comes up while determining feasability of re-manufacturing headers.

John

 

On mine the manifold and headers have round ports. Couldn't find my vernier gauge this morning but a rough id is 1 7/16"

 

What about incorporating this little feature (connecting tubes) if it really increases power.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110606

Look at post #3 for the pic.

 

Flanges should allways be port matched to the exact shape. Trace your exhaust port for the machine shop building you flanges dont have them build it off the OEM manifold.

 

According to Larry Widmer (theoldone.com), David Vizard, and many others, Flanges should be 1/16 inch or 1.5 mm larger than the exhaust port.

 

It depends what gauge material you are using if you are using somthing thick then yes over size it otherwise I would just do a direct port match. We do it on all our manifolds and they all perform very well.

 

Apologies for the Fast Forward,

What is a set of 246 Euro version headers worth in good, used condition?
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In all photos, the Euro version are on the left and USA on the right.

Several things to note between the two versions; the cylinder cluster points are different at the collector, the end points are at a different height and the curve is wider. The USA version was "stubbier" as it had to accommodate emissions injection ports that were embedded in short exhaust spacers and the big curve has a broader shape needed to accommodate the USA emissions pump clustered within it behind the alternator in the mount known as the "Waffle cannister".

While this is a stock USA version, it needs to be noted that it orginally had a shroud of thin metal encasing fibreglas insulation from the collector to cylinder flange. When I bought the car, these were so rusted and departed I clipped them to allow ceramic coating and put them by the side. While I may add them back for originality, the USA version is not exactly shown as original without them.

In any case this is an exact comparison of what Ferrari did to the exhaust flow when they transitioned from the Euro to the USA version.
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Why do the Euro headers appear to have air injection port tubes? (see top photo)
To make an inspector think the car had air injection when it was imported?

 

Those are stand off mounts for the exhaust heat shields. The US cars had their whole header clad in aluminum with heat shielding wadding inside while the Euro ones had bolt on heat shields. The parts books show this clearly. Those little mounts are very poorly welded on and almost always break. I re-enforced mine before sending the headers to ceramic coat.

 

Interesting side-by-side photos, Scott. Thanks for posting.

We have previously discussed whether there is a difference in the torque and power curves of the US and Euro Dinos, and the design of the headers could be a factor. Looking at these photos, though, there appears to be no significant differences between the two. Both are very nice, free flowing designs and the tuned lengths (distance from the exhaust ports to the collection points) seem to be about the same.

 

Your two Euro headers are from different series. The header on the first pictures from "behind the engine" is a later one from E-Series. These headers have welded port tubes, but NOT for Air injection but for CO- measuring during Carb adjustment.
The header in front (driving direction) on the lower pictures show the weldings on top section, but the tubes are missing. L- and M- Europan models do not have the CO- Tubes.
The stand off mounts are much lower on the headers and not reacheable when mounted from above. If there is no CO- tester fitted, the tubes are closed with a screw and have threads inside. The same with my pair of headers..
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