A possible solution to the header/collector dilemma?

[kerc]

So I scrapped the solid rod headers I was building for my Mustang II, and decided to make them with solder. Nice, but...how do I build a decent collector for them? After thinking a couple of ideas, I realized that, heck, I'm dealing with solder...It melts.

Hmm.

So I decided to create a test. Joined four solder rods (1.7 mm thick, equivalent to a 1 3/4" header pipe), and the idea was to join them into a 3 mm collector tube. After placing them in the right positions, I exposed the solder to some open flame. Voilá! They melted together. After it was cool, I sanded and cut it down gradually until it fit a 3mm aluminum tube.

What do you guys think?

[diymirage]

So I scrapped the solid rod headers I was building for my Mustang II, and decided to make them with solder. Nice, but...how do I build a decent collector for them? After thinking a couple of ideas, I realized that, heck, I'm dealing with solder...It melts.

Hmm.

So I decided to create a test. Joined four solder rods (1.7 mm thick, equivalent to a 1 3/4" header pipe), and the idea was to join them into a 3 mm collector tube. After placing them in the right positions, I exposed the solder to some open flame. Voilá! They melted together. After it was cool, I sanded and cut it down gradually until it fit a 3mm aluminum tube.

What do you guys think?

very nice

only thing i would ad/suggest is wrapping a little section of heatchrink tube on the joint

that should make it look like all 4 pipes go into the big 3 mm pipe a little bit better

(if you want, just an idea)

[kerc]

Thanks for the tip! I've never gotten shrink tubing to work right for me--that's why I tried melting the pipes together. Here's a header I did today based on a Hooker model:

I'm liking it...

[diymirage]

looking good