CanadianRacingOnline.com

I know this post is old but it is still worth responding to.
 I agree with the header on thunder car idea. A small tube short header would be a great idea not for any possible gain in power but for the ease and low cost of using them.
I am helping a guy right now that is using the worst log style manifolds i have seem in a while because that is all he has that will fit his car. He is now searching for a set that look like they will flow better and will fit his car. If he could use shorty street style headers it would be all said and done by now. Rules are supposed to be about equalizing the field of cars are they not ? This is one way to ensure everyone has the same amount of exhaust flow and it would be real easy to "tech". No chance that somebody is using Brazinski's and hogging out a thin header tube isn't going to get you too far is it ?
If they want to retain the restricted exhaust then a defined length and size if exhaust pipe would do that just fine. What is wrong with the familiar 2.25 by 16 long section right out of the header into whatever size of pipe and muffler they feel is ok.
And if anybody thinks headers going into a 2.25 pipe is going to give a big power advantage I have to respectfully disagree. But to remove any doubt early off season testing will eliminate any arguing pretty quickly.

Really, what would be the performance benefit to the headers with 2 1/4" pipe?  All the flow gained by the header would be lost as soon as it hits that small pipe.  Are you allowed balance tubes or X pipes?  What type of mufflers, if at all?  What manifolds are allowed?  If you have to run the truck style "W" manifolds, that sucks, now I see why you guys would have to get new manifolds.  Those things are a pain in the donkey.

I would have to say that the headers made it better, and worse at the same time.

Headers are lighter,which is always good.  They are easier to find and cheaper to buy then the ram horn manifolds that most were running before, which is good.  They also reduce underhood temperatures and help with burning plug wires, which is good.

But, how often do you need new manifolds?  One set should do.

Also, when the header rule was brought into effect, they also changed the size of the pipe, from 2 1/2" up to 3"
and allowing the "X" in the pipes.  Now the entire exhaust system is no good anymore, because once one car makes the switch, everyone needs to keep up, and make the switch.  So from a performance stand point, it really made no difference because everyone was running the same stuff.  It simply cost a whole lot of time and money.  Which is not so good.

The only real benefactors were those that were starting from scratch, and needed an entire exhaust system anyways.

The same could be said about all the rule changes over the past few years; the spoilers, tubular control arms, aluminum radiators, electric fans, under drive pulleys and on  and on  and on.

The SS class is SO competetive that, any rule changes almost force you to make the change, unless of course, you are happy running 15th to 20th, but last I checked, thats not what racing's all about.

on the youtube vids it seemed like the motors were even....

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/604/hed69520rearexitheader.jpg

Here is a set,that would take mininum changes to your exhaust system to retro-fit.

Headers on thunder cars sure would save alot of grieve,and alot cheaper to the racer!!Brand new set of good gm manifods are over$400,set of headers $100!!!!!!Save alot of burnt ignition wires to boot