Not many of the old grey beards around anymore its a lost art Old Tony Really knows the art. I thought I was the only one left.

"Kitchen rebuild" I love it. I remember a Buddy years ago that rebuilt his Harley in his kitchen. I dropped in several months later, and I saw a black strip across the kitchen floor and a busted up lower kitchen cabinet! I said "WTF?" He replied "it's all good, runs great!" Lol... That's a kitchen rebuild! :-)

Thank you for not bringing up “back pressure”.

We did the slid tube thing back in the 60s and it WORKED great,I could gain 2tenths in just a few minutes!!!!

This is especially true when you stick to a single track. Changing to a different sea level and pressure can make some changes to this from one to another.

You see this on tractor pulling engines with upright headers all the time. Perfectly tuned header length with great discoloration right at the very tip of the collector

I'm a chemical engineer and deal with fluids moving through pipes everyday. Couldn't have explained the flow any better myself.

Wow, I posted something about this on Facebook a week or so ago. I was telling the guys at the shop that more often than not the crossover tube is not in the right place. I said that the car needs to be run with a stripe from a Tyre crayon and see where it burns off to, and that's where the crossover belongs... Blank stares. Heck I am the old man at the shop...

This is so cool! My dad always said I had to use collector extensions and I never totally understood why and now I do! Besides making your car sounds better they also help you go faster :D

You can’t beat the knowledge of the Old Dogs. Thanks for the wisdom.

I learned this a few years ago. Tried explaining it to others, but they thought I was talking out my arse. Hope others see this. Love your old school approach. Sick of LS or K swapping everything.

Very cool video UTG...for those that didn't see his" headers explained" video a year ago, check it out.

Here in Michigan, we won't be racing for another 3 months. If ever again. Two weeks to flatten the Curve, turned into one year, of respect my authoritah!

Engine Masters did testing on header extension length. It matters. About an 18" extension was perfect for the engine they used. But your engine might need longer or shorter

I still remember the procedure from the Mopar racing manual that I purchased from Mancini racing decades and decades ago. You put about it 30-36 in straight pipe at the end of the header and you put a line of paint on it. Wherever the burn mark ends on the paint you go 9-2 18 inches further and you chop it off that's the best exhaust you can do. Works wonders. You do not cut it at the burn mark. Go at least 9 in, I remember correctly 9 to 12 in was actually pretty good. You need all of that turbulent burn to stabilize and it takes at least 8in for that to happen.

Might want to add a brace to that roll bar they tend to be floppy standing alone, just a small back bar stiffens it up alot and will stop it from flipping forward in a roll

Good explanation on header extension. We always had the header extensions in the car for when we dropped the exhaust system at the track. The extension plain works... P.S. Your wife must be a saint......building engine in the kitchen. Since I've done that with a dirt bike, my wife is a good kid, too.

Just seen a video from dulcich, then uncle Tony's new vid in my feed, and it made me think of something... Uncle Tony and dulcich really need to get together on some type of build.. maybe another crop duster type project maybe even on an episode of Roadkill? Which the crop duster episode is one of if not my favorite episodes because it shows them doing it in the true hot-rodders fashion of using what you have laying around to put together a hot rod I'm not having to go out and act like you don't have a budget and buy all the nicest fanciest parts and throwing stuff in the scrap bin that alot of guys would really love to have...

Thx UT. Very on point details over some of "the little things". It reminds people that those little things are extremely important to the overall performance of their build. Well put

Always interesting and informative. Thank you Uncle Tony

Automotive street science! This guy is the best! Knowledge and truth through experiencing. Thank you!!!

it would be cool if you can tell us someday the main difference between a street (stock)and racing mopar greats from The Netherlands

I always wondered why 68-69 Hurst olds went with manifolds instead of headers... granted they were high flow manifolds on that 455, but perhaps they went with manifolds because it was still a street/strip car?

This is why I am subscribed to this channel!

First time I've seen anyone address the back half of the headers - the collector - in 40 years. I was wondering if anyone even remembered this vital area of information anymore. Looking at the way cars get put together would suggest that no one does. I was delighted to see Uncle Tony address this. Uncle Tony, you're The Boss. P.S. As the exhaust shock pulse travels down the primary into the collector, it sees a pressure differential. When it reaches the open end of the collector, it encounters an "infinite mass", the atmosphere. This acts as a wall that the shock pulse reflects off of and travels back up the header tubes to the cylinder. (The reducer on the end of your collector connecting your exhaust pipe does the same thing.) Ideally it then again reverses and heads back down the header, further scavenging exhaust gases from the cylinder, and if your valve timing is right, assisting to start the new air fuel charge moving toward the cylinder. This is why collector length helps "tune" the header to the motor's rpm band, as it controls the time it takes for the shock pulse to make one round trip. (This is especially important on some cheap aftermarket headers with primary tubes that are too short.) It's not so much about "smoothing out the turbulence" as the shock wave reaches the collector before the new blast of exhaust gases does. We used to say, "If you are running an automatic, add an extra 3" - 4" inches beyond the point where the grease mark burns off to, as your starting point for tuning your header. Typical collector lengths: manuals - 14 - 18 inches. Automatics: 16 - 22 inches. Depends on cu/in & car weight.

Nick's Garage is doing a series on complete assembly of a 440. I heard his wife will not let him do it in their kitchen. HAHA!!!

I learned something new about tuning from uncle tony! now your just showing off. thanks for the video!

Very cool, reflects the same basic ideas that Engine Masters got on the episode they did on collectors!

That flux welder you recommended from harbor freight during Sunday night live works like a charm! Thanks!

This reminds me of the time the exhaust pipe fell out of the flange holding it to the header in my Cavalier. Immediately, the sound changed to that of an old boat motor and I had no power whatsoever. Didn’t matter if the pedal was on the floor. I didn’t have the proper back pressure and it wasn’t scavenging properly. Once I welded the pipe back together it ran like no problem ever occurred

I love this channel Uncle Tony! I always learn something i didn't know before. Uncle Tony reminds me of my high school auto shop teacher with the voice of George Carlin...

Tony thanks for this video. We tried this on my dad's car. A small block street Tire Volare Roadrunner. The car went consistent 660s last year with the best of a 149 60 foot. I told him about your video and he said he used to do the same thing to his big block cars back in the late 70s. He ordered a set of 18-inch header extensions and went to Hertford North Carolina today first pass off the trailer 650 with a 141 60 foot. He was tickled to death. And the car even picked up a little bit of mile-an-hour.

Matt here I fill your pain about the weather I got a foot of snow last week in Utah. I hate winter too Tony. Great info on headers I did not know about thanks uncle Tony.

I would have never given something like this any thought. Awesome to know!

With my full exhaust system I put the crossover at the end of where the grease pencil burnt off❤😊. It made the difference between being raspy, and being able to do donuts😂

Uncle Tony I make sure that I like all of your videos they are great 👍

I need some of the stuff you have. I'm kidding I totally admire your enthusiasm you the best UT!!!

Great Clinic UT. Great simple performance gain on this one. Love to drive for you. The race cars that is.

Always interesting. I don't have the time to watch many videos because of their length, but I make exceptions for UTG's stuff. It also seems like lengthening the collector is like lengthening barrels on firearms: the longer they are (to a point) the more oomph you get.

Header pipes is what I ran back in the day. Just go to western auto and get The glass pack cherry bombs with the header pipe & flange..

Beautiful channel and cars...greetings from Europe

It went from like 30f below to over 45f above now. I agree. I am walking in a swamp at my garage

Great info unk I read about this in hot rod mag. When I was about 13 yrs old 👍👍

Thanks for the info Boss, always Welcome..

Your videos are great, always get something out of it

High science!!! I love high science!!! Thanks for being you Unks!!!

Late in the 70's we( friends and I) Made a sliding collector, It was held on with springs. . Then paint with old paint.. Burn your paint like out. Make three sets.. +4, +6, +8... Easy cheap, fast.. Best of all it makes you look good,,

Cool video thank for sharing all those year's of experience.and nolige

So true and useful. If that collector is too short it feels like there's a hole in the torque curve. My experience anyway. Interested in this.

Man what a damn good video. I love all of your videos but I'm about to put this one to the test on my dad's car.

Great video Uncle Tony!👍 Hello Uncle Kathy.👋 Sorry I missed the live stream last night, I was still napping. The best exhaust system to run on a street/strip car is to have a set of manual or electric cutouts. A pull of a knob or push of a button and ya have an open exhaust. This just my opinion and there are many other that say the same thing.

Wow thanks for the great info im working on my 68 chevelle here in Pensacola Florida trying to figure out the loudest and best exshust right now I just have street headers on it so I was wanting xpipe with boom tubes coming off rear tires never gave much thought into the collectors man I need you to build me a exshust 😆

I thought this was common knowledge. Guess not. Another valuable PSA from “The Tone” Uncle Tony Show! FM Stereo! Even though his cars can’t receive that shit.

As usual, Tony has a very interesting show, and he has Xlnt ideas for budget performance gains... This segment shows how to get the most from a set of exhaust headers..

Back a couple (25 or 30) years ago when we ran street mod pulling trucks, an old timer explained to us how get the right collector length for yer engine, very simple, put on a pipe you knew was longer than you needed then after a couple runs, look inside it with a flash light and cut it off about an inch behind the point where it turned from black to gray, seemed to make sense to us as thats about the time the trophies started adding up

It's all a slop up here in Canada too Uncle Tony! - nice to not freeze - not so great walking in water!

This info is PRICELESS!

Engine masters just tested this and he’s right.... 18” extension off the collector was the sweet spot

I used the grease pencil trick to find the home for a crossover on my exhaust..seemed to work.. cut outs just aft of it on a hot 350 4 speed

I wonder how many vintage engine blocks across the South were lost to ice crackin' em' open.

Bravo, on point!

I majored in “High” science in high school. The class was in the parking lot....lol

Excellent video.

Great info

Uncle Tony, can you talk about rear ends? The types, how they work (basics) and what improvements can/need to be made for performance

well said on turbulence utg ive tested that at the track with my 91 lx even with basani step headers 1 5/8 to 1 3/4 the car went quicker corked aka with x pipe and mufflers

Love you, and what you're all about tony

Engine masters did a cool test on collector extensions and if I remember right 12 or 18 was best but surprising how much a few inches made. Ol lady said the same😛

Time.....on the strip everyone is trying to cheat it , everything counts. After mechanical limits , reaction time is up to you. Thanks Tony.

Cheap parts Yes! My Suzuki Sidekick is like that to. $20.00 or less for lots of it. Fuel pump, about $30.00. A couple of buddies offered to help me push it home. I changed it myself. Two other guys that paid a grand wouldn't talk to me about it.

You know what im up for the miata project. Get it driving and go chuck it about they are hilarious

Good job God bless yous

Wow, an old guy told me, for an old dirt track car, to paint the exh pipe and cut it off where the paint stopped burning wasn't that far off the mark.

Damn UT!! Want me to come down there and show you how to throw down a weld? LOL. That looks like it was welded with a coat hanger and jumper cables.

Just need some sort of back pressure to prevent backflow of the exhaust gases. That's the most simplified explanation I can come up with. There has to be a minimum length of exhaust to achieve sufficient back pressure to keep the positive flow. The minimum required exhaust length is where the maximum flow can be achieved.

Motortrend dyno tested all of this stuff starting with the "cut it where you still see paint thing". Very interested results.

How much HP will header turndowns lose? is there a difference between slant and straight cuts?

A freakin fountain of information. Like a PhD course for low E.T.s.

Looking forward to the Miata ! That is right in my wheelhouse.

Sounds very much like what I read in a book many years ago about building tuned length megaphones to help scavenge the exhaust. That was for building racing 4 bangers but tuning the exhaust lengths is pretty basic science.

Wow, that is some aerospace quality welds on the collector extension.....

Way back when I was running my 71 Duster 318 automatic, I took pipe same diameter as collector, slit it length wise, opened it up to fit over the 10 inch collector extension then welded up the slit. Then welded all thread to the collector extension bolt heads. Had a flange welded on the 'slit' extension and put nuts on either side of the flange. I could simply adjust the nuts on the flanged, slit extension to make overall collector length longer or shorter. That car responded best with 21 & 1/2 inches of total collector length. BTW, never thought about the heat thingy

Good stuff!

If you are watching this and you haven't read "4 Stroke performance Tuning"-A Graham Bell then you should absolutely get a copy..primary/secondary pipe math is easy...you can make a cheap set of headers work perfectly by simply correcting the tune for running open pipe.

Ready for the Miata content👍

Hey Uncle Tony, I’m trying to put together a project that involves a 440 and an old Nissan and I was wondering if you could do more videos on the big blocks and perhaps the transmission options they came with too. I’m a Mopar guy with import money and good information goes a long way.

I would point out that many engines like longer collectors but not all do. In my experience and observations mopars, fords, and pontiacs like extensions as do some big block chevys but small block chevys don't really care. I had a supercharged sbc and tried all different lengths header extensions and the car didn't change ET in the 1/4 mile noticeably.

Right on

I got a set of old Hookers back from the day it was a pain in the ass to attach any exhaust to them.

Old school cool 😎 awesome

So, I know people will likely laugh at me for saying this, but now I know why my buddy's 1993 Acura Integra B18A1 makes so much bottom end torque compared to when it was stock. The 4 into 1 header we installed, on 3 different engines now, increased low end torque to the point where in 1st gear, he could just ease off the clutch in 1st gear and it just goes with almost no engine bog. With 12.5:1 compression and a ported Integra GS-R head, he can get the car moving with a bit of bogging in 4th gear now. The header has a long collector on it that is 2.5 inches and is mated to a 2.5 inch cat back exhaust. And we know the header alone made a huge difference, when he bought his 1992 Integra, the exhaust on his current 1993 Integra came off that car, and when the 1992 was first bought, it was the stock manifold connected to the exhaust, and we swapped in the header and it was like a completely different car. I will have to show him this video to help him understand better why the car picked up so much torque everywhere.

I’ve experimented over the years and with my builds it’s been an approx 18” collector that performs the best. Little more little less depending on the car and combo…

Jeez Unc-T!! Looks like you're recording when I'm crawling in bed, why so EARLY?

I am just happy if the headers don't leak lol

2.5" manifold to a 3" out law cat back. Lost some power but with tune it worked out. Will I need a special tune to run 3" collector and high flow cats to gain, or will I lose speed? Great info. We just painted the exhaust and where it stopped we cut. Made quick connect for street

Uncle Tony, Can you make a video on the whys and wherefores of how header tube size and collector diameters effect an engine's RPM/torque range of various sizes of engines?

Laminar flow. Its a beautiful thing.

uncle Tony. That aint a roll bar, thats decoration.

Engine Masters did a great video testing collector length

Great video. I even run a 10" extension on my race headers. I don't think the paint works.