180 degree headers for the 3.6 V8

vwhammer · Oct 4, 2009

So I am contemplating building a set of 180 degree headers for my V8 Rabbit project.

I am not going to lie.
The only reason I want to do this is simply to make the car sound a little more exotic.
If I gain a few HP in the process then great.

However I thought I would do a little research on the topic before I do anything.

The only real stuff you can find on 180 degree header design relates to domestic V8s

The concept, however, remains the same.
Route exhaust primaries to the collector in a fashion that results in a scavenging effect for every cylinder firing.

For those uneducated on the topic, this usually involves running pipes from one bank of cylinders to the collector for the other bank of cylinders.

There are some other effects to routing the pipes in this way.
Typically you get a more high pitch exhaust note and an engine that sounds like it is revving higher than it really is.

Many compare the note to the Ferrari V8 but most I have heard are on american V8s and generally sound nothing like the Ferrari.

But, I thought with the different firing order of the Audi V8 that it might sound a little different.

Anyone have any opinions or info on this?

32vquattro · Oct 4, 2009

like this?

my2000apb DrBeastCar · Oct 4, 2009

dang that looks intense

vwhammer · Oct 4, 2009

I am going to have to get a little more creative with my routing but yeah that's pretty much the idea.

hilly · Oct 4, 2009

One thing you need to remember is that Ferrari spend millions on tuning the exhaust systems to get the sound they do, it is not all down to just being a flat plane crank. Just look at this cutaway drawing of a 355 exhaust silencer to get an idea of the amount of effort they go to.

Listen to a Lotus Esprit V8 which also has a flat plane crank and it sounds nowhere near the same, admittedly that has twit turbos which will mess stuff up, but Ferrari's exhaust budget is probably bigger than everything on the Lotus.

Have a look at this vid of mine, it doesn't use a 180 degree header design (there just wasn't the room) and this doesn't sound like a normal V8.

All I did was fit an X pipe junction as this helps equal out the pulses in both exhaust outlets and also helps with scavenging.
I am not a exhaust design expert by any stretch of the imagination, all I did was to install the x pipe as far down stream as possible before any silencers.

It is a hell of a lot simpler than fabbing up a 180 degree header.........

Hilly

vwhammer · Oct 4, 2009

Yeah that sounds pretty sweet.

I was also listening to this Pantera with BMW V8.
It does not have 180s either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXQsvDro ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv_OeD5n ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrmacfW7 ... re=related

While I am sure there is a boat load of cash in the Ferrari exhaust there are some with after market systems that sound just plain wicked.

I am sure there are many factors at play to make it sound like that.
Their cranks, their particular exhaust, their displacement, bore and stroke and some even say that the shorter exhaust length changes the pitch considerably.

The length may also account for the sounds of your car (hilly) and the pantera above.

I know there is no way to make my engine sound like the Ferrari but it is my opinion that some 180 headers could help.

Here are a couple of Corvette clips where you can hear a noticeable difference between 180 and standard exhaust.

180 degree headers.

And standard type system.

Quite honestly I think space will probably limit what I can do with my system and I will just have to stick to standard type system.

Maybe the fact that I am running a single pipe rather than a dual system will change the tone some.

TorqAddict · Oct 4, 2009

I removed the front muffler on my V8 and replaced it with a low angle x pipe.

The result was only slightly louder, almost unnoticeable at idle but a completely different exhaust note that gets raspier as the rpm's climb.

I wasn't sure if I liked it at first but now I love it.

I had no idea at the time that this aided in scavaging but went on the advise of the hot rodder mechanic at the muffler shop. This was done at the same time I added the ABT chip and it was like driving home a different car.

cuatrokoop · Oct 5, 2009

The V8 already has an X-pipe (it's where the O2 happens to reside as well), I'd be curious as to the benefit of your addition Jeff.

The 180d headers sound interesting, but if you are mocking them for your Rabbit, they may not fit other cars, so I'd be cautious of your design.

vwhammer · Oct 6, 2009

I had no intentions of building them for anything but my rabbit.

However, after looking at some pics of my car, so far it looks like it could be real tricky to make a set of 180 headers fit.

They might look cool and it could make it sound a little different but I don't know if it would be worth the hassle.

Only time will tell.

180 degree headers for the 3.6 V8

vwhammer

32vquattro

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