Z-06 Header exhaust material

[Cam]

I've got a question for the pros out there. Does anyone know what grade metal LS-7 Z-06 stock headers and exhaust are made form? I've heard everything from 409 SS to Aluminized Steel. A magnet does stick to it but i'm out of copper sulfate to see if it reacts. I'm trying to weld these to 304 stainless with 309L rods.

I've scoured the web, no luck. any ideas?

 

[Phil]

Cam:
I have had similar problems with OEM stainless exhaust systems. One thing you can try is make sure you are back purging the tubes, atmosphere will interfere greatly with the welding process. Also, I don't know what material the pipes you have are, but there is a good possibility that they are Inconel 625, if thats the case then you may find it impossible to join them. This material is not compatible with stainless as far as welding, and is difficult to weld to itself in a shop environment anyway. Try switching to Helium and see what happens.
You may need to move up to a higher number filler rod and improve your shielding as some of the high heat rated stainless materials contain titanium and require a high degree of shielding.
Hope some of this helps
Phil

 

[Jack]

Exhaust manifold
The Z06 LS7 engine has exhaust manifolds designed
with hydroformed 309 stainless steel tubes and 304 stainless steel jackets.​

So Cam, your 309L choice is okay.​

 

[Jack]

Cam,
Curious as to why you want to weld onto the LS7 exhaust manifolds????

 

[Will Campbell]

I've got a question for the pros out there. Does anyone know what grade metal LS-7 Z-06 stock headers and exhaust are made form? I've heard everything from 409 SS to Aluminized Steel. A magnet does stick to it but i'm out of copper sulfate to see if it reacts. I'm trying to weld these to 304 stainless with 309L rods.

I've scoured the web, no luck. any ideas?

The LS7 manifolds are of stainless construction, and are 309 for the tubes, surrounded by a shell of 304.

The C6 Z06 has an exhaust that is made from Titanium. Are you planning to incorporate part of that in your system?

 

[Will Campbell]

Exhaust manifold
The Z06 LS7 engine has exhaust manifolds designed
with hydroformed 309 stainless steel tubes and 304 stainless steel jackets.​

So Cam, your 309L choice is okay.​

Jack- you beat me to it!

-Will

 

[Cam]

Here is a pic, I've cut the down tube out of a z06 exhaustr and am trying to splice in a small 10" piece of 304 SS elbow to turn it up to the cat. Everything fit nicey nice on the passenger side. On the drivers side, the down tube just hits the frame, so i've got to cut and reweld. I'm just trying to figure out what the LS7 exhaust steel consists of. Sounds 309/304? Thanks guys!

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Cam,
not to hijack your thread..nice work by the way.

I have been working with Hedman Headers from Georgia for quite some time now, and we have finally come up with a set of production headers we are both happy with ....available in mild steel or coated...at present.

They are LS series based headers and running with an LS7/Ricardo package we have seen some nice improvements in power and torque across the rev range....

So when you want some more power...:thumbsup:

 

[Doc Kaler]

Fran,

Any clearance issues with a G50.50? Are the ports D-shaped? Put me down for Ceramic coated if no tranny clearance issues and the ports are right for the LS7

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Ports are sized for LS7 with enough scope to accomodate performance upgrades....

I will send you a set to check fitment with the G50....the Ricardo has been the staple for many customers and as the Porsche boxes are becoming increasingly rare/expensive I wanted to focus on the "next" trans of choice....

 

[Doc Kaler]

Fran,

Don't make me go out and buy a Ricardo just to fit some headers! :drunk:

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

The prices have tumbled.....dump the G50 and do the right thing....Wink

 

[Alex]

Ports are sized for LS7 with enough scope to accomodate performance upgrades....

I will send you a set to check fitment with the G50....the Ricardo has been the staple for many customers and as the Porsche boxes are becoming increasingly rare/expensive I wanted to focus on the "next" trans of choice....

Can you send me a cad drawing or measurements or something of the ports so I can see if they'll fit my heads properly - pretty sure my builder is using TFS/TEA 245cc heads ...... gotta make sure I fall around 700RWhp, ehehehe

Btw, hopefully these are manly straight-throughs, no mufflers, cats, nothing at all?

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Alex,

they will fit just fine....

System will be available in street or urban terrorist version...just for you.

 

[Alex]

Alex,

they will fit just fine....

System will be available in street or urban terrorist version...just for you.

Put me down for 1 urban terrorist please!!! :thumbsup:

Btw, what style tips are you going to be using? 1 tip per side out the back, 2tips per side, centred tips, etc...? Or are there options available =)

 

[Alex]

ceramic coated of course (got to keep the heat down anyway I can, heh)

 

[Dave Lindemann]

Cam,
not to hijack your thread..nice work by the way.

I have been working with Hedman Headers from Georgia for quite some time now, and we have finally come up with a set of production headers we are both happy with ....available in mild steel or coated...at present.

They are LS series based headers and running with an LS7/Ricardo package we have seen some nice improvements in power and torque across the rev range....

So when you want some more power...:thumbsup:

Fran -

If these will work with my LS3 and G50 I may be interested. Let me know.

Dave L

 

[Alex]

Btw, hopefully Hedman's quality control is tighter than BBKs :laugh: =)