Custom exhaust headers for Studebakers...

[Gunslinger]

I was at Corvettes at Carlisle yesterday and there was a custom headers designer and fabricator there...Kooks Custom Headers. I asked them about Studebakers and Avanti's, and by coincidence, one of the owners of the company owns a '63 Avanti which what was described as all original condition.

I asked about headers for Avanti's and Studebakers with Stude engines. I was told they could certainly design, engineer and make headers for the cars, though they haven't yet. As long as they had the car to make measurements and test fits, it would be no trouble. Costs would depend on how many units would be sold, which is likely a small number.

I'm just tossing this out for anyone who might be interested in having professional quality design and construction headers for their car. They're located in Statesville, NC. The headers they had on display certainly looked like quality, but for that venue I would expect their best to be on display.

Their website for anyone interested is www.KooksHeaders.com.

[super wagonaire]

I'd be interested in a set, and I'm pretty sure most Jet-Thrust guys would!

[SILENTBOB]

I contacted Kooks and they indicated that they do not have a current project underway to produce Studebaker Avanti headers.

HOWEVER, Chris Clark, Production Manager/ Marketing Director, said: "I would need at least 20 sets of headers pre-sold before we entertained taking on the line." He did not mention price.

I would be very interested in getting a set. Headers would provide significant weight reduction to the front end of the Avanti.

Anyone else interested?

[Gunslinger]

My Avanti is a '70, not a Stude, but the idea of having a set (just in case of having another Stude in my future) is quite intriguing. Before I would say I'd want a set...and maybe others here as well, I would want to see some kind of price figures...painted, ceramic coated, stainless, etc. Also whether the headers would be block hugger to fit Larks and Hawks as well or long-tube that are Avanti specific. Lots of variations here.

The same thing goes for getting someone like Vic Edelbrock to engineer and make a run of hi-po aluminum Stude intake manifolds or even cylinder heads. This has been discussed before.

It always comes down to money talks and we all know what walks.

[N8N]

I think pretty much all 53-up Stude chassis are close enough that it might not be impossible to make a set of long tube headers that would work on everything merely by cutting a few inches off of the stock exhaust pipes and welding on a collector flange. That said, you'd still need at least three cars to test fit them, so this wouldn't be a trivial project. (C-K, sedan/Lark, and Avanti)

n

[ralt12]

Not inexpensive.

[sbca96]

Dan on Racing Studebakers was working with a shop near SLO to make some headers.

http://www.racingstudebakers.com/foo/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2002

Tom

[starliner62]

I would go for a couple of sets.

[Billy Shears]

Sanderson has a set of Ford headers that they claim will fit Avantis. (http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Studebaker/) Has anyone got any experience with these to indicate whether or not this is actually the case? If so, any noticeable improvement in performance? I've got a Nimesh Solanki-built R2 engine (with R3 size valves and a performance cam) that might benefit from headers. I've been planning on acquiring some of the repro R3 manifolds for this engine, but if there are headers out there that will fit, and offer more performance gain, I'd be interested.

[PackardV8]

Sanderson has a set of Ford headers that they claim will fit Avantis. (http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Studebaker/) Has anyone got any experience with these to indicate whether or not this is actually the case?

Where the heck that computer glitch came from, I have no idea. The way the listing is written, it's like they are for a Bronco or a Studebaker with a big block Ford installed. As far as bolting on to a Studebaker block, NWIH. Just look at the big block Ford headers - they're longer than a Studebaker head and they don't even have paired center exhaust ports.

jack vines

[Billy Shears]

Where the heck that computer glitch came from, I have no idea. The way the listing is written, it's like they are for a Bronco or a Studebaker with a big block Ford installed. As far as bolting on to a Studebaker block, NWIH. Just look at the big block Ford headers - they're longer than a Studebaker head and they don't even have paired center exhaust ports.

jack vines

That occurred to me as well: from the picture, it's clear they wouldn't fit. However, I assume nothing -- it would not be the first site I've seen offering a wide range of products for different applications, where the photo of a specific item is not correct. That's why I figured I'd ask, especially as I've never heard of anyone who dropped a Ford V8, big block or otherwise, in an Avanti, so that seemed a mighty strange combo. Everyone I've ever heard of who swapped out the Stude engine put a small block Chevy into the car in its place.

[beatnik64]

I would be intrested in 3 sets for my cars. hell yes... now if we can get someone to make alum. heads.

[jimmijim8]

That occurred to me as well: from the picture, it's clear they wouldn't fit. However, I assume nothing -- it would not be the first site I've seen offering a wide range of products for different applications, where the photo of a specific item is not correct. That's why I figured I'd ask, especially as I've never heard of anyone who dropped a Ford V8, big block or otherwise, in an Avanti, so that seemed a mighty strange combo. Everyone I've ever heard of who swapped out the Stude engine put a small block Chevy into the car in its place.

My 55 Pres coupe has a 350 Olds with a Turbo 350. I aint Lion

[kurtruk]

Where the heck that computer glitch came from, I have no idea. The way the listing is written, it's like they are for a Bronco or a Studebaker with a big block Ford installed. As far as bolting on to a Studebaker block, NWIH. Just look at the big block Ford headers - they're longer than a Studebaker head and they don't even have paired center exhaust ports.

jack vines

C'mon everybody:

FORD=289
STUDE=289
SAME-SAME!
That's where it came from.