8 replies to this topic

[antonvrs]

Who was the first to use "tuned" equal length 4-into-2-into 1 exhaust headers on an automotive engine? And when? Also known as "extractor exhaust".
Maybe Gordini?
Anton

[Tim Murray]

There's some useful info in this earlier thread:

Exhaust systems

[# 0]

I'd say Ed Winfield mid 30s, for Rex mays and his Legion Ascot "Winfield Special"

[Allan Lupton]

For those who can't be bothered with the linked thread, we had this as potentially earliest:

The 1906 GP Brasier was a four in the dimensions of 165/150 mm delivering 105 hp at 1380 rpm. Its exhaust manifold combined cylinders one with four, and two with three.

[# 0]

But thats not 4 into 2 into 1, is it? Also, I doubt the head pipes would of been of equal length.

[Allan Lupton]

But thats not 4 into 2 into 1, is it? Also, I doubt the head pipes would of been of equal length.

There was a photo, but it's gone. That's the trouble with linking other sites of course.
The junctions of the 1/4 and 2/3 pairings were half-way along the engine, so the pairs certainly were equal length. I think that the 2/3 junction was outboard of the other, so maybe all pipes were equal (ish).
The photo did not show where 2 into 1 bit would have been, if it existed, so we don't know.

[Cirrus]

Very much OT, but Ron Tauranac told me that when they were creating the exhausts for the F1 Climax-engined Brabhams, they filled each pipe with ping pong balls (quite similar in diameter to the primary pipes) to check if they were of equal length.

[David McKinney]

Very much OT, but Ron Tauranac told me that when they were creating the exhausts for the F1 Climax-engined Brabhams, they filled each pipe with ping pong balls (quite similar in diameter to the primary pipes) to check if they were of equal length.

Ain't science wonderful

[VAR1016]

Very much OT, but Ron Tauranac told me that when they were creating the exhausts for the F1 Climax-engined Brabhams, they filled each pipe with ping pong balls (quite similar in diameter to the primary pipes) to check if they were of equal length.

Nice lateral thinking anyway! A friend of mine and I made quite a good exhaust manifold for a tricky installation (Lancia Fulvia). We agonised about how to plan the pipe runs and came up with the solution of buying some vacuum-cleaner hose. This we cut into the appropriate lengths and fiddled with it, taping it up with masking tape until we had a prototype!

Paul