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Technical Reds headers quality?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by nevrDUN51', Mar 25, 2016.

  1. nevrDUN51'
    Joined: Feb 9, 2016
    Posts: 151

    nevrDUN51'
    Member
    from Nashua, NH

    Also, ironically when I ordered these pipes, the guy told me that he was having difficulty finding someone to make the downpipes and tailpipes. It really sounds like this guy just gives everyone the same excuse when they find low quality and that isn't cool. I mean seriously, how can you have trouble with your welders and fab guys for over 10 years?? Maybe the problem isn't the fab guys at all??
     
  2. krusty40
    Joined: Jan 10, 2006
    Posts: 869

    krusty40
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have always felt that header tubes that are not welded around the outside of the flange/tube joint look unfinished and less professional. I do tig weld the tube to the flange on the inside, but also have then tig welded the outside with silicon-bronze rod. This not only provides a finished look, but also adds additional support to what can frequently be a potentially weak spot(s) in the interior weld, especially after port matching. The lower temp of the silicon-bronze flows out to a wider bead than a conventional steel tig bead, and looks quite similar to a gas welded bead. Win/Win I have no comment on the Red's headers.

    vic
     
  3. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,913

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    After reading a bunch of threads about this over the past year or so, I have to admit this thought has crossed my mind as well.
     
  4. A "good sign" of a successful business are the employees of the business.
    If the employees are content and therefore have longevity with the company, the quality of work produced from that company will be good, as well.
     
    FlatJan likes this.
  5. OLDSMAN
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 2,422

    OLDSMAN
    BANNED

    This is very odd for Red's hedders. I have heard good reports about their products
     
  6. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,913

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Didn't the ownership of Red's Headers change a few years ago?
     
  7. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    They don't look like the quality that I would want to put out. The crush on the one leg is just pathetic , IMHO . A shame.
     
    5window likes this.
  8. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    Red's is a good old company that seems to have served the old Ford community well for years. I've seen lots of Red's headers on cars at shows and they looked just fine, not sure why yours look so different. It may well be that a small specialty company like Red's can't afford to pay what it takes to keep a talented weldor on staff.
    Like Hot Rod Don, I worked in the header industry for many years and we had fixtures to make that ugly "0 radius" bend when absolutely necessary. While I was there they were engineered out of the assemblies to eliminate a "hand made" step and reduce costs (I really just thought they were ugly and unnecessary but you have to justify a redesign of a successful product in a way that the bean counters understand)
    Applying a bead around the outside with silicon bronze rod became very popular and I agree that it makes the header look more finished, especially if they are to be coated. I'm not sure that it really adds much to the strength of the assembly but in my own shop I did it to a lot of my customers headers as an extra cost option.
     
  9. I believe that to be True!
     
  10. Pete
    Joined: Mar 8, 2001
    Posts: 4,745

    Pete
    Member

    Where are these pics you promised?
     
  11. Pete
    Joined: Mar 8, 2001
    Posts: 4,745

    Pete
    Member

  12. Same with me. I tried to buy some and nothing, so I inquired and was given the same reply. I bump him every couple months to see if he's going to offer the Mopar flat six headers soon, but he's having a heck of a time finding qualified fabricators. I'm keeping at it though, I really want s set of Reds Headers. Hope the bugs gets worked out
     
  13. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I bought a set of Red's for my 8BA, they showed up quickly and look and fit great. Yes they are only welded on the inside but I can remedy that easily if I so chose. I needed a new front tube and header flange for the left header to clear my steering box after a modification I completed, I called and they sent it out asap for very little money. I changed the pipe and proudly welded their trademark tag back on the headers (and coincidentally over the top of my weld). Nice people, nice service and a nice product from where I sit.
     
  14. Pete
    Joined: Mar 8, 2001
    Posts: 4,745

    Pete
    Member

    I dunno... But I'm still waiting for the redesign pics.
     
  15. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    make'em yourself and use stainless. I did for my Model A su carbs.jpg
     
    13 likes this.
  16. Tedders
    Joined: Oct 18, 2012
    Posts: 419

    Tedders
    Member

    I'm running the dual reds headers

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1463361029.432434.jpg

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1463361080.332309.jpg
     
    Scott Mannion likes this.
  17. Scott Mannion
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 114

    Scott Mannion
    Member
    from Scotland

    Tedders likes this.
  18. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I really like the tail pipe treatment. What did you do to the ends Tedders?
     
    Tedders likes this.
  19. Well I am certainly no header expert but I have been around some headers in my time and there are a couple of things that come to mind.

    One is that rumpled pipe would cause me a certain amount of consternation. The other is the tack welds on the p outside of the flange, I have certainly tacked some in my time, but it is not normal for pro made headers. The tube should pass through the flange and be welded around the mating surface of the flange at least any quality set of off the rack headers you buy are done that way. No weld on the outside at all.
     
  20. Scott Mannion
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 114

    Scott Mannion
    Member
    from Scotland

    You think you've got problems!;)
    13240666_1171774732842243_1403803745422099310_n.jpg
     
  21. Now that's a bunch of snakes. :D
     
  22. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,442

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    They are probably put on the fixture to hold everything in alignment and tack welded on the outside then removed from fixture and finish welded on the inside..Hard to just weld on inside if you use a flathead block for the fixture...o_O
     
  23. Probably so but not very professional is it.

    These days I try to use square port flanges or oval port flanges when I can, if I am using a head or block for a fixture I fit my tubes then remove the flange from the head or block and weld it up from the other side. If I were going to tack the outside and sell it I would do one of two things. I would either finish the weld it I would grind the tack out. That obviously could change if it were my car I don't have to put a decent looking product out on my own car.

    All that said I have heard good comments on reds headers before, those may have just been Monday headers.
     
  24. Tedders
    Joined: Oct 18, 2012
    Posts: 419

    Tedders
    Member


    Thank you appreciate it
     
  25. Tedders
    Joined: Oct 18, 2012
    Posts: 419

    Tedders
    Member


    Just expanded the ends
     
  26. boo
    Joined: Jul 6, 2005
    Posts: 580

    boo
    Member
    from stuart,fl.

    problim i had w/reds headers was when you look in the header w/flash lite the hole in the main tube was only about a 1/2 inch in diameyrt, i had to take a stick welder and turn it up real hi and reach in there and burn out the hole
     
  27. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Please explain, Boo.
     
  28. nevrDUN51'
    Joined: Feb 9, 2016
    Posts: 151

    nevrDUN51'
    Member
    from Nashua, NH

    So, I spoke to the guy who owns Red's now, and like many other companies, he bought it lock stock and barrel. He didn't design anything. He just farms out the fab work to whatever shops he can find. I was able to head up and stretch the middle pinched pipe to a more acceptable opening, BUT, I'll say this.

    REDS DOWNPIPES DONT FIT. I tried absolutely everything and they either hit clutch and brake linkage, the floor, or some combination of both. Also, the downpipes are bent to run both sides UNDER the crossmember. This means significantly decreased ground clearance, which sucks on lowered cars. I am going to bring my car to an exhaust shop and have new 2" (not 1 3/4 stretched to 2" at the joints) downpipes and tailpipes made. I'm just happy the crap downpipes that I only used to break in the motor only cost $50, otherwise I'd be returning them.
     
  29. boo
    Joined: Jul 6, 2005
    Posts: 580

    boo
    Member
    from stuart,fl.

    Mike, i have had 2 sets of reds over the years, the last set i have on the car i'm finishing now came from speedway, they fit great. BUT like the other 2 sets, these are blond type center dump, where the 2 outside runners come into the center tube they only torched a hole about 1/2'' diameter into center tube. i took my stick welder w/new long rod, turned the power way up and reached in and burned the opening larger with the rod. be carful or you will blow a hole in the pipes.
     
  30. wheeldog57
    Joined: Dec 6, 2013
    Posts: 3,181

    wheeldog57
    Member

    If you spend more than a couple hours modifying those headers, they probably not worth the time and money. Just chop those up and make new ones

    Sent from my SCH-I415 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
     

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