In a message dated 10/9/2006 11:16:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
kenpowell@comcast.net writes:
Hi Joe,
Those are really great results. I would love to know the HP
increase. Just a heads up - it looks like your new "header flange to
pipe" (picture 5) was welded on the outside. I think that
'acceptable practices' state that there should only be a tack weld on the
outside and the actual structural weld should be on the inside. What
does everyone else say? In any event be sure to keep an eye on the
welds.
Ken Powell
Bryant, Arkansas
501-847-4721
C150 / RV-4
under construction
I suspect that idea came from looking at commercial built racing headers.
Where automated welding equipment can be programmed to do a face weld, with no
problem but welding from the pipe side would be very difficult. The weld bead is
then machined slightly to attain a uniform surface with a high unit
pressure to seal against the metal gaskets.
So long as penetration is good, fillet location should have no effect. This
is not to say that pipes need not be supported to the engine to avoid stressing
the joint. My headers are 1/2" carbon steel flanges with .130" wall tubes. No
flange to tube failures since 1980.
Lynn E. Hanover