Planning a new 383 build that is now going to be a 400

JohnHancock said:
Scratch start is going to be a challenge but it’s been done. Good luck and good to hear from you again.
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If I make the pan from aluminum I will get a high frequency. The scratch start is all I really know, just start ahead of your starting point and weld over it!
 
while the welder you use matters its not the defining factor, my old miller TIG 330 amp
like this one
s-l500.jpg

from the 1980s has been used to build and repair a great many projects
 
The tubing will be 16 ga. I am going to buy a pre bent set, and probably have to shorten the down pipes. I am wanting the collector to be just above the level of the subframe. I am going to a 3 in collector, up from the 2 1/2 in on my present headers. I am going to make my own X pipe also. I am also going to rearrange the tail pipe area to free up the rear wheel well so I can go to a wider tire if I need to. The headers and exhaust system will connect with a band clamp to avoid a header flange dragging the ground.
 
image.jpg Ok been doing a little practicing and here’s the results. Getting the machine set and gas flow adjusted! The bottom is the first, then adjusting amps and argon from left to right!
 
This is a good little dry rig! A lot of the stuff I do will be fusing then fill if needed.
 
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/calculating-header-design.185/

http://www.wallaceracing.com/header_length.php

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/proper-exhaust-header-collector-volume-vs-engine-size/

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2015...ng-header-collectors-for-optimum-performance/

I generally start with about 16"- 18"
but if you read the link its got calculators to allow you to get it closer to ideal
engine size cam timing , compression and your cars gearing all affect the calculated results
adding or cutting an inch or two,
on a header collector seldom makes a really noticeable seat of the pants change in power,
you generrally see the result only on a dyno graph.
and a change of an inch or two.. darn sure is all but meaningless,
if theres a full length exhaust system behind the collector
 
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image.jpg Doing more practice, going to do some practice on exhaust tubing next. I went up on the cup size to 10 or 12. A guy at work is teaching me to do what is called “walking the cup”, a few of the passes you will see are when I was doing that!
 
Well, I have some time with TIG, I am just out of practice. Roger, my friend at work is probably one of the best I have ever seen! The aluminizing on the tubing is the only new thing to me, Roger says just use a flap wheel to sand it off lightly. It’s 16 ga so it’s just a tad over 1/16 thick!
 
frequent practice tends to improve your skills a little at a time,
but constantly improving your skills, help's.
MIG might be easy to learn, but TIG is (in my opinion )
the vastly superior welder choice once mastered
 
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