8/12/09

I usually start this date’s entry congratulating Pat for successfully making another trip around the sun. This time, I don't think I will. Well, except for that little around about way I just did by mentioning it just then. Anyhoo, I've been giving more and more thought to the header situation for the KA powered Chickenhawk. I think, overkill be damned, I'm going to make duals for it and use that Summit dual inlet dual outlet muffler and have a semi-dual zorst on the thing. John and I were talking about it and everyone who has messed with a KA says that they react like a rotary in that, contrary to popular belief, the bigger the zorst, the more power they make. OK, so I'd be the only one actually saying the bit about a rotary, but it is the gist they get across. I'm sure there is a point where the zorst could be too big, and I'll probably be the one to dive in way past that point, but we’ll see. Here’s how I see that header: From the head flange we’ll have four pipes of similar inside diameter to the ports running down under the firewall and floor of the car. They probably will, but may not, step up in diameter at some distance from the head. They will cross each other up so that they are aligned 1, 4, 3, 2, probably. 1 & 4 will merge together into at least a 2” pipe while 2 & 3 will do the same. These two 2” pipes will step up into the two 2.5” inlets to the muffler while two 3” outlet pipes dump out the back of the car. Unnecessarily complicated? Yes. Detrimental to performance? Probably. Going to sound weird? Most likely. Cool as hell looking? Oh yeah. Another point in favor of it, it should be a cheap way to go. I have the muffler already and I can make two dimensional merge collectors myself. I won’t need to spring for one of those fancy-schmancy merge collectors from Burns Stainless. Before you go and shoost your mouth off that I wouldn't need to buy one even for a 4 to 1 regular header, I would. Just because. Of course those plans could go awry long before the Chickenhawk is ready to have a header built so the whole thing could be moo. We shall see. Well, I've been away from here for a while now. I went to lunch and hung out doing other stuff for a bit but now I'm back. I'm just waiting to hear from John as to what time, and more importantly if, we’re going to the shop tonight. I need to go to the house and change clothes and cars if/when we go. I almost drove Lil' Wiggly to work today but decided against it when I realized I'd have to change clothes to be of any help working on the thing. Oh sure, I could have gone on down there, looking all pretty and stuff, and let John do all the work, but I fingered I should at least put forth the effort to look like I'm willing to help out. I think if we work fast, we should be able to get the brakes done tonight. Especially if we did then side to side. I think if we jack up one side of the car, John could replace the pads while I replace the shoes, or vice versa, and it should go quicker. Of course whatever we do will be done long before y'all read this so... um, well, I'm not sure what. Feh, this isn't doing anything for me right now. I think I'm going to call it a rant. I'll tell y'all what happened tonight, tomorrow. Yeah, you heard me.