Lightning Headers
 

OK gentlemen, I am needing some help with exhaust decisions. I am going to be running dual 540 @ 700 HP each. Should I go with the Lightning Headers (http://www.cpperformance.com/product...ng-headers.htm)
or the Dana Marine Flow Torque exhaust systems (http://www.danamarineproducts.com/Pr...TOKEN=92380407) ???

I could use any and all opinions on this decision. Any information would be greatly appreciated!!

I have Lightnings on dads Scarab and they work fine and we have 540's at 730 hp so basicly the same set up. We drain ours after every use so the fact that they are not totally stainless doesn't bother us.

Mine are great.

My lightnings work great. Drain aftr every use.

I don't know if I would use them in the salt .

Edit:

Just looked Lightning's site and they now offer a full stainless version. Never mind about the salt.

Lightnings.

I have lightning headers on my Dana lake boat and hve installed them on salt water boats also. The powder coated ones are stainless inner pipes and mid steel outers which works great for fresh water. The other way to get them is stainlees inner and outer. The set I put on my boat made alot mre H P I picked up almost 400 rpm and 8 mph on the big end just by changing the exhaust. The guy that owns the company does a great job and I would recomend them.
Matt

Put an AUTOMATIC DRAIN on your headers. Just use a fitting at the rear of each each headers water tube, "t" fitting the two lines together then install a thru-hull fitting below the water line. When the boat is trailered or put on a lift the headers automatically drain. This does not cause a water pressure problem either. We have used this method for years on our Lightnings and never had any issues.......:cool-smiley-011:

BF .... send me an email address ....m

You say below the water line? Like where? Under the boat? Cause think about it, when your on plane the only place for it to be "under the water line? is under the boat, and not even that is all under water, hell my boat is out of the water just as much as it is in the water when running..wow nevermind, just noticed that this post was from 2008...

did you notice this post is almost 4 years old ?

yep I did..read my last line of my post..and edit reason..:drink:

Below the water line is "at rest in the water", not on plane. Yes, water will run out when running, (only a 3/8" hose, one drain per engine) but not enough to cause any problems. You want the drain under water to keep the headers from draing (running dry) when you restart your engines. This has worked for several years in our boats and we never had any header problems. We certainly never had to mess with petcocks to drain our headers either.... on twins, that would be rather hard on the inboard side of v-bottoms, cats maybe the outsides would be more difficult with some.....
but why bother when it's not necessary??:drink::drink:

also, the drain thru hull must be below the header drain water log which will naturally put it below the water at rest usually.

I purchased a boat with a 496 mag ho with freshwater lightning headers. used the boat two seasons in salt water and the headers are now shot. Sprung two leaks in the outer pipe. I new it would happen eventually but only two summers worth of boating? DAMN. Boat is trailered and was flushed out after every use. Theres no way im spending $3600 on a set of all stainless headers from lightning. Gonna go with Dana marines for $1000 less.

Oh MY God - an outbreak of "Cold Cabin Fever" Its really setting in early this year! We're gonna need a lot of vaccinations this year to keep this outbreak under control!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

im sure some raylar headers could ease the pain.....:evilb:

you cant expect steel tubing to last from salt water use ....flush or not ...where and how long had they been used when you got the boat? I'm not slamming the Dana's at all ......m

The headers that went bad on me are the lightning headers. Im most likely going to be replaceing them with the dana marine headers only becasuse they are about $1000 cheaper. Im not sure how old the headers are. They were only run in fresh water till i got the boat. Ive put 60 hours on them in salt water. Im not knocking the lightning headers, I think they look and sound awsome. I just cant afford to spend $3600 on all stainless lightning headers. I hope the Dana marine headers sound just as good. Plus with the Dana's i can fit quick n quiet diverters if I decide to do it later on.

The Lightning headers on my 1998 Velocity are original and I have just thoroughly inspected them and they are like new still, freshwater only though. If your looking for power it's hard to beat Lightning for the money.