Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

Hi Everyone .I have a 1977 24' Superboat with a 454ci,velvetdrive trans and a sternpower drive.I have also an old pair of Bassett water jacketed headers which are leaking water into the motor.There'er probably cracked inside.I was looking to replace them with a set of Lightning Headers,which I still might do.But I was wondering if I could change them to water injection instead.Would it work for me or is that a bad idea?

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

bad idea, you need jackets. if you go lightning make sur ethey areth full stainless ones otherwise they will rust out ina matter of weeks in salt water.

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

Yes What Puder said.

You need open engine compartment only to run Water injected.

What Header is leaking ?????or are they both leaking???

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

The open compartment requirement comes into play because the injected headers typically turn the water off at idle to avoid the reversion that you are now experiencing. The coasties require the exhaust to be cooled somehow on closed compartment boats.

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

if the leaskarent; bad you might be abel to get them welded. generally they form eithe rpinholes in the pipes or cracks at the flanges.

if they are from 1977 don;t screw aorun with repairs, just replace them.

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

I am hoping they are the old flange style Bassett made in 1986.

I am looking for a starboard side because I have a port that is good.

Just taking a shot.

I repaired mine with my tig and alot of budlite. :) But it looks like SH@t

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

I was just wondering about using water injection and maybe also welding some nuts on the headers about a foot or so from the transom to install some water injectors that could inject water into the exhaust to at least cool the headers at idle.Where as the header slops down on an angle so the water wont go back into the motor.(I hope you know what I'm talking about).This was just an idea.But I'm going to buy a new set soon as my motor is done being rebuilt.And to answer (CAVEMAN) I'm pretty sure that the headers are the 1986 ones.But I'm sorry that both of the headers are leaking.Its leaking somewhere up inside the header from the water test that I did.SORRY , plus that side leaks the worst. Its like Niagra FALLs.I might have alittle problem getting new one to fit since the last owner welded Stainless Steel tip one the ends of the headers so the headers and tips are all one.Meaning they slide out through the transom in one piece.Its a great looking setup and a solution for a small area in the engine compartment.There's also the sealing problem from getting water between the tip and the transom.(there's alittle gap in there which I sealed with HI TEMP silicon) it works. :)

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

this is the style I have.

Mine failed inside the collector.

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

i'm running bassett headers on my sonic,paul did a new style with big tubes,i'm very happy with mine,call him and see what he can do for you.he's a super nice guy to talk to and he can do pretty much any thing you want,he calls from time to time to see how everything is.i posted pic's in the sonic forum under winter mods.good luck,dave

Re: Question About Water Jacketed Headers
 

Hey 77super,

Stop by the Superboat section below and say hi. We would love to see some pics of your boat.

Dave M.