Starting Carb Conversion: Flat Tops to Paltechs

[dutchzcarguy]

Have the raised lip on your current exhaust flange removed or do it yourself with a grinder and the last part on a flat piece of wood with sandpaper on it!)  and weld some extra thickness on the spots (on the other side ofcourse) to even out the hight for your  stud-nuts and those fat rings..  use the orig fat rings not those tiny things, 

[Dadsun]

7 hours ago, dutchzcarguy said:

Have the raised lip on your current exhaust flange removed or do it yourself with a grinder and the last part on a flat piece of wood with sandpaper on it!)  and weld some extra thickness on the spots (on the other side ofcourse) to even out the hight for your  stud-nuts and those fat rings..  use the orig fat rings not those tiny things, 

Was thinking about this yesterday, so I got out the header and put a straight edge on the face across the six ports just under all of the raised lips. Even if I grind it down, the two on both ends are a little back from the straight line of the middle 4. It is slight, and they'd probably bend since they are the farthest points on the entire mount, but not sure if it'll work. At this point, it may be worth trying.

Aside: I did get in the MSA hardware kit that has the fat rings. I don't have to weld thickness; I actually need to grind out the brazed mess my friend did to get back down to the raised platform edges that meet with the intake manifold thickness.  But, I'll double-check that the thicknesses match.

I'll look into grinding down those lips... not a lot to lose at this point. Thanks.

[Dadsun]

California Datsun has coated headers available. Anyone ever used them?

https://www.californiadatsun.com/shop/exhaust-system/

[siteunseen]

Does msa have the 3to2 header? If I remember right thats the same as zstory's? I know a lot of people choose, prefer that design over the 6to1.

[siteunseen]

There's alternative headers too. The msds has good rating from @conedodger.

You could check Summit too. Headman are mentioned.

I like msa because they have the flange thickness dead on. The others may as well. I'd spend some time googling and researching. It's all out there.

[texasz]

5 hours ago, Dadsun said:

California Datsun has coated headers available. Anyone ever used them?

https://www.californiadatsun.com/shop/exhaust-system/

I would avoid that guy!  Search Facebook and you'll find he has his own personal hate group...not everyone can say that.  😉

[grannyknot]

6 hours ago, Dadsun said:

California Datsun has coated headers available. Anyone ever used them?

https://www.californiadatsun.com/shop/exhaust-system/

That guy is kind of infamous,  some real horror stories.

[Dadsun]

Good to know! There is also Whitehead Performance in Canada, which shows the identical picture to MSA's. But they never answer the phone or email, apparently. 

[Zed Head]

On 2/8/2021 at 2:47 PM, Dadsun said:

 

The one that you have looks like it has the thick flange and is the square port that you want.  The raised edge on the inside will actually create more sealing pressure, it's not necessarily a bad thing, if it's straight and even all the way around each port.

I'd take it to a speed shop and see what they think.  A bit of hammer work and a twist, followed by a surface grind might get it where you want it for not much.  Make sure you get a quote first though, sometimes those guys will keep working til it's done and charge you by the hour.

Or, there's this.

https://datsunspirit.com/shop/hand-made-6-1-true-equal-length-stainless-steel-header-with-merge-collector/

Edited February 12, 2021 by Zed Head

[Zed Head]

On 2/10/2021 at 9:19 AM, Dadsun said:

 

I've been looking through eBay, but don't trust a lot of what I see.  Does this (see pic) make sense as a "square port style?":

 

 

Is your picture from eBay or is it from ZCarDepot?  You didn't provide an eBay link.

https://zcardepot.com/collections/exhaust/products/header-exhaust-ceramic-coated-240z-260z-280z-70-76

[Zed Head]

There a lot of people making headers for theL6 but none of them are very impressive.  Looks like a person would buy something close then do some grinding and maybe some filling to get them right.  There's a whole separate eBay page for them.

Many of these cheap headers rust out at the intersection of the tubes or are never completely welded up from the beginning.  Plus, look at the cuts on the flange.  Terrible.  Looks like the center ports aren't even centered over the mounting holes.

https://www.ebay.com/b/Exhaust-Manifolds-Headers-for-Datsun-240Z/33632/bn_20176001

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-Racing-3-2-1-Long-Tube-Header-For-1969-1983-Datsun-240-260-280Z-ZX/133176095712?fits=Model%3A240Z|Make%3ADatsun&hash=item1f01e9f3e0:g:ajcAAOSwkydfYS69

[Dadsun]

On 2/12/2021 at 1:17 PM, Zed Head said:

Is your picture from eBay or is it from ZCarDepot?  You didn't provide an eBay link.

https://zcardepot.com/collections/exhaust/products/header-exhaust-ceramic-coated-240z-260z-280z-70-76

My pic was from eBay.  Can't find the listing at the moment, but yes, it's the same pic as the ZCarDepot link.  As for eBay, the only decent listings there seem to be the ones from California Datsun. But, apparently he has a bad rep here.  Is it bad product or bad customer service?

On 2/12/2021 at 12:43 PM, Zed Head said:

Or, there's this.

https://datsunspirit.com/shop/hand-made-6-1-true-equal-length-stainless-steel-header-with-merge-collector/

Wow! Beauitful. High end for sure. 

I spent some time yesterday trying to grind down the lips around the ports, and further inspecting. Even ground down, the two ports on the ends have eroded flange at the top of the ports... to the point where they will not seal properly no matter how much I tighten them. Time to scrap them.

So, reading through the other responses and clicking some links, looks like I need to avoid ZStory for now.  And Summit has only one option listed and it has the strange round/square port combo in the pics. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/psm-72c1037/make/nissan/model/240z/year/1973

 

My best options right now seem to be:

1. Order MSA 6-to-1 uncoated and pay to have them coated.  -- probably at least $530 out the door

2. Order from MSDS guy. Will follow up with him for details on what they have. The website doesn't tell me much.