IAP Header fitment..

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joshuagore

IAP Header fitment..

Post by joshuagore »

It was not clear to me before purchasing that this header has fitment issues. Am I the only one?
It seems I have to make a bracket extending the stock trans mount, and that bracket will at first have to have built in tension to guide the header tubes away from the block where they seem to point. I hope they heat and take shape, but I think its more likely they will heat and crack, but at this point I have few options other than heating and bending them which will obviously toast the black paint they come with.

Anyone else experience this?

Josh

p.s. Mark I know I should have bought yours, but yours are just to damn nice which means they are to damn expensive ;)
So Cal Mark

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by So Cal Mark »

Josh
I installed an IAP header last year for a customer that had one already. It fit so poorly I couldn't believe it. The collector actually was positioned to point under the tranny, towards the left side of the car. We spent a whole day making that piece of crap fit the car. I can't believe that every one they sell doesn't get returned
joshuagore

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by joshuagore »

So Cal Mark wrote:Josh
I installed an IAP header last year for a customer that had one already. It fit so poorly I couldn't believe it. The collector actually was positioned to point under the tranny, towards the left side of the car. We spent a whole day making that piece of crap fit the car. I can't believe that every one they sell doesn't get returned
I sat there working with it for awhile before I decided just to commit to make it work. With all the other work that has gone into the car, I can't afford to go with something like yours.
My first thought was, I need to return this just to prove a point, they can't get away with selling crap. I am still going to call them and complain.

Josh
Holshot
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:53 pm
Your car is a: 1982 TURBO Spider 1979 Spider
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by Holshot »

After working more then 3 (long) nights trying to make it fit I finally gave up and tossed it in the garbage where it belongs... Before giving it the ole heave ho I did give International a call and they "said" they've had no problems with fitment and that I must be doing something wrong. Well I'm no idiot and having been wrenching on cars my entire life including full motor builds and a simple header installation wasn't out of my reach. I was told that it could not be returned if I tried to install it and "beat" on it trying to get it to fit. I've been a loyal customer of theirs for many many years between the 3 Spiders I've owned and the Milano and 164LS and now they will never get another penny out of me due to their lack of taking responcibility of their own product. Be forwarned, NO ONE buy this product! It does NOT fit... I take that back it will fit if you own and know how to operate a welder :roll: and cut and re-weld the entire thing so it does hit everything...

Kind Regards,
Giuseppe
Giuseppe

1979 Fiat Spider
1982 Fiat Spider TURBO
1984 Pinninfarina Spider (gone but not forgotten)
joshuagore

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by joshuagore »

Holshot wrote:After working more then 3 (long) nights trying to make it fit I finally gave up and tossed it in the garbage where it belongs... Before giving it the ole heave ho I did give International a call and they "said" they've had no problems with fitment and that I must be doing something wrong. Well I'm no idiot and having been wrenching on cars my entire life including full motor builds and a simple header installation wasn't out of my reach. I was told that it could not be returned if I tried to install it and "beat" on it trying to get it to fit. I've been a loyal customer of theirs for many many years between the 3 Spiders I've owned and the Milano and 164LS and now they will never get another penny out of me due to their lack of taking responcibility of their own product. Be forwarned, NO ONE buy this product! It does NOT fit... I take that back it will fit if you own and know how to operate a welder :roll: and cut and re-weld the entire thing so it does hit everything...

Kind Regards,
Giuseppe
This sounds like my story.
I decided to make it work. Luckily for me I have a custom exhaust down stream which allowed for some flexibility. I was able to effectively bend the runners about 1/2 inch away from the engine and will have to make a bracket which extends the stock engine bracket. It is far from ideal, but it makes a good noise ;) The engine without that crap cat, and exhaust sure revs like a banshee :)

Josh
MNspiderman

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by MNspiderman »

I just put them on my 77 spider. The header itself fits fine, but the first thing is you gotta bend the downtube yourself to get it to fit the header outlets. The downpipe is like 3/8 of an inch too spread out to just slip on. The next thing is I had to cut an inch off of my header exit spouts or the downpipe would be wacked off durring the first speed bump. Then yep the downpipe misses the trannymount by about 4" WTF :evil: . Not to mention that the downpipes hit the crossmember as your putting them on the header. The last thing is that nice looking black paint. Say goodbye to it in about 4 minutes. They should really be using header paint, not paint for plastic lawn furniture. Mine still smoke and its been a few days. I was hoping for a two and a half inch outlet instead of the stock size. That was a bummer too. what is it, an inch and a half? maybe five eights.
MNspiderman

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by MNspiderman »

Here is IAP's headers in action. This is what to expect when you install them and start your engine. I just cannot believe they use such cheap paint.

Dam, see how far back my timing belt rides
Image
Image
Image
note the nice black paint still on cylinder #1 and the rest of the cylinders have burnt off the paint. That was because my #1 cylinder wasn't getting any fuel and wasn't firing at all. I fixed the problem and thought you'd like to see what kind of smoke IAP headers kick off after installation. Time this by 3 more cylinders and it was Awful for 15 minutes. Besides the terrible fit.
Image
User avatar
kilrwail
Posts: 1100
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by kilrwail »

That would be cylinder #4 that wasn't firing. Glad you found the problem though.
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor
adrians
Posts: 851
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:07 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider Turbo - missing the turbo
Location: Sydney - Australia

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by adrians »

MNspiderman wrote: Dam, see how far back my timing belt rides
MNspiderman
Does the right hand cam wheel have a ridge on the back ( or the front ) ?
The left hand one appears to have one.

On my car we had to put one froward and back to ensure the belt tracked correctly.
THE FLEET
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc
MNspiderman

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by MNspiderman »

No the exhaust doesn't have a ridge on the back. Only the intake side. The belt rides dead even with the exhaust pulley back side.
adrians wrote:
MNspiderman wrote: Dam, see how far back my timing belt rides
MNspiderman
Does the right hand cam wheel have a ridge on the back ( or the front ) ?
The left hand one appears to have one.

On my car we had to put one froward and back to ensure the belt tracked correctly.
joshuagore

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by joshuagore »

Mine did that same thing. It burnt all the paint all off. If I would have guessed I would have said its nearly impossible for normal paint to burn off so smoothly, without leaving any residue on the headers? Maybe this is intentional?

Josh
pope

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by pope »

Those headers are constructed very well and very poorly. The thickness of the header plate that attaches to the exhaust manifold is nice and thick. The four pipes that route from there are nice and thick. When the four come together to become two pipes, that material is paper mache'. The next connecting pipe is also thin where the two pipes slide into the two header pipes. When the two trailing pipes become one, then the material is again bumped up to a nice thick pipe. It is the two pathetic ends of the header and connection pipe that are a huge disappointment. I bought those same IAP headers about 20 years ago and the paint flaked off so fast, I thought it was snowing in July. LOL
I guess the same guy in china that has been making them, hasnt retired yet.
joshuagore

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by joshuagore »

All of this being said, the engine has woken up like a startled cat. Is this my free flow exhaust? Is it the headers? Who knows, but I did get them to work by using a flex pipe, custom bracket, and a few tricks. Was it worth it? For someone like me who wanted custom headers, but didn't want to fab the manifold plate and runners, then yes, for someone who doesn't have the ability to modify things to fit, and reinforce construction to ensure longevity, then no.

Josh
So Cal Mark

Re: IAP Header fitment..

Post by So Cal Mark »

besides thickness of material. welding on both sides of the flange is very important if you want the header to last and seal. VERY few header mfgs take the time or expense to do that. Most header tubes I've seen lately aren't even welded completely around one side, much less both sides
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