Using Sanderson PowerCaps to Prevent Limefire & Jayster Collector Damage
For those looking at our Lakes-style Limefire and Jayster outside-chassis headers for your street rod, I have a tech tip that will save you grief, frustration, and potential damage to your headers!
Our outside chassis headers are available with or without connections for an under-chassis exhaust system. The ability to have a throaty open exhaust or a quiet, capped header with an under-chassis system has been something we have offered for as long as we have built these headers.
We have found this to work on STOCK or MILD engines in our street rods, and if the instructions for a normal installation are followed, there should be no issues. However, if the engine has decent modifications and makes good horsepower, the header or its coating may be damaged at the collector outlet where the under-chassis adapter is located. The reason for this problem is turbulence created in the limited dead space just after the under-chassis connection and the end cap on the header (when the header is capped and exhaust gases are routed through an under-chassis exhaust system). The turbulence in this area causes the EGTs (Exhaust Gas Temperatures) to rise dramatically, which, in certain applications, could exceed the thermal capacity of the header coating, leading to damage or discoloration. The problem only seems to occur on high-power engines that regularly reach high RPMs, or on those experiencing extended freeway driving.
The solution is relatively simple, but it adds to the cost of your headers. We designed a component named the "PowerCaps" to solve this issue. The PowerCap slides into the collector tube and provides a smooth redirection of exhaust gas flow from the collector tube into the under-chassis exhaust tubing. The PowerCap bolts securely into your header via the end cap flange, effectively eliminating the turbulent area. Another benefit of using the PowerCaps is improved horsepower, achieved by increasing airflow into the under-chassis exhaust.
All Limefire and Jayster headers on our website offer this option in the product details drop-down. Feel free to ask questions about this product and how it solves problems with Lakes-style headers.
The PowerCaps are available in the finish that matches your headers. Plain steel (raw metal), Silver Ceramic, or Black Satin Ceramic. Raw metal shown below.
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