hello all,

I have fit checked the S&S header system on my syncro van (S&S sells the
same exhaust system for syncro and non-syncro vans, so I think anyone
with an S&S system could reply to this query) and am wondering if it
will overheat the transaxle.  Here's why:

Where the front header pipe in the STOCK system attaches to the front
left exhaust port, it goes straight forward and then bends rearward to a
collector--lots of clearance between it and the transaxle.  However,
where the S&S attaches to the front left exhaust port it has a U-bend
inboard towards the transaxle and then back out to the 4 into 1
collector.   The S&S U-bend lays very close to the transaxle (1/2 inch
or less in spots) and this U-bend is also the first 6-12" of the
header--the hottest part.  I'm really concerned that this hottest part
of the exhaust being so close to the transaxle may heat the transaxle
quite a bit, possibly damaging it.

An observation that makes me fairly certain that the first 6-12" of the
header pipe is the hottest is the change in discoloration of the header
pipe closest to the heads.

Another place with low pipe-transaxle clearance is  where the pipe from
the front right exhaust port crosses underneath the transaxle, but the
discoloration I mentioned above is not present where these low
clearances occur.

What do you think??

thanks,
Fred Porter