Now to the gotchas in the Dec '03 issue:
In the "HOT AIR" article, under the "Matching Headers to Objectives" section, if you run the math on 151/48-inch (1.625) headers it would be as follows:
1.625 - 0.080 (tubing wall thickness of 0.040 x 2) = 1.545
1.545/2 = radius of 0.7725
Radius squared = 0.5967
Area would be 0.5967-inch x 3.1416 =1.87 square inches
Thus "area" would be 1.87 square inches. Only if you fail to subtract the "Tubing Wall Thickness" can you arrive at the area of 2.07 square inches
Next, if you use the chart in the "Hot Air" article that appears at the top of page 64 labeled "Torque Peaks," the numbers in the table "Headers vs. Cast-Iron Exhaust" in the "Pipes for Power" article on pages 46 thru 49 don't seem to work. The Hooker headers should have peaked at 4,173 rpm, not the 3,600 rpm in the table.Love my Car Craft, miss Marlan.
Eric Funk
Via e-mail
The one thing I've learned through 24 years of doing stories for car magazines is that math always gets me in trouble, no matter how many times I have it checked. As for the wall thickness reference, Eric, it appears you are correct and it does make a significant difference in the square-inch area.
As for your second reference to the headers and their effect on power, keep in mind that the headers are not the only components that affect the power peak. Camshaft duration has a huge impact on torque peak. Add 10 degrees of duration to any engine with any header and the torque peak rpm point will increase. The point of the story was that header diameter affects torque peak, but doesn't control it exclusively. Hope this helps, and thanks for the input on the math.
Inter-Galactic Errors
While reading your fine magazine is the highlight of my month, I am disappointed that on page 81 of the Nov. '03 issue you have a picture of one of my favorite cars-and then screw up the caption by misidentifying the year!The caption for Len Richter's car says it is a '62 Ford Galaxie-wrong! It is a '6311/42 Galaxie 500! The '63 part is easy. The roofline is the '64 design that bowed as a '6311/42. The chrome on the side is 500 trim.
In: Seeing one of your favorite cars in Car Craft
Out: The caption getting the year wrong!
In: Factory Drag cars with chrome!
Chris Perry
Beaver, PA
Geoff Stunkard and our editor have been sentenced to watch hundreds of hours of old Doris Day movies and identify the year of each vehicle in order to do penance for this grievous error, Chris.
Crib Craft
Here are some pictures of my garage. I finished it before your magazine came out, and I was hoping you could use some of my photos in a future Car Craft Cribs. I have subscribed to Car Craft for a long time and have an extensive library of car magazines. I own two '70 Chevy El Caminos (project cars) and a near-mint '64 Ford Galaxie 500 XL which I've owned for 27 years. I've worked really hard putting this garage together, and I think it is worthy of Car Craft!
Richard Oliver
Liverpool, NY
Beautiful shop, Richard. We're all jealous.