that will be determined by the output of each cylinder. I'm starting to research more scientific header designs that match the tube closely to the port, and prevent reversion downstream of there with different collector and muffler designs. This might also be a great application for a stepped tube design as well.
I will most likely go with a stepped long tube design, the '801 has
much larger ports than earlier SD4 heads, and the '801 is closer in cross section to 1 3/4" than 1 1/2". The Hooker header the car came with was a short 4-2-1 design, with a square port at the header flange and 1 1/2" OD, I believe designed to go into the D port of the original SD4 Head and rely and the tube port mismatch for anti reversion. The '322 iron head originally installed has a port shape I haven't seen on any other SD4 head in pictures I found on the internet, It is much more compressed in height. I feel that the exhaust port the biggest power limiting factor with the iron '322 head, followed by the port floor heights relative to the valve. The good thing is there is a lot of meat to port the exhaust further. The '801 head has a much taller exhaust port, and a radius similar in feel to how LS ports are designed. I don't think half of a 500HP+ 6.0L, or a 250HP 3.0L would like a 1.5" primary, much like LS motors don't typically perform well with 1 1/2" OD headers.
Its my understanding, and opinion, that for the collector to be of use as resonance-well, you need to include your downstream exhaust in the collector length and sizing, and muffler as an expansion chamber, Engine masters on MotorTrend has some interesting Dyno tests on this, and other header theories.
I had considered going dry sump and lowering my engine at one point. When I started looking at it, the only effective way to get the engine significantly lower involved massive modifications to the transmission, because my transmission case is flush with the bottom of the oil pan. The F23 case is also very close to the cradle as well, I'm not sure about other transmissions.
Lowering the drivetrain in itself is limited, but that is also why I would like to rotate the engine around the Axle centerline, similar to the IMSA cars, although they are less constrained being a true tube-space frame design. The primary benefit would be greater room in the bay for a straighter intake runner path to the valve head.
I think I am still leaning towards the V6 four speed with the 4.10 final. I have enough parts to build 2, but I also have 1 getrag and a spare F40. I think the LQ1 I built will get the getrag, and the LS4 can have a spare F40. The 4 speed has the smallest case, and if I remember I should be able to move it around enough to move top of the engine forward a fair amount, I played with the concept a little once with just a transmission on a cradle.
car.