i also got the super comps put in mine.. love em.. i have ac, power steering and a tko-600 as well, nothin got in the way and they dont scrape or hange down 
Header recommendations
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee WI
Header recommendations
I'm putting a 383 stroker (stroked 350 engine) into my 71 vette and want to know what headers fit best and which ones are preferred for reliability, looks, and functionality. I have AC and power stearing. Don't know yet if I will have angled plugs or not.
Regards,
Rod
Regards,
Rod
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 2
From: Ft.Worth Texas
I agree on the coated super comps
Mine have only a cat's whisker clearance at the idler arm. My heads are the gmpp fastburn aluminum with angeled plugs and work fine and there is plenty of room with std plugs and 90* boots.
Mine have only a cat's whisker clearance at the idler arm. My heads are the gmpp fastburn aluminum with angeled plugs and work fine and there is plenty of room with std plugs and 90* boots.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
the best deal i found anywhere when building mine was from mid- americas deal on heddman headers. i searched many catalougs and even my speed shop couldnt beat the price. 1-5/8 primarys, ceramic coating, ball connectors at the flange, excellent quality. it cant be beat.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?
Brett Foote
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)
Joe Kucinski
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)
Joe Kucinski
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Decide what RPM band you will be driving in (midrange/torque or high RPM/HP), then do your homework to select primary size, length to collector, type of collector (4 to 1, 4 to 2 to 1), guage of materials, type of coating, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by Gordonm
Just put in a 383 from a 350. I went from Hooker comps 1 5/8 to Hooker Super Comps 1 3/4. They fit fine and don't hang down. Mine are Jet Hot coated.
About a month ago I had to modify a few tubes on Hooker super comps. I was really impressed with the quality of the tubing. I also did a set of Hedman the same week and was really discussed with the thin material.
To me the hooker supercomps are a far better header, expensive but you are getting a good tubing.
While my hedmans fit fine and the old set lastered over 10 years in the future I will go with hooker.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Alot depends on your heads, cam, power output. If you need 1 3/4" there isn't much available for a street car except for the Hooker Super Comps. If you want more low-end torque you may be looking for 1 5/8" and your selection opens up. I agree with Norval about the quality of Hooker, 1 5/8" would be the Comps. Hookers side pipes have 1 7/8" pimarys. I think most 383's are running 1 3/4".
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Whichever company you choose, insist on Jet Hot or Airborne coatings inside and out. Don't trust the ceramic coatings from the header manufacturers. They suck. Go to Jet Hot and look at their list of direct-sale coated headers. They sell several brands and styles already coated and come with a lifetime warranty against rust. You get a forum discount and they sell for less than a lot of places sell the uncoated headers.
If not coated, go stainless.
Headers rust badly at the collector.
If not coated, go stainless.
Headers rust badly at the collector.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,915
Likes: 724
From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by rodman4791
I'm putting a 383 stroker (stroked 350 engine) into my 71 vette and want to know what headers fit best and which ones are preferred for reliability, looks, and functionality. I have AC and power stearing. Don't know yet if I will have angled plugs or not.
Regards,
Rod
Regards,
Rod
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 5
From: Madison WI
For what its worth, back in 1983 when I bought my '73, I put Blackjack (aluma coated) headers on. Except for a repainting when I pulled the engine for the 350 to 383 project, they have worked great and fit great. If (when) they need to be replaced, I'm not sure what I'll get.
Too bad they don't make Blackjacks anymore. Love them.
Dale in Badgerland.
Too bad they don't make Blackjacks anymore. Love them.
Dale in Badgerland.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by Konkol1
For what its worth, back in 1983 when I bought my '73, I put Blackjack (aluma coated) headers on. Except for a repainting when I pulled the engine for the 350 to 383 project, they have worked great and fit great. If (when) they need to be replaced, I'm not sure what I'll get.
Too bad they don't make Blackjacks anymore. Love them.
Dale in Badgerland.
Too bad they don't make Blackjacks anymore. Love them.
Dale in Badgerland.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee WI
Just wanted to say thanks for all of the feedback, but for now I'm going to focus on the engine build so that I can make an educated decision when the time comes. My 383 will be designed to be a low end torquer, probably never over 6k rpm.
However, I'm leaning toward the Hooker Comp or Super comps treated by Jet Hot. Will these Jet Hot treated headers keep the temperature inside the cockpit down as good as ceramic coated headers?
How do I know if I need 1 3/4" or 1 5/8"? Does that 1/8" make that big of a difference? How do I know what primary size, length to collector, type of collector (4 to 1, 4 to 2 to 1) I will need?
Thanks again
Rod
However, I'm leaning toward the Hooker Comp or Super comps treated by Jet Hot. Will these Jet Hot treated headers keep the temperature inside the cockpit down as good as ceramic coated headers?
How do I know if I need 1 3/4" or 1 5/8"? Does that 1/8" make that big of a difference? How do I know what primary size, length to collector, type of collector (4 to 1, 4 to 2 to 1) I will need?
Thanks again
Rod
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
The 1 3/4 will work well on a 383, 1 7/8 would be getting into
race car land. if you use a very mild street cam you would be
good with the 1 5/8. with a cam that has better mid range power
the 1 3/4 would be the better haeder for a 383. For every 1/4
inch bigger the area where the header will work best goes up
500 rpm. engine with 1 5/8 headers and cam that pulls best say
2500 to 5500. If you use 1 3/4 same cam the header would start
working at 3000 to 5500 so you would want to go up about 10%
on the duration of the cam with 1 3/4 and make the engine pull
better in the 3000 to 6000 range.
race car land. if you use a very mild street cam you would be
good with the 1 5/8. with a cam that has better mid range power
the 1 3/4 would be the better haeder for a 383. For every 1/4
inch bigger the area where the header will work best goes up
500 rpm. engine with 1 5/8 headers and cam that pulls best say
2500 to 5500. If you use 1 3/4 same cam the header would start
working at 3000 to 5500 so you would want to go up about 10%
on the duration of the cam with 1 3/4 and make the engine pull
better in the 3000 to 6000 range.