Best Headers?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Depends on what you mean by 'best', best value or best performance; Dynomax ceramic coated headers seem to very popular and not a lot of $, have had a set myself for 5 or 6 years. Coating has dulled some but still look nice even with a few character scratches.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
You asked for the best, so... I'm a little biased toward Stahl headers. Their the best I know of. But they are expensive! Here's the link to their small block chassis exit headers. http://www.stahlheaders.com/Frame%20New%20Drag.htm
They will ask you what heads you have, and will either already have a template, or will have you sketch a template. They should bolt right in. Here's my site with pics of my big block side exit headers: http://web.mac.com/clsjohnson/iWeb/7...Installed.html
They will ask you what heads you have, and will either already have a template, or will have you sketch a template. They should bolt right in. Here's my site with pics of my big block side exit headers: http://web.mac.com/clsjohnson/iWeb/7...Installed.html
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thanks.I mean best for my situation.I am having my car redone and I wanted to put a header on that wouldnt be too much trouble for my friend who is doing the restoration.The less work for him the better.He said if I put on headers the exhaust will have to be modified.I was thinking shorty headers would be simple.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Thanks.I mean best for my situation.I am having my car redone and I wanted to put a header on that wouldnt be too much trouble for my friend who is doing the restoration.The less work for him the better.He said if I put on headers the exhaust will have to be modified.I was thinking shorty headers would be simple.
Cheap and fit good are the Summit brand long tubes, they go right on!!!!
No matter what header you go with it will take a mufflers shop to connect them right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
The headman Elite would be a durable street header 3/8 thick flange,
1 5/8 tube, thick 14 gauge tubing, uses modern ball flange connection at the
collector, thermal coated. $269.00, HED-68308, if you have the old style
a/c compressor over the top of the valve cover, there is an extra bracket needed.
I agree with Tim-H don't waste your time with shorty headers. Price wise
you can't beat the summit header I think there less then $100.00.
1 5/8 tube, thick 14 gauge tubing, uses modern ball flange connection at the
collector, thermal coated. $269.00, HED-68308, if you have the old style
a/c compressor over the top of the valve cover, there is an extra bracket needed.
I agree with Tim-H don't waste your time with shorty headers. Price wise
you can't beat the summit header I think there less then $100.00.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jul 5, 2007 at 01:18 AM.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Elko New Market MN
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
I had a set of these on my car for 4 years. They go right in with no problems at all and hold up very well. I just took them off last week when I opted to go the Hooker sidepipe route, and other than needing a fresh coat of paint, they are in as good of condition as when I installed them brand new.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 1
From: Rosemount MN
I'm using the Hedman Elites. Good header. Think about an aluminum exhaust gasket, I tried everything else and wound up with leaks, the aluminum gasket cured that.
Whichever headers you use, make sure they're ceramic coated, lowers the heat in the engine compartment to acceptable levels. The Elites seem to be the most reasonably priced coated headers and they bot right in. Of course you need to modify the exhaust pipes to connect to the headers.
Whichever headers you use, make sure they're ceramic coated, lowers the heat in the engine compartment to acceptable levels. The Elites seem to be the most reasonably priced coated headers and they bot right in. Of course you need to modify the exhaust pipes to connect to the headers.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: Hastings MN
Why are shortie headers a big no-no? They've got to be a whole lot better than stock exhaust manifolds, right? And they're not expensive...
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
Also, has anyone here put on the Patriot sidepipes from Jegs? If so, could you PM me? Thanks.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
Also, has anyone here put on the Patriot sidepipes from Jegs? If so, could you PM me? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 899
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
Why are shortie headers a big no-no? They've got to be a whole lot better than stock exhaust manifolds, right? And they're not expensive...
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
Also, has anyone here put on the Patriot sidepipes from Jegs? If so, could you PM me? Thanks.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
Also, has anyone here put on the Patriot sidepipes from Jegs? If so, could you PM me? Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: Ashaway RI
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: Hastings MN
Why are shortie headers a big no-no? They've got to be a whole lot better than stock exhaust manifolds, right? And they're not expensive...
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...47886_-1_10605 (2nd one down)
A previous owner put 2" dual exhaust on my car, but its hooked up to the stock exhaust manifolds. Shorties are the only thing that I could use without having to take my exhaust out and cut it apart... wouldn't they see a pretty big gain over the stock manifold?
Alternatively, have any of you heard of using C4 manifolds on a C3?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Other Considerations?
I've been doing my header homework, the cheap Dynomax 1 5/8" seems to do the job for most. The Speed Shop guy says Hooker SC fits the best, but they are 1 7/8" I think. That's a little big for SB.
The problems I have are an AC that works "I don't want to mess w/it" and a 4 sp. I want to drop the F 1.5"-2.0". I don't mind denting the tubes or using a spacer w/gaskets, but I want a good fit. I hear that the Stans gives a little extra clearance, I will need all the help I can get.
Please don't tell me not to lower F, I have spent so much time/$ that the car has to look good just parked. I think 295/40/18 and 275/40/17
should be about right!
Didn't mean to gangster your thread.
Ricisan
The problems I have are an AC that works "I don't want to mess w/it" and a 4 sp. I want to drop the F 1.5"-2.0". I don't mind denting the tubes or using a spacer w/gaskets, but I want a good fit. I hear that the Stans gives a little extra clearance, I will need all the help I can get.
Please don't tell me not to lower F, I have spent so much time/$ that the car has to look good just parked. I think 295/40/18 and 275/40/17
should be about right!
Didn't mean to gangster your thread.
Ricisan
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
And I actually have three pieces with Hooker Super comps. Two Camaros,. a 67 L78 and a 68 LS7. And a chrome plated set on my Hemi Cuda. Why pay more when the cheaper sets last longer.
