Headers. Worth it or not?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Headers. Worth it or not?
First off, I have had my share of header installs, gaskets, lockers,wrap,welding, bungs, burnt wires, boots, burnt wiring, shorty plugs, fabrication, cooking steering boxes, burnt hoses, overheating, now need cold air induction, burnt alternators,
etc. Long boring list?
THAT is my point.
" But I gain 20% hp."
My answer,
Look at the total cost.
Metal cars radiate heat, and fiberglass cars are more like eskimo coolers, and eat road surface air.
That 30 hp, or whatever, takes the under hood temp even hotter.
Go ahead, make the arguement of worth.
Bracketcar. Hell ya. Road car, yup.
Street car, DD, PRO TOURING., I say ,
Its very expensive to do it correctly, or very expensive if you don't.
So, think about that.
etc. Long boring list?
THAT is my point.
" But I gain 20% hp."
My answer,
Look at the total cost.
Metal cars radiate heat, and fiberglass cars are more like eskimo coolers, and eat road surface air.
That 30 hp, or whatever, takes the under hood temp even hotter.
Go ahead, make the arguement of worth.
Bracketcar. Hell ya. Road car, yup.
Street car, DD, PRO TOURING., I say ,
Its very expensive to do it correctly, or very expensive if you don't.
So, think about that.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
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2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I honestly have never had issues with headers on my street toys. Can't remember the last time I blew a gasket....I even reuse them when I take it apart for something else. Heck I've got off the shelf shorties feeding twin turbos that have got to be glowing at the end of a run...and no issues. And I've got Borgeson PS and raised port heads to make it crazier. I think big blocks have less issues because they have more bolts....but a good set of headers with a thick flange and designed right are just fine.
JIM
JIM
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I think it's a pot worth stirring. I'm not running headers, I like all the factory heat shields and ign covers. And yes it does seem like a lot of grief with headers.
yes I've had them on other cars.
Yes I've had my 77 on the local racetrack a number of times. Yes I more than keep up.
I've always wondered on a street car, just how big of advantage headers really are. At RPM's that we actually drive at.
Also would love to see dyno sheets from standard manifolds to 2 and a half inch manifolds and long tube and short tube headers all on the same engine with the same exhaust behind the manifolds and or headers.
I would truly be interested in this kind of info.
yes I've had them on other cars.
Yes I've had my 77 on the local racetrack a number of times. Yes I more than keep up.
I've always wondered on a street car, just how big of advantage headers really are. At RPM's that we actually drive at.
Also would love to see dyno sheets from standard manifolds to 2 and a half inch manifolds and long tube and short tube headers all on the same engine with the same exhaust behind the manifolds and or headers.
I would truly be interested in this kind of info.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
I honestly have never had issues with headers on my street toys. Can't remember the last time I blew a gasket....I even reuse them when I take it apart for something else. Heck I've got off the shelf shorties feeding twin turbos that have got to be glowing at the end of a run...and no issues. And I've got Borgeson PS and raised port heads to make it crazier. I think big blocks have less issues because they have more bolts....but a good set of headers with a thick flange and designed right are just fine.
JIM
JIM
You addressed all the issues like wrap, etc.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 479
Likes: 93
From: Tennessee
Always headers for me.. I like to squeeze every last bit of horsepower out of everything I own and the weight savings is a plus too. Of course, a free flowing exhaust should be added to take full advantage of a set of headers. I have never had issues with spark plugs or wires and when I use great gaskets the leaks are a non issue.
Last edited by ykf7b0; Jul 24, 2020 at 06:33 AM.
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Verdad Gallardo
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
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From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Headers aren't always installed for performance. Some install for the better engine sound. Why install a hipo cam when the factory one works just fine? Why even hot rod anything on your car for that matter? Doesn't matter if its worth it or not or if there is even any benefit. Guys just do it for whatever reason and its their money to spend as they please. Imo, playing golf every weekend is a total waste of money because you have nothing to show for it except a memory of going under par, maybe.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
If you run POS headers....then you will have problems.
Never wrapped a single header in my life.......if ceramic coated inside and out, with proper timing settings......no issues.
Run studs and tighten the **** out of them with serrated flange nuts.......never mess with it again.
Every Vette on the planet should have headers IMHO.......especially Big Blocks and LT-1's or L-79's......
I personally would not own a Vette without them.....
Jebby
Never wrapped a single header in my life.......if ceramic coated inside and out, with proper timing settings......no issues.
Run studs and tighten the **** out of them with serrated flange nuts.......never mess with it again.
Every Vette on the planet should have headers IMHO.......especially Big Blocks and LT-1's or L-79's......
I personally would not own a Vette without them.....
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
The headers on my previous engine were definitely not worth it. They were the Sanderson cast shorty block hugger style headers. Even after getting the timing and carb dialed in properly, they still cooked spark plug boots forcing me to use ceramic boots. I thought several times about pulling them and having them ceramic coated but figured if I ever did that, I should just source a better set of headers.
Fast forward to my current engine swap project. I'll be running a set of Stan's Tri-Y headers (ceramic coated). These are very nice headers. Pricey but I'm glad I went down this road. For those that missed the thread, I worked with Stan himself to modify the Tri-Y header to work with the Borgeson steering system. After a couple of iterations, Stan tweaked the design perfectly and now those headers will fit with either the Borgeson or stock steering system and will also work with either straight or angled plug heads. Even though the new headers are ceramic coated, I've made a few heat shields, and installed high temp wire sleeves over vulnerable wiring. I'm betting I will vote these headers as worth it once I get the car running again.
DC
Fast forward to my current engine swap project. I'll be running a set of Stan's Tri-Y headers (ceramic coated). These are very nice headers. Pricey but I'm glad I went down this road. For those that missed the thread, I worked with Stan himself to modify the Tri-Y header to work with the Borgeson steering system. After a couple of iterations, Stan tweaked the design perfectly and now those headers will fit with either the Borgeson or stock steering system and will also work with either straight or angled plug heads. Even though the new headers are ceramic coated, I've made a few heat shields, and installed high temp wire sleeves over vulnerable wiring. I'm betting I will vote these headers as worth it once I get the car running again.
DC
Last edited by DC3; Jul 24, 2020 at 08:02 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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I went with Hedman ceramic headers, used a marine spacer so my plugs fit better, added the woven plug heat protection socks, only had to dent the headers around the idler arm and steering box. My perceived cabin heat increase is negligible. On a 2 hour drive I wear sandals and my feet are comfy. I insulated my fuel lines with heat reflective socks and already had a fuel cooler and a cold air horsepower increase is well worth it to me as the rams horns were pretty much a plug for the way I had my motor setup in the past, with the new cam it’s insane!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
I can speak to side pipe headers. I got mine ceramic coated first, used stage 8 locking header bolts to keep bolts from backing out and never looked back.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Jul 24, 2020 at 04:12 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Trust me, Chambered exhaust mounted on rams horn manifolds pisses off the neighbors just as well.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
I can speak to side pipe headers. I got mine ceramic coated first, used stage 8 locking header bolts to keep bolts from backing out and never looked back.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 283
From: New York
Also depends on the engine and build....I damn sure not going to run cast manifolds on my SC 383, talk about killing HP!! Good headers done right are not an issue...if you have a little cabin heat install some AC problem solved 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,408
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I can speak to side pipe headers. I got mine ceramic coated first, used stage 8 locking header bolts to keep bolts from backing out and never looked back.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.
no special plug wires routing or socks on them, no special manifold gaskets, NGK plugs, not shorties. I’ve had zero issues with them.
exhaust that is routed out the side making working on anything under the car far more accessible. Also eliminating a source of floor heat. I can access all the plugs easily from above.
for me, headers has made things much easier, not harder.