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I have a 73 454 big block with power steering, and a manual 4 speed. What headers will fit on this WITHOUT having to dent any of the tubes or any sort of modifications. Dont really want the shorty type. Thanks for any info.
I have a set of Blackjack headers on mine which are no longer available to my knowledge. they have 2" primary's into a 3.5" collector. they fit really well with stock height exhaust ports. i have Brodix race rite aluminum heads on my car right now with no clearance issues. there is a company out west called Mcjacks and he sells a set of headers that have the exact same bends as my Blackjacks i'm guessing he copied them or purchased the tooling to make them and he offers them ceramic coated. the part number is BBCCLT. i have read that some people seem to have good luck with heddman also. but no matter who you go with be prepared to have to do some clearancing i think it would be hard to guarantee any set could go in with no tweeking. if you stick with a quality header co. the tweeking if any should be minimal. there are plenty of threads on this forum in regards to headers.
My headmans only needed the passenger side idler arm massaged...more of one of those swedish messages by Bjorn the 300 lb body builder. But they fit
Same experience. The passenger side is very tight but the headmans fit. I massaged mine "to fit", then had them ceramic coated, installed them, and noticed the area I massaged never needed it... Oh well. They are maybe 1/16" away from the frame, but with solid motor mounts they should be fine.
The drivers side has plenty of room with a borgeson kit as well as Brodix RPO heads.
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I bought mine for $150 then found some ceramic coated ones for $250. I was going to do the same thing with getting them coated latter. But getting a coated set that cheap I couldnt pass it up/ I used the painted ones for the massaging template and engine break in. Once my new gaskets show up I'll massage the ceramic ones and install those
Same experience. The passenger side is very tight but the headmans fit. I massaged mine "to fit", then had them ceramic coated, installed them, and noticed the area I massaged never needed it... Oh well. They are maybe 1/16" away from the frame, but with solid motor mounts they should be fine.
The drivers side has plenty of room with a borgeson kit as well as Brodix RPO heads.
I purchased Hedman part number 68096 for my '73 big block a/c power steering with auto or manual trans.
2" 18g mild steel primary tubes with 3" collectors and 3" reducers.
The nice thing about Hedman is they have the ball and flange type collectors which can give you some additional ground clearance.
They are ceramic coated.
Aftermarket aluminum heads can effect header fitment, so if you are not running the oem heads call the manufacture to see what effects your heads will have with installing their headers.
Unfortunately there are only two manufacturers who make headers for our big block Corvettes, Hooker and Hedman, unless you can afford to have them custom made.
I went with hedman mainly because I heard Hooker was having some quality control and fitment issues a few years ago.
Don't be afraid to massage or dimple one of the tubes for fitment.
Engine Masters did an episode a few years ago where they completely hammered on a set of headers and found no performance loss on their dyno.
It was crazy.
Last edited by OldCarBum; Jan 10, 2022 at 06:08 PM.
I purchased Hedman part number 68096 for my '73 big block a/c power steering with auto or manual trans.
2" 18g mild steel primary tubes with 3" collectors and 3" reducers.
The nice thing about Hedman is they have the ball and flange type collectors which can give you some additional ground clearance.
They are ceramic coated.
Aftermarket aluminum heads can effect header fitment, so if you are not running the oem heads call the manufacture to see what effects your heads will have with installing their headers.
Unfortunately there are only two manufacturers who make headers for our big block Corvettes, Hooker and Hedman, unless you can afford to have them custom made.
I went with hedman mainly because I heard Hooker was having some quality control and fitment issues a few years ago.
Don't be afraid to massage or dimple one of the tubes for fitment.
Engine Masters did an episode a few years ago where they completely hammered on a set of headers and found no performance loss on their dyno.
It was crazy.
Do you have angled plugs? I have angled plugs on Edelbrock heads.
I tried long tubes about 15 years ago, Hooker or Headman and could not get the drivers side to clear the steering box without beating the crap out of them. Sent them back. Keep thinking I will go with shorties one day. I have the same car, 73, 454 with power steering and 4 speed.
I tried long tubes about 15 years ago, Hooker or Headman and could not get the drivers side to clear the steering box without beating the crap out of them. Sent them back. Keep thinking I will go with shorties one day. I have the same car, 73, 454 with power steering and 4 speed.
Yea. I thought of short ones but Ive read where they really dont do anything other than looks. So I dont know which way to go. ha. thanks
Have Brodix heads on mine (68', manual with PS no a/c) - have 2 1/8" Super Comps which just needed one notch cut in a header flange - with poly engine mounts - no clearance issues. Collectors do hang very low and far back in chassis. Originally used Hedman 1 7/8" headers - again no clearance issues and didn't hang low but were very close to floorpan - so the opposite problem!
I tried long tubes about 15 years ago, Hooker or Headman and could not get the drivers side to clear the steering box without beating the crap out of them. Sent them back. Keep thinking I will go with shorties one day. I have the same car, 73, 454 with power steering and 4 speed.
Originally Posted by 7T3stinger
Yea. I thought of short ones but Ive read where they really dont do anything other than looks. So I dont know which way to go. ha. thanks
Check out Sanderson Headers in Torrance CA..
They have been in business for over 50 years manufacturing headers for all auto and marine applications.
They are by far the best headers on the market.
Compare their flanges and primary tube wall thickness to all the others.
They coat their headers inside and out and one of their selling points is that their flanges are so perfect you can install their headers without gaskets.
Small tube headers perform as well on a basically stock engine used on the street driven as a daily driver under 5000 rpm.
You can check on Sanderson's website where they compare their short tube and long tube headers on the same engine using the same dyno.
Another advantage with short tube headers, is you don't loose any ground clearance.
Here is a photo of the Sanderson's I purchased for my '73 454.
I planned to run these until I went all out with a 496 build.
If I run into ground clearance issues I will replace the long tube headers with these in a heartbeat.
Check out Sanderson Headers in Torrance CA..
They have been in business for over 50 years manufacturing headers for all auto and marine applications.
They are by far the best headers on the market.
Compare their flanges and primary tube wall thickness to all the others.
They coat their headers inside and out and one of their selling points is that their flanges are so perfect you can install their headers without gaskets.
Small tube headers perform as well on a basically stock engine used on the street driven as a daily driver under 5000 rpm.
You can check on Sanderson's website where they compare their short tube and long tube headers on the same engine using the same dyno.
Another advantage with short tube headers, is you don't loose any ground clearance.
Here is a photo of the Sanderson's I purchased for my '73 454.
I planned to run these until I went all out with a 496 build.
If I run into ground clearance issues I will replace the long tube headers with these in a heartbeat.
Yep I have seen these. Interesting looking at the flow charts on their site. But I've always been skeptical about what someone says when comparing their product against someone elses. I mean say anything to sell the product sort of thing. But thats just my opinion. I may go with the shorty ones. But its only a little more for the long ones from another site. Thanks for your input.
454 Headers
