Dougs, Hedman or hookers??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 1,317
From: Fleming Island, FL
Dougs, Hedman or hookers??
I'm trying to decide on either Doug's D350, Hookers 2456-1HKR or Hedman Elite. Fitment is the most important to me. I would love to use the Hedman's for the 14 gauge tubing however I've read some reviews on them and some people had fitment issues with them. I'm leaning towards the Doug's over the hookers. I saw a picture of the underside of a C3 using the Doug's D350 on this forum somewhere and the fit looked real good. They appeared in the picture to bow out towards the side rather than going down for better ground clearance and clear the transmission cooler lines better also. So I'm probably going to go with those unless someone says otherwise. The other thing is that all of the header manufacturers fitment applications don't jive summit's or Jeg's fitment applications. I'm sure the manufacturer knows more about what fits what then Summit or jegs. But who knows? My car is 82 with a stock 350 and 700r4 transmission. Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Fly skids up!; Oct 6, 2021 at 09:35 PM.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Hedman Elites will, most likely, require you to dent them at the idler arm. They are nice headers otherwise. Why they can't miss the idler is beyond me.
BTW - this is on my '79
BTW - this is on my '79
Last edited by ratflinger; Oct 6, 2021 at 09:43 PM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
I have Hedman's on my 72'......they are circa 1995 judging form the logo.....they fit perfect. In fact the reason I kept them ( they were on the car when I bought it) was because they fit so well. I had them ceramic coated and they work great......
A fella here has a pair of vintage Blackjack headers for $300 in the sale forum.....I want them but don't need more **** laying around......they are 1 3/4" tube and I know they fit from my youth.....worth considering.
Do not rule out swap meet headers or used ones.......if you see a set, check and see if there is any dents made on them......no dents means they fit the car just fine that they were on.
Doug's are very nice pieces and you pay for them......if you have the budget, buy those....but I urge you to buy or have them ceramic coated. I will never own another car without ceramic coated headers on it......
BTW...if you ever look at a header catalog.....there are at least a half dozen footnotes for every part number.......this can get VERY confusing so read carefully.
Jebby
A fella here has a pair of vintage Blackjack headers for $300 in the sale forum.....I want them but don't need more **** laying around......they are 1 3/4" tube and I know they fit from my youth.....worth considering.
Do not rule out swap meet headers or used ones.......if you see a set, check and see if there is any dents made on them......no dents means they fit the car just fine that they were on.
Doug's are very nice pieces and you pay for them......if you have the budget, buy those....but I urge you to buy or have them ceramic coated. I will never own another car without ceramic coated headers on it......
BTW...if you ever look at a header catalog.....there are at least a half dozen footnotes for every part number.......this can get VERY confusing so read carefully.
Jebby
Last edited by Jebbysan; Oct 7, 2021 at 10:07 AM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 11
From: New York
I'm trying to decide on either Doug's D350, Hookers 2456-1HKR or Hedman Elite. Fitment is the most important to me. I would love to use the Hedman's for the 14 gauge tubing however I've read some reviews on them and some people had fitment issues with them. I'm leaning towards the Doug's over the hookers. I saw a picture of the underside of a C3 using the Doug's D350 on this forum somewhere and the fit looked real good. They appeared in the picture to bow out towards the side rather than going down for better ground clearance and clear the transmission cooler lines better also. So I'm probably going to go with those unless someone says otherwise. The other thing is that all of the header manufacturers fitment applications don't jive summit's or Jeg's fitment applications. I'm sure the manufacturer knows more about what fits what then Summit or jegs. But who knows? My car is 82 with a stock 350 and 700r4 transmission. Thanks in advance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 923
Likes: 155
From: North Port, FL
I'm trying to decide on either Doug's D350, Hookers 2456-1HKR or Hedman Elite. Fitment is the most important to me. I would love to use the Hedman's for the 14 gauge tubing however I've read some reviews on them and some people had fitment issues with them. I'm leaning towards the Doug's over the hookers. I saw a picture of the underside of a C3 using the Doug's D350 on this forum somewhere and the fit looked real good. They appeared in the picture to bow out towards the side rather than going down for better ground clearance and clear the transmission cooler lines better also. So I'm probably going to go with those unless someone says otherwise. The other thing is that all of the header manufacturers fitment applications don't jive summit's or Jeg's fitment applications. I'm sure the manufacturer knows more about what fits what then Summit or jegs. But who knows? My car is 82 with a stock 350 and 700r4 transmission. Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
Good Luck with your new Ceramic coated headers! Fly skids up! They are something I would insist on from now on as well. They can reduce the heat under the hood and that helps a lot in a Corvette.
Check to see what the manufacturer says about Breaking In a new engine on the coatings if that applies to you. I still have a 27+ y/o set of Hedman Hedders and they fit like "glove" on the 427 and the rest of the Manual transmission parts in my C3. I never had to dent or bend anything to get them to slide right on.
The Ceramic Coatings are where I have had issues over the years. Many suggest that you do not "break In" a new engine with coated headers as it can damage the coating. I am using High Compression and it just doesn't like the Ceramic coating for about 4" on every exhaust pipe. They make better coatings for higher temperatures but they have to be done custom.
One Coating company told me that parking over "unfinished" Cement floors would cause "red spots" to form on the pipes.
Try using either the Soft Copper or Soft Aluminum Exhaust gaskets as they work better than the regular gaskets with headers.
Check to see what the manufacturer says about Breaking In a new engine on the coatings if that applies to you. I still have a 27+ y/o set of Hedman Hedders and they fit like "glove" on the 427 and the rest of the Manual transmission parts in my C3. I never had to dent or bend anything to get them to slide right on.
The Ceramic Coatings are where I have had issues over the years. Many suggest that you do not "break In" a new engine with coated headers as it can damage the coating. I am using High Compression and it just doesn't like the Ceramic coating for about 4" on every exhaust pipe. They make better coatings for higher temperatures but they have to be done custom.
One Coating company told me that parking over "unfinished" Cement floors would cause "red spots" to form on the pipes.
Try using either the Soft Copper or Soft Aluminum Exhaust gaskets as they work better than the regular gaskets with headers.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 1,317
From: Fleming Island, FL
Good Luck with your new Ceramic coated headers! Fly skids up! They are something I would insist on from now on as well. They can reduce the heat under the hood and that helps a lot in a Corvette.
Check to see what the manufacturer says about Breaking In a new engine on the coatings if that applies to you. I still have a 27+ y/o set of Hedman Hedders and they fit like "glove" on the 427 and the rest of the Manual transmission parts in my C3. I never had to dent or bend anything to get them to slide right on.
The Ceramic Coatings are where I have had issues over the years. Many suggest that you do not "break In" a new engine with coated headers as it can damage the coating. I am using High Compression and it just doesn't like the Ceramic coating for about 4" on every exhaust pipe. They make better coatings for higher temperatures but they have to be done custom.
One Coating company told me that parking over "unfinished" Cement floors would cause "red spots" to form on the pipes.
Try using either the Soft Copper or Soft Aluminum Exhaust gaskets as they work better than the regular gaskets with headers.
Check to see what the manufacturer says about Breaking In a new engine on the coatings if that applies to you. I still have a 27+ y/o set of Hedman Hedders and they fit like "glove" on the 427 and the rest of the Manual transmission parts in my C3. I never had to dent or bend anything to get them to slide right on.
The Ceramic Coatings are where I have had issues over the years. Many suggest that you do not "break In" a new engine with coated headers as it can damage the coating. I am using High Compression and it just doesn't like the Ceramic coating for about 4" on every exhaust pipe. They make better coatings for higher temperatures but they have to be done custom.
One Coating company told me that parking over "unfinished" Cement floors would cause "red spots" to form on the pipes.
Try using either the Soft Copper or Soft Aluminum Exhaust gaskets as they work better than the regular gaskets with headers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 1,317
From: Fleming Island, FL
Definitely, I will be supplying all that with 1/4 time slip too. It's just going to take some time. Besides the install I will probably need to retune the ECM. I'm sure the a/f ratio is going to change. Gainesville raceway test and tune and Friday night madness only happens once a month so I won't anything post until I have a time slip.
