On my Hedman Elites, I mig welded an O2 bung in the primary tube for cylinder #7 and there was no damage whatsoever to the ceramic coating around it. The only discoloration, or imperfection, on the headers now, is the bead of weld itself...which is not that wide anyway. I thought I'd be slightly "ruining" them when I did this, but that wasn't even close to being what actually happened. The coating definitely works.

mikey, I'd have to agree with your definition of "bolt-ons". Bolt-ons, IMO, have always been parts that are easily changed (or "bolted onto" a stock longblock) and provide minor gains, if any. For instance: underdrive pullies, exhaust, throttle bodies, cold air kits, etc.... Headers are right at the verge of not being a simple bolt-on since you have to do some other mods to allow using them.
In my little world there's always been 3 steps...there's been bolt-on cars, followed by (head, cam, intake) H/C/I cars, and finally power adder and/or stroker motor cars, since that's the order most follow on their path to horsepower.

To the original poster, I am very happy with my Hedmans. I have a few pics of them installed on my 85:

http://home.comcast.net/~rel3rd/wsb/...2/site1402.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~rel3rd/wsb/...2/site1403.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~rel3rd/wsb/...2/site1407.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~rel3rd/wsb/...2/site1408.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~rel3rd/wsb/...2/site1410.JPG

And here's what mine sound like, backed by a gutted cat and Walker UltraFlo mufflers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ_TipyM5Ac

Keep in mind you'll need an AIR pump eliminator kit of some sort, unless you get emissions legal headers. That's another $150, but even when adding up the cost of the Hedmans, the AIR eliminator and a new front Y (if you choose to), then you're still money ahead as compared to buying one of the big dollar headers out there for these cars.

 

I'll take your word for it since I have zero experience in the matter of welding on a ceramic coated part, but damn that's hard to believe!

 

Cut the guy some slack, he's brand spanking new here. And he has attitude, so he fits in already.

The Hedman elites seem to be the best long tube header for the money. Check the ports on them before install, some weren't happy with them.

Also, inventory can be pretty low on these, so be careful who you order from, check availability first.

 

thats a REALLY good price...what website? im thinking of buying mine from summitt racing

 

I hope this works.

http://www.ajusa.com/cgi-bin/stores/...f95390ef5fa89b

Paste this into your browser. It should take you directly to the headers.

Paul

 

I plan on putting TPIS headers on my '85 this winter. I hope to do a 2.5" Hiflow Cat-back this summer. I'll need to weld in an H along the way somewhere, tho. I'm pre-empting a potential resonance issue.

I have been told that this change along with a minor port job on the plenum can yield me an additional 30chp easily and better efficiency to boot.

 

I looked at the web site. The $378.00 price is for the Elite "painted finish" hedders, not the HTC coated ones. Its kind of a misleading page in that it describes the Elite hedders with HTC coating and 3/8" flanges, but the $378.00 is not HTC coated if you read the ad closely.

 

The headers will work well, but the 85 has a 2.25 pipe to the rear, it is actually a pipe in a pipe, you will see this when you cut your pipe.

Tough it out and get a 2.5" Y-pipe and cat back when you can.

I might still have some header flange reducers that go down to 2.5" that you can have for free if you want them just PM me.

Also don't be discouraged by "some" you will get a lot of "drive by" posts ,but that happens everywhere.

 

My exhaust is all screwed up, but i'm working on getting some headers and I was looking at the Hooker 2151's but the Hedman's look identical for a lot less!

 

I looked at the link and it seems to me that they have THEIR thermal coating applied. I haven't heard of an Elite that wasn't coated.

 

Any running these headers with straight spark plugs, my dart pro 1s have straight plugs and i dont know if they will fit, if not what headers would fit the darts

 

I called Summit racing and they quoted me a price of a little over $400. I also contacted Hedman and they stated that they were ceramic coated. The part number matches the coated number they gave me #68487. I see the painted description, so that makes me confused. I'd call them and see what they say.

 

Summit's catalog is worthless, don't trust it. Find your p/n's elsewhere, then go to Summit.

 

All 84 - early86 have straight plugs. So yeah, some in this thread have done it.

 

aww crap, I just put new straight plug heads on my engine. Are you telling me that I cant use these Hedmans cause of that?

 

Reading is fundamental.

Like this guy:

 

I waited months for the Hedman Elites as they were on back-order. Make sure that they are in stock BEFORE you order. I finally gave up and went with Hookers.

 

Jegs has them in stock in the ceramic coating for around $375 and I bet Summit probably does too...

Yep, but looks like Jegs is cheaper.

 

I am 99.44% sure that all of the Hedman Elite headers are ceramic coated. Go to HEDMAN'S site and pick your part number. If you have any doubts about a part number, ask Hedman. Anyone selling that part number will be selling what Hedman says it is. Jeg's, Summit, AJUSA, etc, aren't going to be adding or removing features from a manufacturer's part, unless it is some very special, featured, process. The link says both painted and coated. Hedman says coated. I think the link has a typo. AJUSA ISN'T removing the coating and painting the headers.

RACE ON!!!

 

They're just wrong. All Elites are coated. But be careful, not all coated Hedmans are Elites. The non-Elite Hedmans, coated or otherwise, have crappy 1/4" flanges and overall are made from much lighter materials.