Best headers?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo Texas
Best headers?
Does anyone have a recommendation on good header? I will be doing a complete exhaust on my 1990 L98 car. Stainless? Ceramic coated steel?I have found a couple of headers going for around $550 from Hooker. I also found a complete stainless kit back to the mufflers with X pipe for $1600. Just wondering what everyones personal experience is before I choose. Thanks all
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo Texas
How many of you have had a problem with the long tubes dragging? That is something I need to avoid. Another thing I have noticed is the 1 3/4" tubes seem to all be 18gauge, and the 1 5/8" are 14 gauge. I am leaning towards the smaller tubes with thicker walls personally as my motor is a stock L98 and I don't have much of a top end anyways. I had these in mind, but the dragging thing is worrying me:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Melrose, check them out at www.melroseheaders.com
If you have a LT1 car, they have them as well. Another alternartive is the Exotic Muscle headers which are great as well.
If you have a LT1 car, they have them as well. Another alternartive is the Exotic Muscle headers which are great as well.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 248
Likes: 14
From: Mesa
Exotic Muscle has a great product. I know for a fact that there is no issues of ground clearance with their headers. they are completely flush with the floor board. lots of time and experience put into their products
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
I've got coated Hedman elites. Fitment is good, and they're pretty cheap.
The Melrose system, headers to mufflers all stainless, is a fantastic product though. If I could afford it it would be on my car. If you can afford to drop the $1600 I'd say go for it.
The Melrose system, headers to mufflers all stainless, is a fantastic product though. If I could afford it it would be on my car. If you can afford to drop the $1600 I'd say go for it.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo Texas
Do they scrub at all? I was leaning that way. I don't have $1600 to spend. I am going to be changing the whole trans and my exhaust is shot, so I figured I would do the exhaust at the same time. Cost effective (affective?) is the goal for me. I can't have something that hangs too low is all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
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From: Salem NH
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Minneapolis MN
But if you happen to live in Hazard county and you refer to your vette as the General then I will retract my statements.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo Texas
My vette is lowered on all 4 corners have never rubbed or scraped my headers. All brands mentioned above will not scrape one more thing I have never heard mention ever of someone bottoming out a vette and pulling out header bolts.
But if you happen to live in Hazard county and you refer to your vette as the General then I will retract my statements.
But if you happen to live in Hazard county and you refer to your vette as the General then I will retract my statements.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: San Angelo Texas
Ok, I read something on Vadervette's page that concerns me. He REALLY doesn't like the hedman headers at all. I was actually leaning toward a set of hedman elites as they are a bit thicker walled than the hookers. I am on a budget. He never did mention what his beef was and some of the folks that responded above seem to like them. Just wondering if anyone has had any particular issues with them. Also, I am going to keep this car smog legal and my vette has the three cat set-up. Anyone know if it's cool to go to a single cat? Texas is an inspection state and that's probably where I am going to end up after here, just so you all know. Thanks again
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
If SS construction, 1-5/8 primaries and slip-fit collectors (no flanges to
drag) sounds interesting, then consider headers by Stainless Works.
They install well and offer good ground clearance.
.
drag) sounds interesting, then consider headers by Stainless Works.
They install well and offer good ground clearance.
.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis MN
TPiS, Stainless Works, Melrose, Exotic Mussel, all have heavy flanges that don't warp or bend due to heat or over tightening "they don't leek" Headmans are cheep flimsy. I cant answer about your cats we have no testing here so I'm not running any.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,153
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Ok, I read something on Vadervette's page that concerns me. He REALLY doesn't like the hedman headers at all. I was actually leaning toward a set of hedman elites as they are a bit thicker walled than the hookers. I am on a budget. He never did mention what his beef was and some of the folks that responded above seem to like them. Just wondering if anyone has had any particular issues with them. Also, I am going to keep this car smog legal and my vette has the three cat set-up. Anyone know if it's cool to go to a single cat? Texas is an inspection state and that's probably where I am going to end up after here, just so you all know. Thanks again