C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

what headers REALLY fit an 85?

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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 01:13 PM
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Default what headers REALLY fit an 85?

I have some headmen headers now 1 5/8..........they drag on the ground...........rub and burn the heater box........and now have rubbed a hole in the fuel line from mis alinement.......these are headmans headers made for the 85.....ya right........I want to go with 1 7/8...any body out there with some that truly fit..........or should I go with the weld and fit yourself style.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 02:11 PM
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Ive been researching headers as well. Headman is looked down upon but Hooker are said to be good. Thats all I can say for sure though as I havent researched the sizes and other material.



Edit: Theres a saying of you get what you pay for. Pay for junk and thats what you usually get. Not always but 8 out of 10 times yes. Research some and find out what you need then go ahead from there. You can try to sell your headmans on Ebay but I wouldn't get hopes high for regaining what you payed for them.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 02:33 PM
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I've been completely happy with my Hedmans. Good fit,finish and see no negative issues. I've used Hookers headers in the past with my excelleent results also.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by xrcrx
I've been completely happy with my Hedmans. Good fit,finish and see no negative issues. I've used Hookers headers in the past with my excelleent results also.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 04:15 PM
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Nothing at all wrong with Hedmans. They make different models of headers and the tube thickness differs depending on the model.

The Hedman Elites have the thickest tubes and the largest flanges. The ceramic coating helps to keep them from rusting and control heat.

Hedmans are not "tuned" (equal length runners) like the Hooker Super Comps but they don't cost as much as Super Comps either.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 04:31 PM
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my TPIS fit nicely, have had no problems.

waveman22
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 04:56 PM
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TPiS will fit just fine.

Now, if you want everything perfect, youre out of luck. TPiS headers will rub the plug boots, but if you put socks over them, the plug wires will last quite some time.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 06:45 PM
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Can anyone comment on how well Exotic Muscle headers fit, particulary on a ragtop (does the X-brace come into the equation when running 2 & 1/2" true duals on an 89 L98?) TIA.

Rich K
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by lead foot 85 vet
I have some headmen headers now 1 5/8..........they drag on the ground...........rub and burn the heater box........and now have rubbed a hole in the fuel line from mis alinement.......these are headmans headers made for the 85.....ya right........I want to go with 1 7/8...any body out there with some that truly fit..........or should I go with the weld and fit yourself style.
I wonder if you got a mis-labeled box, I have Hedman's on my 85 and they come nowhere near the heater box and they tuck up in nicely on the bottom. In fact my stock trans pan is lower than the collectors. I'm real happy with them.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Midnight 85
I wonder if you got a mis-labeled box, I have Hedman's on my 85 and they come nowhere near the heater box and they tuck up in nicely on the bottom. In fact my stock trans pan is lower than the collectors. I'm real happy with them.

Hmmm.............pull them off and I'll buy yours .........
what size primarys are they.........I'm wondering if 1 7/8 or 2 inch is going to be a problem..........not much room on the passenger side.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 08:40 PM
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Lingenfelters dont fit without some modifications on an '85.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 09:25 PM
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T.P.I.S. Fit very well on my 88'.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by lead foot 85 vet
Hmmm.............pull them off and I'll buy yours .........
what size primarys are they.........I'm wondering if 1 7/8 or 2 inch is going to be a problem..........not much room on the passenger side.
Are you making 600 or more HP? That'd be the only reason I could possibly imagine that you'd think you might need primaries that large.
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by xrcrx
I've been completely happy with my Hedmans. Good fit,finish and see no negative issues. I've used Hookers headers in the past with my excelleent results also.
Sounds like you've got headers made for something else. And I also agree with Corvette Kid; you need to have a very highly modified motor to need that big a header pipe.

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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Corvette Kid
Are you making 600 or more HP? That'd be the only reason I could possibly imagine that you'd think you might need primaries that large.
Mine are 1 3/8 and they are plenty big for my L98 even tho it is modded.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 10:40 AM
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I have exotic muscle headers - a bracket on the pass side had to be grinded some, but that was it.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 11:14 AM
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I bought these off ebay about 4 years ago........looks like there not for my 85....go figure...a bad seller on ebay ........anyway I have a built 383, supercharged @ about 550 to 600 hp and I want more......thus the bigger primarys..................thanks for the responses.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Midnight 85
I wonder if you got a mis-labeled box, I have Hedman's on my 85 and they come nowhere near the heater box and they tuck up in nicely on the bottom. In fact my stock trans pan is lower than the collectors. I'm real happy with them.
Same here. No problems at all. Why, in Gods name, do you want 1 7/8 on an 85? If you have modded that L98 to the point 1 7/8 are required header fit should be the least of your worries.
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 03:03 PM
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Hi. I have an 85 Z-51. Bought TPIS headers and they were easy to fit and even all the stock accessories could be fitted without difficulty. The only thing I had to do was change one bolt to torx or hex and to gring or file half a mm off the alternator support. They fit fine without doing anything to starter . I put in a heated O2 sensor because the stock got into closed loop much later than with stock manifolds. That is ofcourse not TPIS specific but headers specific. Great performance increase. I had coated headers and that I recommend to decrease the heat from them and also rust. HAve had them for four years now and no problems. I live in Norway and great service from TPIS and fast delivery.
have not really any problems with spark plugs. I have 90 degree boots on the sparkplug wires and wires that manage high temp . Till now No problem with changing sparkplugs and wires to them
Good luck
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