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Old 05-30-2015, 03:48 PM   #8
GASoline71
"I ain't nobody, dork."
 
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Posts: 8,978
Re: HEADERS...am I crazy to think?

I've installed headers in pretty much every rig I've ever owned. There is a lot of misinformation and nay-sayers out there that think headers are the bane of exhaust components. Headers are a great way to get a bit more power out of your engine and also look good and help the exhaust sound good.

One thing about them is, you get what you pay for. So remember that the el-cheapo $100 dollar set will not be near the quality of a $300+ dollar set. The main thing I can tell anybody about headers is that after 30 years of using them... do not over tighten fasteners. Most of the "headaches" and leaks that come with headers are due to warped and bent flanges from over tightened fasteners. Also use good quality thick gaskets. The BS gaskets that come with most kits need to be pitched in the can. Even a name brand expensive set will still come with cruddy gaskets.

For an extremely lowered rig you will want a "3/4" length or a "shorty" set. So they won't hang below the frame rails and drag the ground. I'm not a big fan of "shorty" style headers as you can usually get almost the same performance from stock exhaust manifolds. One "headache" I will say about headers for SBC's is that the spark plugs and spark plug wires can be a pain to get to. It's just the way it is. So go into it knowing that you will have to wrestle the plugs and wires a bit on a few cylinders.

Again... headers are awesome, and I will always use them on an old hot rod. Just don't use gorilla torque on the fasteners at the header and collector flanges and you should be good.

Gary
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