header choice

[76bonanza]

I have narrowed my header choice to hedman elite or ceramic coated hooker comps. I like the elite collector ball in socket joint. But not sure so I will let some of you voice your thoughts.

[60ratrod]

i would go with the hooker ceramic coated headers. they'll look nice longer and keep under hood temps down. not too sure about that whole ball and socket thing on exhaust

[sparkplug553]

the ball and socket thing is awesome.....verry feiw prollems with leaks and easy to remove if need be....i beleive summit sells weld on adapters to convert any header to a ball and socket type connection

[hvychve]

Well, I Installed a big block, removed my hooker super comps, coated, that are only about a year used. make me an offer if interested. you didnt indicate weather you had small block or big block?

[70c10]

I like my Hooker Super Comps part #2808. Jet Hot sells the #2452 and their coating is better than Hookers factory coating.

[Gray Ghost]

Both Hooker and Hedman are good headers, but the ball and socket thing isn't much better than the normal flange. Hooker has the best connector, a flat flange.

That said I bought the Hedman shortys and welded the ball and socket together....the best of all worlds!

[Classic69]

I've got full length Dynomax ceramic coated headers on mine. They look great, keep the underhood temp down, and perform/sound great. No complaints here.

[76bonanza]

Jim I love the super comps also but not sure if they are in the budget.

what is the main diff. between the comp and super comp?

[70rs/ss]

The ball socket is cool, but double nut the bolts, they will rattle loose and leak. I am not possitive I'd buy another set thoough. I think ceramic coated will be my next set, but not sure on a manufacturer.

[caminokid]

I am using Hooker super comps. Havent had a problem with them ever...not even loose bolts.

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

Both Hooker and Hedman are good headers, but the ball and socket thing isn't much better than the normal flange. Hooker has the best connector, a flat flange.

That said I bought the Hedman shortys and welded the ball and socket together....the best of all worlds!

Percy,s aluminum gaskets on the Hooker collectors......they dont leak, & are reuseable. I have 2452 Hooker comps on my old truck.....no skawk about the Hedmans I have run, but I like the Hookers best. crazyL

[jlaird]

I have ceramic coated hedman elites and wasn't too impressed with the appearance. I don't have them installed yet so I can only comment on appearance. There was a lot of weld splatter on them. Not to refined, but then again, I am picky.

[70c10]

Originally Posted by 76bonanza

Jim I love the super comps also but not sure if they are in the budget.

what is the main diff. between the comp and super comp?

Super comps are made from lighter 18 gauge steel compared to the heavier 16 gauge steel of the regular comps. I think they are also equal length. The regular comps may last longer because of the heavier steel. I "think" the front tube on the drivers side is different on the regular comps also. I can tell you that I can get to all my plugs, mounting bolts, and didn't have to bang or grind on anything for fitment with my 2808's. I would call Jet Hot and get the 2452's already coated. It's much better than Hooker's factory coating. They run around $380 thru Jet Hot. If they don't fit you can always send them back!

I'm planning to ship mine to Airborne Coatings to have them recoated because I don't feel like trying out other brands.

[76bonanza]

Jim that is what I think I will do. can anyone coment on the fitament of the 2452's? The jet-hot price is not much more than summits price.

[68Stepbed]

I don't want to change your mind, but I have the Hedman Elites. I'm very pleased with them. I would've liked to have the ceramic coating, but the coating on my Hedmans have a 5 yr warranty. I also liked the price of the Hedmans also. they are well built, heavy duty headers. I did have to notch a couple places in the frame, but nothing too serious. I can get to all my plugs with a socket also.

You can't go wrong the Hooker Super Comps though. I've heard complaints about the regular Comp series, but nothing but good things about the Super Comps.

here is a pic of my Hedman Elites.

[panhandler62]

As an alternative -- It's hard to beat Thorely and with the discount they are giving board members .. You can get a set for very little more than Hookers or headmans right now.

[76bonanza]

I like the thorleys but they are high with the coating.
What complaints have you heard about the reg comps? Super comps are to much money.

[68Stepbed]

Well, the regular Comps are made with smaller tubing and use thinner 1/4" flanges. They're more prone to warp over time and start leaking around the exhaust ports. The biggest complaint I've heard is fitment. Some they theirs fit good with no problems others have said they had to cut, notch or modify the header tubes to fit. The regular Comps are just like any other budget header in the fact they fit trucks from 66-87. The Super Comps are more specific. One part # will fit 63-72's and another part # is for 73-87.

It's just like anything else out there, you get what you pay for.

The Hedman Elites are less expensive because they are NOT ceramic coated. They have a thermal coating, meaning they have a high temp paint. It does have a 5 yr warranty though. They are a value with 3/8" flanges and the ball and socket collecters.

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

Well, the regular Comps are made with smaller tubing and use thinner 1/4" flanges. They're more prone to warp over time and start leaking around the exhaust ports. The biggest complaint I've heard is fitment. Some they theirs fit good with no problems others have said they had to cut, notch or modify the header tubes to fit. The regular Comps are just like any other budget header in the fact they fit trucks from 66-87. The Super Comps are more specific. One part # will fit 63-72's and another part # is for 73-87.

It's just like anything else out there, you get what you pay for.

The Hedman Elites are less expensive because they are NOT ceramic coated. They have a thermal coating, meaning they have a high temp paint. It does have a 5 yr warranty though. They are a value with 3/8" flanges and the ball and socket collecters.

No sir! The Comps do have smaller tubes, but are heavier on the tube thickness & flanges (as compaired to the super comps). the only fitment issues I saw , was 1 tube was pretty damn tight to the starter (no contact tho).....crazyL

[kcjones]

I have the ball and socket thing on hedman's. If I could do it over, I'd definitely get elites or super comps - I agree that you get what you pay for, I've had to grind and bend and have leaks, and sheesh, sorry, I'm just disappointed with my exhaust story.

If you want them to last, leak-free, it's worth the extra $150-$200. I've had quality headers in the past and now I know what it's like to have cheapies. Then again, some people like to bang their head on the wall.

[70rs/ss]

Yep, headers aren't a good place to pinch pennies. I have used the cheapy $75 ones on some of my junk when I was a kid and didn't have the $$$, but now I spend the money on things I want to last, still not rich, but the good headers are $$$ and worth every penny when you don't have to replace gaskets all the time, or change your plugs without cussing and no burnt plug wires either. All of that luxery is worth the extra $100-200 to me.

[Jim_PA]

The Thorleys are a nice set. Seat of the pants tells me there's more mid-range torque and no loss on the top end compared to the Hooker Competition headers I replaced.

I went with the nickel-chrome plated steel. I believe they were 369 or so delivered from Summit. They are turning a nice deep dark blued color now, I kinda like the look, and they don't hang as low.

Edit: The build quality is fantastic; nice thick flanges and tubes.

Another Edit: No clearance issues with a-arms or the clutch linkage either.

[kcjones]

With Hedman, looks like Street or Elite, there is a 3/8" or so notch required on the passenger side where the #2 pipe crosses the lowest point of the frame. It looks like it just misses, but there's only about 1/16" clearance, and when the engine torques, it definitely touches. That'll ruin a good seal on the gaskets after a couple bangs up against the headers.

[kcjones]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

I don't want to change your mind, but I have the Hedman Elites. I'm very pleased with them. I would've liked to have the ceramic coating, but the coating on my Hedmans have a 5 yr warranty. I also liked the price of the Hedmans also. they are well built, heavy duty headers. I did have to notch a couple places in the frame, but nothing too serious. I can get to all my plugs with a socket also.

You can't go wrong the Hooker Super Comps though. I've heard complaints about the regular Comp series, but nothing but good things about the Super Comps.

68Stepbed: Where did you have to notch the frame? I have some Elites coming (used regular hedman's before, flange is warped on one, head warped on the other), and I want to notch before I bend tubes and warp flanges.

[VanceH]

This is going to be my next purchase, thanks for the thread!!! is there any way we could get a few more pics of some differant brands??

thanks

vance