Header fitment problems

[florida4x4]

Just wondering if anyone has noticed that many header manufacturers are building chevy exhaust ports out of what looks closer to a Ferd SBC Gt40 style port? I bought some hedman elite shortys for my 72 Jimmy and the very first thing I saw was the exhaust port flange was about 1/4" too narrow (1/8" on each side). I had port matched my exhaust to the gaskets I had on hand when i built the engine and there was no way I was going to run a header that didn't fit. Port matching the header was not an option as it voids the warranty and so much material would have to be removed that I'd have to reweld em. Simply not an option on coated headers.

I contacted hedman about it and the tech guy there stopped me cold (that's how we build em - too bad) and gave me a number to their racing division in Ga. Next day I called them and they said they only do long tube race headers. Since Summit has a store front just 250 miles away I drove up there and looked at several manufactures headers; Hedman, Hooker, Flowmaster, DynoMax and another that I forget at the moment. All of them except Hooker had a 1 1/4" width exhaust port. Well I got the Hooker's and did a minor portmatch then sent them off to be coated. They fit well and I'm happy.

Here's some pics of the Hedman vs. Hooker. With these pics it's kind of hard to tell the difference but I'd like to know everyone's experience..

Hedman


Hooker