Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MrC1 · 11-10-2005, 06:24 PM

Flowtech has some cheap headers and cheap is good.

Question is, are the headers?

My application is a 402 BB if that makes any difference.

chevybill · 11-10-2005, 06:38 PM

tx firefighter say summits are reboxed walker headers (dynomax)

Jason915 · 11-10-2005, 06:42 PM

I have Flow Tech headers on my truck I bought them in 2000 and they only cost me $70.00 at the local speed shop. The best review I can give them is that they are "OK" not the highest quility I actually had to weld the flange to one of the header pipes due to a pin hole leak that was driving me crazy trying to find. They are sealed up now with zero leaks and they are fine. What really bothers me about them is they are not real thick so they are loud from under the hood and even when they are sealed from exhaust leaks they can sound like they have a pin hole leak. I was thinking of painting mine with a high temp pain and then wraping them to see if I could make them sound better.

see ten · 11-10-2005, 07:24 PM

I have no personal experience whatsoever with headers. However I think there is a lot of truth to the old adage "you get what you pay for". If you can't afford what you really want, keep saving your lunch money.

chevyboy55 · 11-10-2005, 08:54 PM

I have had El Cheapos & good one. The cheap ones are not worth it in my opinion.

ol yellow 72 · 11-10-2005, 11:20 PM

i have a set of flo tech on my malibu that were $80 and i love them, they seal great and sound great been on there for 6 years now and no problems at all

phantom dually · 11-10-2005, 11:21 PM

Ive never ran a flowtech but Ive known of people that had great luck with them.

72str8flush · 11-10-2005, 11:31 PM

So what is the best way to go? The hedmann headers? I realize this is largely subjective, just wanting opinions.

70c10 · 11-10-2005, 11:40 PM

My dad bought the cheapie Summit headers for about $75 and have been problem free for 4 years on his stock 350 in his truck.

kaycee · 11-10-2005, 11:53 PM

I'm running the Hedmans on my 70 for a few yrs now no problem's here

texascowboy593 · 11-11-2005, 01:39 AM

I have Flowtech on my 71 and had no probs. The key to them lasting is after you install them, drive until their red hot and then tighten down the header bolts b4 they cool off. Do this a couple of times and I'll bet they'll never leak at the head...They held fine for me for 3 punishing years now...

jsbgump · 11-11-2005, 02:29 AM

I have a set of flowtech's and think they are not worth the money. The collector flanges warped in no time. I just welded the collectors to the pipe so I didn't have to change collector gaskets every month.

MrC1 · 11-11-2005, 11:55 AM

Some great inputs here.

I've got Hooker Super Comps on my other toy and they're great, but I'd prefer not to spend the cash on these, especially since I'm not planning to spend $200 more just to squeeze out another couple hp.

The comments about thinner tubing being louder are interesting. Never thought about that being an issue.

Longhorn Man · 11-11-2005, 12:06 PM

Once you've used good headers, you'll never be happy with cheap ones.
I've had 2 sets of cheapies... can't even remember one of them, the others were $99 black jacks. They seemed like the sh!t in the day.
Then I got some good headers, and all of a sudden all the flaws started to become aperant.

71shortfleet · 11-11-2005, 03:57 PM

Well, you get what you pay for. To me they're not worth the hassle. If the flange isn't thick enough you'll be forever tightening header bolts. And they never are on cheapies. So no, it's not worth it. Just save a little bit longer and buy Hooker, or somebody good.

Jason915 · 11-11-2005, 04:20 PM

Yeah save your money and buy a Hooker, get some nice headers later LOL

11-10-2005, 06:24 PM	#1
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Flowtech has some cheap headers and cheap is good. Question is, are the headers? My application is a 402 BB if that makes any difference. __________________ 1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby! Last edited by MrC1; 11-10-2005 at 06:24 PM.

11-10-2005, 06:38 PM	#2
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) tx firefighter say summits are reboxed walker headers (dynomax) __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

11-10-2005, 06:42 PM	#3
Jason915 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 693	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I have Flow Tech headers on my truck I bought them in 2000 and they only cost me $70.00 at the local speed shop. The best review I can give them is that they are "OK" not the highest quility I actually had to weld the flange to one of the header pipes due to a pin hole leak that was driving me crazy trying to find. They are sealed up now with zero leaks and they are fine. What really bothers me about them is they are not real thick so they are loud from under the hood and even when they are sealed from exhaust leaks they can sound like they have a pin hole leak. I was thinking of painting mine with a high temp pain and then wraping them to see if I could make them sound better. __________________ 1971 GMC K1500 SWB Fleetside, 4" skyjacker softride and, 14 Bolt FF, HD Dana 44 4.10's 1970 K5 TBI conversion lifted etc SOLD 1968 C20 camper truck SOLD “To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the innocent and law-abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless.” Jeff Snyder

11-10-2005, 07:24 PM	#4
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I have no personal experience whatsoever with headers. However I think there is a lot of truth to the old adage "you get what you pay for". If you can't afford what you really want, keep saving your lunch money.

11-10-2005, 08:54 PM	#5
chevyboy55 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kelso,Wa Posts: 3,637	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I have had El Cheapos & good one. The cheap ones are not worth it in my opinion.

11-10-2005, 11:20 PM	#6
ol yellow 72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 210	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) i have a set of flo tech on my malibu that were $80 and i love them, they seal great and sound great been on there for 6 years now and no problems at all

11-10-2005, 11:21 PM	#7
phantom dually Project92 SWB stepside Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 4,792	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Ive never ran a flowtech but Ive known of people that had great luck with them. __________________ 92 C1500 stepside 496 Stroker Competiton Engineering Ladder bars/QA1 coilovers. Dana 60 rear with 4.10 gear and posi. Bonspeed Palisade 20x12 in rear w/335/30/20 and 20x8.5 front w/245/40/20. 5/8 drop with Belltech springs/DJM spindles/drop shocks. WWS Progress thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=140448

11-10-2005, 11:31 PM	#8
72str8flush Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tennyson, Indiana 47637 Posts: 137	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) So what is the best way to go? The hedmann headers? I realize this is largely subjective, just wanting opinions. __________________ 72 Chevy Short Bed Fleet: 350/TH350 - Sold - Now trying to sell the parts that I have left over. _______________________ 2006 VW GTI

11-10-2005, 11:40 PM	#9
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) My dad bought the cheapie Summit headers for about $75 and have been problem free for 4 years on his stock 350 in his truck. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

11-10-2005, 11:53 PM	#10
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,446	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I'm running the Hedmans on my 70 for a few yrs now no problem's here __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327

11-11-2005, 01:39 AM	#11
texascowboy593 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southeast Tx Posts: 1,302	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I have Flowtech on my 71 and had no probs. The key to them lasting is after you install them, drive until their red hot and then tighten down the header bolts b4 they cool off. Do this a couple of times and I'll bet they'll never leak at the head...They held fine for me for 3 punishing years now... __________________ "The rays of light thru the Shiner Bock bottle make me wanna turn the key and put down the throttle...and get lost down 35" - Jason Boland www.YouTube.com/user/593Films - Watch My Videos! 1977 Silverado K10 2014 Dodge Durango (Wife-mobile) 2008 Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition (Daily driver)

11-11-2005, 02:29 AM	#12
jsbgump Gone Fishing Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fort Worth, Texas 76135 Posts: 12,361	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) I have a set of flowtech's and think they are not worth the money. The collector flanges warped in no time. I just welded the collectors to the pipe so I didn't have to change collector gaskets every month. __________________ 68 Chevy Short Fleetside LSX Swap Under Way 3.73 posi 2.5/4 drop Frame of resto has been started 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited 2019 Chevy Traverse Redline Edition Wifes Ride Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3483616

11-11-2005, 11:55 AM	#13
MrC1 Dork For Days Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 407	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Some great inputs here. I've got Hooker Super Comps on my other toy and they're great, but I'd prefer not to spend the cash on these, especially since I'm not planning to spend $200 more just to squeeze out another couple hp. The comments about thinner tubing being louder are interesting. Never thought about that being an issue. __________________ 1972 C20, 402/700R4 - My first classic truck, bought in September 2005. 85% transformed from "Farm" to "Cool" status! 1970 Dodge Challenger 440, 4sp (my other toy) 12.67 @ 117 MPH, with a pathetic 2.022 60' 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 2008 Cadillac CTS All-American garage, baby!

11-11-2005, 12:06 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Once you've used good headers, you'll never be happy with cheap ones. I've had 2 sets of cheapies... can't even remember one of them, the others were $99 black jacks. They seemed like the sh!t in the day. Then I got some good headers, and all of a sudden all the flaws started to become aperant.

11-11-2005, 03:57 PM	#15
71shortfleet Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: simi valley, ca. Posts: 20	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Well, you get what you pay for. To me they're not worth the hassle. If the flange isn't thick enough you'll be forever tightening header bolts. And they never are on cheapies. So no, it's not worth it. Just save a little bit longer and buy Hooker, or somebody good.



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11-11-2005, 04:20 PM	#16
Jason915 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 693	Re: Opinions on Cheapo headers ($100) Yeah save your money and buy a Hooker, get some nice headers later LOL __________________ 1971 GMC K1500 SWB Fleetside, 4" skyjacker softride and, 14 Bolt FF, HD Dana 44 4.10's 1970 K5 TBI conversion lifted etc SOLD 1968 C20 camper truck SOLD “To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the innocent and law-abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless.” Jeff Snyder

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