headers..

[oldblue1968chevy]

dad bought me some new plug wires/pcv valve today at autozone..the guy talked him into the fact that headers increased performance gas mileage etc etc..

wats a good kind..

there any difference between 150$ autozone headers and the other brands, thanks!

[jugernot]

Sanderson. These are the ones I have. Very well built. You know that have to be good if they are the only ones Early Classic Enterprise offers.

[Sinister]

Those might be out of the kids price range. I ran some $100 Flowtechs on the '72 I used to have and they worked/fit just fine.

[oldblue1968chevy]

what do those sandersons run...

rahter not spend over....200 or so really....is it ok to buy em used or new the best route?

are flowtechs the autozone brand?
whats some thigs to look for when buying, any kind of special coating thats a MUST HAVE.....what kind of metal is the best, or are they all steal, is there a stainless? thanks somebody point me in the best direction!

[Sinister]

Those Sandersons are $379 over at ECE. If I were in your shoes I'd be fixing the stuff that needs fixing first and worry about headers and stuff later. I know you have some leaks you gotta fix. JMHO.

[texanidiot25]

Try not to take what an autozone guy says to heart... I cannot stand going there unless I have parts numbers in hand.

But, headers reduce back pressure, sacrificing low end torque for mid-high end power. Depending on your motor is to what effect it has on MPG.

[Gray Ghost]

I agree....I never buy anything there either....don't like their parts.

I am on the last set of headers I will buy for a truck. Used to not be a problem, but now keeping leaks to a low roar is virtually impossible.

If I had this one to do over I'd get a good set of Vette ram horns and call it a day.

[texanidiot25]

Where are you leaking? I've found (atleast with my pipes) that how you rotate the exhaust pipes when bolting to the collector changes the sealing entirely. Today I took the pipes off at school and then threw them back on at the end of class. Leaked the whole way home. Spent 10 minutes loosening the colector bolts and rotating the exhaust pipe around and leaks be gone. Don't have much or a problem at the heads. Would probably double up on gaskets at both ends next time I have them off though.

Ram-horn headers though: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/UNPOLI...OLDS,5425.html

[Gray Ghost]

Got a very slight problem at the heads...from what I can tell it is a head problem versus a header problem, but I am sick of it.

I plan to swap over to a 5.3 soon so the new gaskets I just put on might be the last ones.

[68Stepbed]

I agree with Sinister on this one. You have other issues to deal with first. Don't take too much advice from an chain parts store clerk seriously. Most of them are only reading the ads and poster flyers they get from HQ.

Headers won't do much good if you still have everything else stock. If you can't get more air and fuel in, you can't get more out. The stock ram horn manifolds flow pretty good and are highly underestimated. Most truck and passenger manifolds had a 2" or 2 1/4" exhaust outlet. The manifolds on Vettes had 2 1/2" outlets, which are better but not necessary. A good exhaust system with the stock manifolds will still work plenty well enough for your engine.

If you do decide to get headers, I recommend getting well known brands like Hedman, Hooker, Sanderson, etc. You can get the plain black painted ones for under $200. When you start getting into ceramic coatings and stainless headers, the prices go up. I've never owned a set of Hooker headers, but I've had two sets of Hedman that never gave me problems. I had a set of the cheap Advance Auto headers on my truck before. They were decent headers AFTER I put the good copper gaskets on them. The paper gaskets they come with are better to be misplaced in the garbage can.

My suggestion is to wait until you build a better performing engine with better components and get a good set of headers instead of buying cheap ones to get you by for now when you don't need them.

[oldblue1968chevy]

okie dokie
dad seemed to think he knew wat he was talking about (dad dont know much either though lol)

so hooker headers painted black under 200..might look into that later this year sometime...least of my problesm now

[ChevLoRay]

Summit racing has some truck headers that are very reasonable. Another member said he had bought them and the part number was the same as Flowtechs' part number. They will be on my short list whenever I get to that point. Meanwhile, I have a set of Hookers that were on my truck 9 years ago and never leaked at any point in time.....from the flanges or the collectors.

[mrh33916]

Jeg's brand header's are also Flowtech's, I originally purchased painted big block headers from Jeg's, than later bought Flowtech ceramic coated headers from Advance. They are the same right down to the gasket a bolt set.

[slednD1]

thick copper gaskets at both ends w/frequent tightening works great.i use locking header bolts,they are annoying to install but worth the time when done properly.i installed the bolts w/out the locks,ran it a few times and re-tightened a few times before installing the locks and havent had a leak in seven or eight yrs.the gaskets can be re-used by simply heating entire gasket red hot and then quenching in cold water.SCE pro copper gaskets cost about $35.00-do it right/do it once

[djracer]

buy hedmans they fit and are reasonable! I have hookers on my truck now but I am not a fan of them.