Headers vs Stock Manifolds?

[Savidio44]

I would like some opinions whether you prefer headers or stock manifolds on your trucks. I have had experience with headers over the years and have the normal complaints about leaks,rusting, ugly appearance etc. I have ceramic coated Hedmann's in my Camaro and they have been great. But they generate a tremendous amount of heat under the hood which is objectionable. Just wondering because I am going to build a '69 C-10 and headers / stock manifolds is one of the decisions. Seems to me I don't really need high horseposwer/ high RPMS on a street driven truck so why shouldn't I just ceramic coat the exhaust manifolds and go on? Your thoughts please.

[72 K20]

There are several threads on this very subject in the archives. Use the search function and you will find tons of info and opinions on the headers vs stock manifolds .
Have a great day ! Welcome to the board !

[leddzepp]

Manifolds

[kwmech]

My vote would be for the manifolds also

[vidman]

Stock manifolds..

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Savidio44

I don't really need high horseposwer/ high RPMS on a street driven truck

Stock manifolds, for the same reason.

[DGulliver]

Another vote for stock manifolds, for your purposes.

[Tillik]

Stock Manifolds

[piecesparts]

I personally dislike the performance of a stock manifold. The headers do put off a large amount of heat, but if you get the ceramic or jet coated, that limits that heat. I have a set of ceramic coated Cyclones in my 84 GMC 383 stroker engine and they have been there for many years and still look good. My daily driver 2011 GMC Sierra has a set of jet coated Kooks headers, I have a set of jet coated Doug Thorley headers setting in the basement to go into the 68 Chevy C-10 truck/ LS engine, when I get it put together.

It is not the high RPMs, but the general application of daily driving that I do and the headers give me a better control of the intake and exhaust flow for the engines in them.

[Rod Run]

Headers all the way!

[67ctener]

Depends the route your going. On my motor I wouldn't put anything but header but if you have a mild/stock motor I'd keep it the way gm built it and run manifolds. I would have them ceramic coated, nothing looks worse to me then rusty manifolds IMO

[67_C-30]

There's no doubt that headers make a little more power that manifolds on mild engines, but ram horns are a pretty efficient manifold. Here is a dyno test showing the difference between ram horns and headers on a mild 383 stroker. http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/256915/ The headers in this test were probably a little on the big side for the engine combination, but headers normally don't make more than a 10 HP difference at the most on street engines, and often they make less than 10 HP difference. For me, its worth giving up that small gain on a regularly driven street car/truck to not have ton deal with the noise, heat, ground clearance issues, loose bolts - and worst of - leaks of a header. Its too easy to gain back that 10 HP somewhere else (if I felt like I absolutely needed it) than put up with all the negatives of headers.

The higher the level of HP the engine is putting out, the more headers help. With that said, there are a lot of cars running in the F.A.S.T (Factory Appearing Stock Tire) and Pure Stock Muscle Drags classes that are running unbelievable times with stock manifolds in place, because the rules dictate it. There are cars making close to 600 HP in that series with manifolds. One thing that helps tremendously with a high HP engine with manifolds is a camshaft with a longer lope separation (LSA), of 112 degrees or more. Cams with tighter LSA along with very long duration lobes don't work as well since they need the exhaust scavenging of a longer primary tube runner which is typical with long tube tubular headers. A smaller duration cam and decent amount of lift with a wider LSA will make power broader range, idle better (more vacuum for power accessories), and can actually allow you to run higher compression with pump gas because the wider LSA helps lower the dynamic (cranking) compression ratio. That's why factory performance cars have always (and still do) use this type of cam. All of the LS engines are the rage these days run the type of cams I am talking about - moderate duration, a lot of lift, and a wide LSA. That's a big part of why they are able to produce a big numbers with stock manifolds.

Again, to be clear, I am not saying headers don't make more power than manifolds. What I'm saying is that manifolds are capable of producing much more power than the average street engine will ever see.

[GRX]

Same old responses ... Manifolds for reliability. Headers only if your engine will make use of them.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by GRX

Same old responses ... Manifolds for reliability. Headers only if your engine will make use of them.

Yep, pretty much, except you can go very fast with manifolds if you wish!

[oldcane]

I've always gotten a little better mileage with headers on stock engines, enough to notice. When towing I notice the mileage more.

[1972MarkW]

Depends on what you plan to do with your truck,personally I would go with
Stock manifolds .I went with stock on my truck with original motor and drive train.350 V-8 with 3.07 rear end,great combination.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by GRX

Same old responses ... Manifolds for reliability. Headers only if your engine will make use of them.

Headers when no "stock" manifolds were ever made for your engine!

[Lattimer]

I like headers for the look under the hood. Plus my truck is not original, and I don't feel like trying to source manifolds and make the exhaust fit them.

If you use good gaskets and the right bolts, you can keep the headers from leaking.

[MARKDTN]

Manifolds

[69GMCLonghorn]

I don't think it does matter what you're going to do with it. Headers are still the better option unless you're building a 100% original truck (and why the hell would you do that? They're not worth that much!).

The heat isn't a big issue. I have never run anything but regular steel Heddman (or Summit) cheapo headers. As long as the plug wires are out of the way and tied up, what's the problem??

[engineer_gregh]

I'm running ceramic coated headers from Summit on my BB 402. I'm not to far from you, Smyrna if you want to take a look sometime.