Header and dual exhaust advise needed

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by special-K

True. I run headers on everything and don't understand why people ***** about them. I have never had problems, which I can't say about manifolds. But, I don't tell people they should run headers. I have had manifolds blow out and had them crack where they collect and come in two. I absolutely hate dealing with exhaust studs and donut gaskets...hate it! Pretty much every mechanic I now does, too. Most exhaust guys will cut the downpipe and weld the new from there because they hate those studs.

Exactly... I learned early on (in my teens) that once you warp a collector flange from over tightening, it will never be the same and constantly leak. Nowadays with the advancement of much better gasket designs and even gasketless collectors... headers are a no brainer and easy to maintain.

I too have loathed manifolds for the exact same reasons you outlined here. I have had more manifolds crack than I have had headers fail. The only headers that ever failed me were because I used gorilla torque on the fasteners. Never had one crack or rust out and break a fastener.

Go easy on the fasteners and use quality gaskets and headers will give a very very long service life.

Gary