Are Headers Worth It???

['70_402]

I posted this in engine board but i wanted to get some more responses..
I am thinking about putting headers on my 402 and was wondering if the pros outweighed the cons......i have heard that they create alot of heat which makes you loose power and that you can never get them to seal and they will leak all the time....i have also heard that you get some good headers and they will seal and give you tons of low end torque....is any of this true and are they worth the 450 dollars for the good ceramic coated ones????

Thanks

Rick

[GreenMystChevy]

It depends on if you are ok with a bit more hassle. A decent headers that are coated should seal most of the time. Yes they will create more heat and it is recommended to get a starter heat shield to keep it from the heat, but headers on a big block will definitely gain power, not lose it.

I put a set of Dynomax ceramic coated headers on my '70 402 Chevelle and it really woke it up. There was a seat-of-the-pants feel. I think it was a great add on and do not regret it. I think they only cost me $250 or so from Summitt.

[MandarinSixSeven]

I just heard hte other day that these guys in town where porting their manifolds and gaining some good juice out of it. You can even port match the manifolds to the exhaust ports to make it even better. I really want to try it now on my ramhorns

['70_402]

umm porting??? sounds interesting......might have to look into it...

hey green, do you remeber the part number on your headers?? did you have any problems with the fit on your chevelle??

Thanks

[whitesswj]

Originally Posted by MandarinSixSeven

I just heard hte other day that these guys in town where porting their manifolds and gaining some good juice out of it. You can even port match the manifolds to the exhaust ports to make it even better. I really want to try it now on my ramhorns

what is porting? i've got some ramhorns and aren't interested in the header idea yet. Explain the "porting" concept

sswj

['70_402]

i think it would be just like porting your heads.......

[flip66]

I put some cheep flow tech headers with 2.5 exhust and flowmaster 40 seires noticed a big diffrance. alot more low end

[GreenMystChevy]

I'll see if I can find the part number on them, I asked for them for Christmas about 2 years ago. They fit great, just a tiny bit of grinding on the flange to fit with my gear selector on the TH-400. Remember this is on the Chevelle so on a truck and a manual tranny, it might be different.

I also bought the American Thunder Flowmaster system with 30 series mufflers. I love it.

[toddtheodd]

I got a set of hooker comp long tube headers for my 72 c-10. Slid into place like a hot knife cutting through melted butter. Absolutely love them.

[nonstopproject]

i'm running the cheap dynomax $120 specials. i did have the plain header bolts and paper gaskets and had nothing but leaks all the time. three years ago invested in locking header bolts and really good gaskets and haven't had any problems since. as far as power goes i really think they were worth it. they were my first engine mod and it was a noticeable difference.

['70_402]

what do you mean locking header bolts?? and who makes really good gaskets and what are they made of??

Thanks

Rick

[smokekiki]

I like to use the stock gaskets that You would use for the cast manifolds.Stage 8 makes header bolts that have a flange that is held on by a c-clip.You tighten the bolts,slip the flange over the bolt head so it rests against the header tube,then put the c-clip over to hold it in place. Headers will flow better than stock.

[flip66]

I use 2 gaskets on each side and have not any leaks

[toddtheodd]

Interestingly enough, I don't have locking bolts but everytime I check them they are tight. I seem to have bad luck with bolts seizing on me, but this time it worked to my advantage.

[Mudder]

Manifold gaskets, regular header bolts, and cut the flanges. I dont' even have to check them anymore. I do believe there is a difference in small and big block headers as far a problems go.

['70_402]

do you mean cut the flanges so that each pipe has it's own flange....instead of one long flange???

[Mudder]

When they weld the tubes onto the flanges it warps the flanges sometimes keeping them from sealing good. Cutting the flanges get rid of that warpage and makes it easier to start bolts and lets them seal better. I have been cutting mine for lots of years now and dont have any problems with leaks or bolts coming loose. The friend that told me about this runs big blocks and he's never had a problems with leaks, etc.

[MandarinSixSeven]

Ya, porting like you would ported your heads. Use a grinder and smooth out the inside, grind them down until the manifold port matches teh exhaust port on the head...I really want to learn more about it as well

[stepside454]

I never blow header gaskets, or have header leaks...mine are gasketless. Sanderson Headers