Best headers for truck with 350?

[Jobe72]

I have an almost bone stock 72 GMC with a 350/350 combo.
Blew a head gasket and putting rebuilt heads on.
Both exhaust manifolds are cracked, so decided to do a few hop up parts.

Already have an HEI and Edelbrock carb, going with a Performer intake, upgrade to MSD HEI and thought I would put on headers too.
I already have full dual exhaust from previous owner, will have to be modified a bit.

What headers fit our trucks the best? had an old set of Hookers on my 72 years ago.

Thanks

[McDeezl]

Hi there,

I'm in exactly the same situation where I am trying to figure out which headers are the best to go with for fit, long term reliability, etc. When you start searching all of the various mfgrs the choices seem endless and the more I search the further away I feel from being able to make a decision.

Wish I had answers to share but I'm as anxious as you for info and advice so will be following this thread closely to see what comes up.

Other interesting point of trivia is that we seem to have the same truck!
I'm working my way through a frame off resto on a '72 GMC long/fleet like yours!
My build thread is
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=626178

Cheers

[CBrown680]

Howdy from North Texas. I was in the same position earlier this year. Too many choices. I finally went with Hooker competition long tubes part 2452 with a black coating from Jegs. My truck is a 67 short bed stepper. Went in with only a small notch on the drivers side frame. I would recommend buying some different gaskets. He ones included in the kit are adequate but not excellent. Hope I helped yall out!!! I will try to post pictures.

[Blue GMC]

Honestly I would just go with a set of ram horns and call it good. I have never seen that Bill of difference with headers and unless you spend $$$ they will leak and rattle.

[birdistheword]

I bought a set of Flowtech headers for about $120 from O'Reilly's. They fight right in even with the 4 speed. I did however also buy the aluminum crush gaskets and collector gaskets which are worth the money.

[Dcm]

I've got a used set of the ram horns if your interested. I just pulled them off today. They are off my 70 swb

[SierraMtns]

Is your truck lowered or will it be in the future?

If so I would be careful which long tube headers you pick.

[Greg63]

Originally Posted by SierraMtns

Is your truck lowered or will it be in the future?

If so I would be careful which long tube headers you pick.

Which headers are the ones in this picture?
Greg.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by birdistheword

I bought a set of Flowtech headers for about $120 from O'Reilly's. They fight right in even with the 4 speed. I did however also buy the aluminum crush gaskets and collector gaskets which are worth the money.

Exactly! Always get the good gaskets and a lot less problems.

[Z10]

Sanderson CC11. Fit like a glove. They are designed so that they don't use gaskets, just high temp silicone on the flanges.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Jobe72

I have an almost bone stock 72 GMC with a 350/350 combo.
Blew a head gasket and putting rebuilt heads on.
Both exhaust manifolds are cracked, so decided to do a few hop up parts.

Already have an HEI and Edelbrock carb, going with a Performer intake, upgrade to MSD HEI and thought I would put on headers too.
I already have full dual exhaust from previous owner, will have to be modified a bit.

What headers fit our trucks the best? had an old set of Hookers on my 72 years ago.

Thanks

Do you have factory a/c? If so, I'd get the hookers, and ceramic coated if you can afford it. They come with the only header a/c bracket I know of that actually fits and works for the passenger side A6 compressor.

Those Sanderson's looked nice, don't know if you can use the hooker bracket on those or other brands headers, (tight squeeze even on the Hookers) but I do know you can get it separate for about 50.00$.

How big are the pipes on the dual exhaust system you have on there now? You need 2.5" from at least from the headers to the mufflers and preferably 2.5" or at least 2.25" the rest of the way out to expect optimal performance.

Have you bought your heads yet? Smaller chambers, coupled with thin felpro 1094 head gaskets will give you quite a boost, and while you are that far down pull out your lifters one by one to check the cam and if you want or need a cam well that's going in line with what you are doing you might be impressed at how much power you end up with. Vortec heads would be a great improvement, hope you haven't bought heads and intake yet.

Whatever you do, use the thin head gaskets 1094 felpro.

I like the GM 12486041 cam they use in the 350HO 330HP crate engine. It's 212 intake duration @ .050, 222 exhaust duration @ .050, 112 lobe separation. Use delphi lifters with the hardened face to ensure success and you have yourself a powerful engine.

If you used that cam, vortec heads, you would have the equivalent of the 350HO 330HP engine. I own one, and it runs better than I would have ever expected it to, and I suspect they are under-rated.

[Arreaux]

There is Sanderson knock off they are around $300 and have sensor bungs if you're running FI. Can't recall the name right off hand.....

[carp1329]

These are the hooker 2452's.They are on a 64 though.