What should I go with on exhaust manifolds?

[Old77]

I believe most of the good muffler brands carry lifetime warranties

 

[bucket]

because they're not hooker, heddman, or any other name brand that you'll pay more money just for the name.

The name has nothing to do with it. I'm well aware of lots of cheap parts that are just as good as the high dollar stuff, just not in this case. Here's a comparison: Dual exhaust kits for our square body trucks. The Hooker kit and Dynomax kit were right about the same price (about $10 difference at the time) and installed right about the same time. They are both 2 1/4 tubing, Hooker was mandrel bent and the Dynomax was crappy crush bent stuff. The Dynomax fit OK, but the Hooker kit fit better. The Dynomax kit is currently rusting apart, while the Hooker kit is still good and solid. The Hooker kit also came with more exhaust hangers, IIRC. I think that spending the extra $10 for "the Hooker name" was well worth it.

This: http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17769/10002/-1



Scratch that. I found the lifetime warranty card so the next one is free.

I somehow went through several of those, but they were the all the 2 1/4 inch versions. I dunno why I've had such bad luck with them.

Anyway, I'll stop now

 

[GreaseDog]

The name has nothing to do with it. I'm well aware of lots of cheap parts that are just as good as the high dollar stuff, just not in this case. Here's a comparison: Dual exhaust kits for our square body trucks. The Hooker kit and Dynomax kit were right about the same price (about $10 difference at the time) and installed right about the same time. They are both 2 1/4 tubing, Hooker was mandrel bent and the Dynomax was crappy crush bent stuff. The Dynomax fit OK, but the Hooker kit fit better. The Dynomax kit is currently rusting apart, while the Hooker kit is still good and solid. The Hooker kit also came with more exhaust hangers, IIRC. I think that spending the extra $10 for "the Hooker name" was well worth it.

and i have a Dynomax kit that i put under my '77 in 2004 when the Hooker kit wasn't available for whatever reason. i needed a kit, and that was what was available. no problems with rust out yet... and it was a dedicated plow truck until i bought my '80 in 2008, it ONLY got driven on snowy salt covered roads...

 

[Old77]

and i have a Dynomax kit that i put under my '77 in 2004 when the Hooker kit wasn't available for whatever reason. i needed a kit, and that was what was available. no problems with rust out yet... and it was a dedicated plow truck until i bought my '80 in 2008, it ONLY got driven on snowy salt covered roads...

Maybe all that salt that coated it actually PROTECTED it.....