Headers? worth the effort & cost?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

emoze

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Posts
31
Reaction score
14
Location
near Sacramento
First Name
lary
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
454
i should rephrase this - ? is there really a performance gain for any set of headers on a basically stock BBC

question inspired by this thread
https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/headers-question.31299/

? is there really a performance gain to justify $900 for a set of Hedman Elite on a basically stock BBC in my '84 C20? -

(stock oval port 8.5 CR with AIR & EGR, cast manifolds; except it has Elgin e-931-p, Edelbrock performer 2-0 #3761, dual Flowmasters & MSD6A ) (this is a heavy hauler, not a dragster)

TIA
 
Last edited:

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
3,968
Reaction score
14,481
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
Surely you can find headers that do not cost near that much.
I have a big block in my truck and can find basic steel ones for $150 that will fit, just no coating.
There are stainless steel ones all over ebay that are around that price as well.
It would be much easier to buy and test one of these sets vs spending that fat *** of cash on a set.

Granted the Elites are a nice product with heavy gauge tubes and beefy 3/8" flanges.
But they may not fit the way you wish and then are stuck with them or try to sell them at a loss because they are now used.

BASIC STEEL WITH 5/16TH FLANGES:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g9011

I am going to look for a set that have the thick flanges as that should be a part of any header you bolt to an engine. The set of cheapo SS headers I saw on a friends engine had 3/8" thick flanges and they looked decent enough.
When looking at the cheap ones you also have to pay attention as they come in all tubing different sizes and lengths.
EXAMPLE OF CHEAPO SS HEADERS:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fit-Chevy-...401880bc790e927c6532|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
5,905
Reaction score
7,252
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
question inspired by this thread
https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/headers-question.31299/

? is there really a performance gain to justify $900 for a set of Hedman Elite on a basically stock BBC in my '84 C20? -

(stock oval port 8.5 CR with AIR & EGR, cast manifolds; except it has Elgin e-931-p, Edelbrock performer 2-0 #3761, dual Flowmasters & MSD6A ) (this is a heavy hauler, not a dragster)

TIA
The price on the hedman site is more than on summit. Check there too. My elites were over $200 more on the hedman website.
 

emoze

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Posts
31
Reaction score
14
Location
near Sacramento
First Name
lary
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
454
i should rephrase this - is there really a performance gain to be seen for any set of headers on a basically stock BBC?
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,966
Reaction score
23,487
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
i should rephrase this - is there really a performance gain to be seen for any set of headers on a basically stock BBC?

If you like more low and midrange power, yes there really is.
 

Charlie

Mopar by Birth. Chevy by Choice.
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Posts
1,837
Reaction score
909
Location
Euless, Texas
First Name
Don
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Cheyenne 10 LWB
Engine Size
350/TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
If you like more low and midrange power, yes there really is.

Is this statement for any length headers? I am running stock exhaust manifolds and wondering.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,966
Reaction score
23,487
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Is this statement for any length headers? I am running stock exhaust manifolds and wondering.

Just your garden variety long tube headers. It's a common misconception that they only add power in the higher rpm ranges, but they actually help low and mid.
 

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
3,968
Reaction score
14,481
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
If I were to tell you the difference would be similar to this:
"Tape your mouth shut and run up a hill - Vs - Running up a hill with your mouth open to breath"
That usually helps people visualize the idea of the difference.

It is a simple idea of being able to expel the exhaust gas in a more efficient way.
The stock manifolds do their job.
But their job is to be easy to mass produce, inexpensive as possible, and last for a long time.
Check, check, and check.
However if you look at the path that the gases have to travel, its not the easiest route to take.
Then if you do anything else to enhance the performance of the engine, they become a choke point.
Can't get the exhaust out fast enough.

Enter the header.
The route the gases now have to travel is usually a cleaner and more efficient path.
Now at all RPM's it is easier for the engine to breath and can then produce more energy for the same amount of fuel.

Usually when people switch to headers they also switch the rest of the exhaust up.
Now if you still have restrictive mufflers that is where the choke point ends up.
So good flowing mufflers and tailpipes are installed.

One of the first things I did to my VW Bug when I got it was to install a header.
It really woke the little 1600cc engine up with no other changes to the stock engine in the car.
 

Curt

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2017
Posts
676
Reaction score
1,140
Location
Loco Hills
First Name
Curt
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K-30
Engine Size
383
Definitely on the right track.Headers are worth it,if you do quality.

used a set of cheap afterburner headers on first truck.It was a pain,constantly replacing the gaskets because of thin flanges.

Later in life and able to afford quality...hooker headers has been trouble free
 

fast68chevy

I am the original fast68chevy
Joined
Oct 17, 2020
Posts
172
Reaction score
88
Location
LINCOLN IL
First Name
RANDY
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
IMHO for a bone stock motor i wouldnt do it,, alot of money for really no seat of the pants powr gain and also possible chance of leaks issues etc.. not to mention all the troble headache of installing them.. and buying new pipes system and so on.... now if you took the heads off and ported polished and milled them down some for lil more compression and stronger springs and put in a RV camshaft and so on then yeah headers may be worth all the money and headache, just my opinion. on my 75 C20 which is a 350 motor and is bone stock and crappy rusted out leaking stock Y pipe i am gonna keep manifolds but im gonna port and polish work them after i find a set of stock 53 or 58 cc heads to work and mill and Z28 spring and larger valve install, or a pair of good used iron eagles, with an RV cam. will open up the inside diameter of the manifold outlet 1/8" more so that they are 2-1/4" and run 2-1/4" pipes system. either the original 70s below plugs style manifolds or a pair of 72-older ram horns.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,125
Reaction score
6,038
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Would OP maybe benefit from a good stock manifold, ported, and dual exhaust?
I hear ramhorns are good starts? Maybe certain shape manifolds vs others(dump back, mid, rise, low, wishbone, straight, size)
 

Tmich396

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2018
Posts
27
Reaction score
52
Location
Long Island NY
First Name
Tony
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Blazer
Engine Size
350
You must be registered for see images attach
You could also go this route.
 

ali_c20

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2016
Posts
1,004
Reaction score
1,332
Location
Austria
First Name
Alexander
Truck Year
1974, 1979
Truck Model
C20, K5
Engine Size
350, 350
I used headers on my stock 350 crate and was never able to get them leak free, tried all the tricks cutting the connections, stack gaskets, etc. It was a set of long tube headers in the mid price range.
Dumped them and ported my manifolds. Performs way better than not ported and like the headers. If you go headers you should also work the intake side. You can move a lot of air out but not that much in, it's always the whole system. One part doesn't change much and sometimes even hurts performance like when you overcarb a motor.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
1,710
Reaction score
3,661
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
I have used the Mr. Gasket aluminum shim header gaskets on my 76 and have not had any problems with it since. This is with cheap old MR gasket headers (look to be the same as flo tec or summit brand headers).

Percy's also makes them and same basis.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,859
Posts
903,653
Members
33,372
Latest member
83elcowes
Top