Manifolds or headers?

[Tyler Rea]

I've got a a 76 Chevy with a pretty much stock 350 and it sounds awful. I got the truck and it already had dual exhaust with Hedman headers on it and high flow cats for some reason and that's about all I know about the exhaust other than it constantly leaks no matter how many times I replace the collector gaskets and header gaskets. I'm to the point where Im going to tac weld the collector brackets together. But before I do that I was wondering if putting manifolds on it would make it easier. My dad has always told me that he like manifolds way more because the amount of horsepower I get with the headers isn't worth having to go through and constanty fiddle with the exhaust. What should I do? I don't want to lose power but if it really isn't that much power that I would be losing then would it just be better to put manifolds on?

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Well high quality headers and gaskets don't leak, but they are quite expensive.

It's probably about a 15 horsepower gain over stock.

 

[4WDKC]

If you are buying the paper gaskets stop, the soft aluminium gaskets allow the exhaust to move and reseal as the engine and exhaust move from normal use the same as manifolds use the doughnut gaskets that is soft and pliable. Its all about preference manifolds provide more clearance in the chassis and access to spark plugs but, weigh more, usually have studs in them that break and twist off, those doughnut gaskets are $10 at the parts store.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

If you are buying the paper gaskets stop, the soft aluminium gaskets allow the exhaust to move and reseal as the engine and exhaust move from normal use the same as manifolds use the doughnut gaskets that is soft and pliable. Its all about preference manifolds provide more clearance in the chassis and access to spark plugs but, weigh more, usually have studs in them that break and twist off, those doughnut gaskets are $10 at the parts store.

I went to the fuzzy black gaskets and I’m not going back!!!

 

[4WDKC]

I went to the fuzzy black gaskets and I’m not going back!!!

I'm not sure what those are, your not mistaking your old lady's fur covered handcuffs are you?

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I'm not sure what those are, your not mistaking your old lady's fur covered handcuffs are you?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...EijGdwmjTwmdC0mu-nbGO501MnNBE19EaAlBDEALw_wcB

 

[4WDKC]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...EijGdwmjTwmdC0mu-nbGO501MnNBE19EaAlBDEALw_wcB

never tried them, I thought you were talking about collector gaskets.

Another thing you can do is have the collector replaced with a ball and socket collector, they dont use gaskets.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

never tried them, I thought you were talking about collector gaskets.

Another thing you can do is have the collector replaced with a ball and socket collector, they dont use gaskets.

V-bands are a decent option also. Hedman doesn't exactly make the top tier headers though, I'm guessing they are 18 ga or thinner, they'll probably always leak.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

never tried them, I thought you were talking about collector gaskets.

Another thing you can do is have the collector replaced with a ball and socket collector, they dont use gaskets.

The dead soft ones for the collectors. Mine are ball though. That’s the best way by far.

 

[Snoots]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...EijGdwmjTwmdC0mu-nbGO501MnNBE19EaAlBDEALw_wcB

X2!

 

[Dougnsalem]

Another thing you can do is have the collector replaced with a ball and socket collector, they dont use gaskets.

X1000

 

[Rusty Nail]

Headers.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

never tried them, I thought you were talking about collector gaskets.

Another thing you can do is have the collector replaced with a ball and socket collector, they dont use gaskets.

And put springs on the bolts, to hold them to seal but won’t break stuff if the frame needs to flex.

 

[beest]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MImdjQr8vx2AIVxLrACh1WBw5iEAQYASABEgJ4I_D_BwE

Add these too. But proper sized for your exhaust pipe.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[Dutch Rutter]

And put springs on the bolts, to hold them to seal but won’t break stuff if the frame needs to flex.

^This is a good use for ford valve springs