Are headers worth the cost?

[MaineShark]

Well, like I've said in a few other posts, I need to replace my exhaust system. I like the idea of putting headers on, and now would be the time to do it, but I want some opinions about whether it is worth the cost.

Good value for the money, or invest elsewhere?

Joe

 

[klb76]

IMHO.... the ONLY way to go.... I am sure someone will jump in and agree

klb

 

[KANE]

Headers are only worth the cost if it supports your project.

- A Twim turbo has no use for long tube headers. You can't mount the turo effectively then.

- Sometimes headers will generate too much heat for the passenger compartment or hit other parts under the car. My notoriously scraped over speed bumps.

- Factory style side exhaust wil require "shorty" headers or some custom system for longer tube headers.

- If you have an emissions test... well you may not even want to bother if it means trouble with Johnny Law.

Some engines need all the scavenging they can handle. Stock engines need the heat generated from the factory cast irons to meet emmision requirements as well as torque curve related scavenging.

I prefer the shorty style. If they will fit your needs, they draw less attention and still meet the needs of your project. I had full length headers before I put on my sidepipes. I think I addded a lot of back pressure changing back to ram horns. I say that only because of the "seat of the pants" feeling. The wind up seemed to take a little bit longer. I maybe just paranoid too.

 

[Shawn's 78]

Joe,
With my set up (all stock), I'm sticking with the stock ram horns. I decided to go with chambered exhaust as my dual set up. (part of my winter project).

I have come to the notion that in previous posts regarding dual exhaust and headers is: unless you have other performance mod's, sticking to the stock ram horns will do you good.

I'm sure others that have made the switch will chime in. Just my .02
Shawn

 

[78SilvAnniv]

stock rams horn and chambered

I had headers on my 74 Camaro in college...and I had a constant problem with the gaskets! It was a huge headache.

With that said...I also need to point out that this was 15+ years ago, and headers and gasket materials have come a long way.

I recall an old post by someone (Steve of SSVettes) who stated the stock rams horn keeps good contact with the exhaust manifold and performs very well for most applications.
For myself, with a non-high-powered engine, the rams horn and chambered exhaust give me the SOUND of muscle, and Kenny says it has also increased my hp in the upper end, while I feel I have lost some low end torque.
Some fine tuning can bring me back my low end torque and that is something we will do when I can stop driving it long enough for Kenny to work with it.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Be sure to decide what YOU want, so you have no regrets later.
Heidi

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I left the ram horns on mine when I changed to dual exhaust with dual cats. My system is more restrictive than Heidi's on a similiar engine and I don't feel that I lost any low end torque.

 

[Tom73]

Joe,
Would depend upon what you are going to do with the car. If the car is a stock driver, then stay with the stock exhaust manifolds. If it is a race car they you must have headers. In between, it varies. But if the engine is basicly stock I would stay with the stock ram horns, if it is highly modified, then go with headers. Just don't install headers just to have them or because they "look" good.

tom...

 

[MaineShark]

Good responses so far.

Here's another thought: I've heard some mention of '81 Sharks with factory headers. Is this correct? If so, what about using those?

Joe

 

[Hijinx]

Joe,
You basically have three potential setups. One is the factory style cast iron manifold. The original rams horn design is one of the best Chevrolet ever made and still works well today. The second is the stock style shortie header that started coming from the factory, I think, on the C4's. Obviously, Chevrolet started understanding the benifit of a header style setup, because today, most factory engines come with this type of exhaust manifold setup. Third, is the long tube equal length header. These are what everybody thinks of when they talk about headers. With today's materials, as Silver said, and some of the new locking bolts (Stage 8), headers can be an great alternative. They should gain you somewhere around 20 hp. I like both setup's.

 

[warren s]

Also remember that putting on headers alone may not give you that much extra power on a stock engine of that year. The carb should be re-jetted and the timing adjusted to take advantage of the new less restrictive exhaust.

 

[92ghost]

Has anyone tried Extrude Hone on cast exhaust (Ram type) manifolds? I think this process will open up each exhaust runner and allow a lot more flow. No harmonic benefits though.

 

[Chas]

i bought mine with headers on it.....edelbrock manifold,holly carb,flowmasters out the back.....i do like the sound but i cant actually comment on the performance 'cause i didnt have it before.
my pals at the shop told me to strip that stuff off and go back to factory stuff...they refer to them as "head-ache"......i had a leak that was a snap to fix with a 7/16 wrench.....my vette runs alot of heat from the firewall while in motion.....i am in the process of upgrading my interior to battle the heat , i cant help but wonder if the headers contribute greatly to that.

bottom line...i inherited them and i have no problem with them.

 

[Ol Blue]

For what it's worth, Heddman makes headers that match up to the factory sidepipes. I've had a set on my 63 for years with no problems. You just have to cut the sidepipes to match up with the header collector, clamp or weld the extension onto the sidepipe and bolt it to the collector flange.
Ol Blue

http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/Alspaugh-68Racer

 

[robert kirk]

in my opi yes headers are a great bang for the buck. the exhaust system on a car is one of the most over looked areas of improvement on most cars. you can stuff great gobbs of air and fuel in a motor but if you can't get it out you lose big time. match your headers to the motor. their flow rate should match your intake and heads. you don't put 2 1/8 on a stock motor, by the same rule you wouldn't put 1 1/2 on a 700 hp bb either. i have found that equal length tubes or tuned headers are worth a few extra hp but can be $. a motor is just a heat pump. once the piston uses the heat from combustion the moreof it you can direct out of the motor the fastest way possable will produce the most power. on my 71 i had the valves, combustion chambers, exhaust ports, headers inside and out, and the sidepipes and inserts, crankshaft, rods,pistons, and all the bearings, ceramic coated. it was worth 42 dyno proven hp. just the coating. i found this amazing. this is just my o2 hope it helps robert

 

[MaineShark]

I think I am going to do a compression test, and pop my transmission to check its health, then decide exaclty how much I want to modify this engine.

I'm still curious about the headers that were supposedly available stock on some of the later C3's. I can't find anything more than some vauge referrences. Does anyone know more about these?

Joe

 

[Ol Blue]

maineshark
Factory header sidepipes were available from GM parts. I have a small block set and a big block set. I believe they were made by Kustom Headers, but had a GM part number. The big block had 2inch primaries and were very long dumping into 4inch sidepipes. They were intended for road racing as best I can remember. You could also buy them directly from Kustom.

During that period, Hooker and Stahl also made sidepipe headers for Corvettes. As mentioned in my earlier post, Heddman makes a very nice small block header that fits up to the stock Corvette sidepipes.

You can see a set of the factory big block sidepipe headers
at: http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/Alspaugh-68Racer

I wouldn't recommend them for street as they are leg-burners!!!
Ol Blue

 

[vetteKID]

a question on the Hedman factory side pipe headers.... how do they hook up properly? are they angle out ward or just bend out ward near the end?

i have been debating on wether to get the hedman headers previously stated or to get a shortie block hugger header so i can change back to full exhuast from the side pipes, if i ever should chose to.

any thoughts?

 

[Ol Blue]

vetteKID
Sorry for the late response. Yes, the heddman sidepipe headers angle out to the side to meet up with the stock Corvette sidepipes. I'd estimate that you have to cut the sidepipes about six to eight inches back from where they turn to go down the side.

Mine came with an extension to bolt to the collector that necks down to fit the 2.5inch sidepipes. It is a very easy and slick fit. If you ever wanted to go back to stock sidepipes you could weld the pieces back together too.

Good luck.
Ol Blue

http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/Alspaugh-68Racer