I need some opinions/ experiences with the following headers for an SBC.
This is s budget minded rebuild as far as engine and performance, will evetually look for 450/400 at the wheels with some type of stroker based off the 350.

SO headers is an issue right now, thje onme on it are rusted to crap and has a gasket leak so they are the friost things to come off he car and get replaced... well that and the blower motor..

So the two choice I;'ve found are 1 3/4 inch primaries on a set of ceramic coated Hedmans for $300 or a set of 1 5/8 stepped to 1 3/4 Shoenfelders with black paint for $229
http://www.schoenfeldheaders.com/street_stock.htm

the black paint and I can blast and use a thermal paint when ever they get ugly but the ceramic coating I can't do myself and its a lot more money.

Anyone?

 

I've used Hedman a long time ago they did OK. Never heard of the other ones. I have learned one thing about headers though. For the most part if they are cheap they are cheap for a reason. Also, I'd never have another set of headers that weren't coated or stainless. Just me.

 

For the $70 differencein coated and uncoated, why are you even looking at the Schoenfelds... Theres nothing specifically wrong with Schoenfeld stuff AFAIK, but for $70 and have coated 1 3/4" Primaries it seems like a no brainer to me....

The 1 5/8" Primaries (even if they are stepped to 1 3/4") would be abit small once you're trying to make 500hp....

JMO....

 

My only concern was the ceramic coating coming off and having to get them redone.
Sounds like I might be better with the Hedmans but what ahbout pacesetters? They make them for my car?

Ok answered that myself, they only make 1 5/8's.

damn old school engine didnt put out enough Hp to warrant bigger primaries..LOL

 

What kind of car is it? Never said in original post... This for you in a 4th gen?

 

This is for my 2nd gen 79 z28, resto project/driver

 

Looks like the Hedmans can be had uncoated for $200 also. Hell you could almost buy a new set of headers for how much it would cost to recoat them....

Just depends on how much that $100 means to ya....

 

my understanding,

with the 1-5/8 you may end up loosing some low end torque (with no real gain to high end HP)


I've read that if you're gonna be under 500hp,
there's no gain for the bigger primaries

 

Yeah I'm caught in between. The current engine certainly isnt producing anywhere near what it will eventually. I'm not real concerned about the low end tq loss, I'll make up some of that with a set of AFR's in the not to distant future I think...lol
I want to swap the factory intake for an Edlebrock air gap, it already has an Edel performer carb.
But when you pull the intake the lifters are right there so the cam is a natural swap at that point and well hell while its apart might as well do the heads

 

add a little nitrous to that setup,
and you'll be utilizing those larger primaries

 

Get the hedman 3/4" primary full length they fit the best. Or I have a set of supercomps 1 7/8 never installed I can sell you

 

Zoinks!! I guess that tells me all I need to know...LOL
Hedmans it is.

 

I hate the stupid three bolt header gasket collector setup on most headers.

I've had really good luck with the flowmaster ball flange collectors. There isn't a gasket to burn up.

So I would get the uncoated headers (whichever brand) have the ball flange collectors welded to them, then get them coated.

For my 72 GMC, I got a set of JetHot coated Dynomax headers for ~$220. A few years later the coating was peeling, so I sent them back and got them recoated under warranty.

Another thing with headers. The heat from the headers will reak havoc on the starter solenoid. Do yourself a favor and get a remote starter solenoid now. I fought and fought for years with the starter, and even a high torque mini starter still had a few issues until I got the remote starter solenoid.

 

Its actually the complete opposite. The 1 5/8" would be good right now, but if the end goal is 500hp, then gonna want the 1 3/4"

George at Turbo Tech is working on a new set right now for my dad..... 2 5/8" to 2 3/4" steps. Bigger IS better the more power you are making

 

Buy Arron's Supercomps! They are far better quality than the cheapie headers you've mentioned. There is a big difference. When you get them, take them and have them ceramic coated.

BTW, you're not going to get these headers and have them coated for $200.

 

Don are you being serious or messing with me? LOL.
Everyone I've talked to has told me to stay away from the Hookers, they don't fit good at all...???

 

There are LOTS of Hooker Headers. Supercomps are the top of the line racing headers.

 

But money is an issue as well, whole idea of this one is budget oriented...LOL

 

thanks man,

you're right,
I don't know what I was thinking last night,


I must have been thinking 1-1/2 compared to 1-5/8
but the 1-3/4 is for 500+hp

 

There was a gvuy with a set on camaros net that was not happy with them at all is why I ask.

also I dont need 1 7/8's... a stepped header be ok but 1 7/8 will be kind of big wont they? I'm not runnning n2o or anything.