What are the best cheap headers? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Dbeast71 · 03-12-2003, 06:56 AM

What have you run that's good for cheap? Or cheap that's junk? I was thinking about the Summit brand.

Summit brand $79.50
Hedmans $109.95
Dynomax $119
JC whitney $119

Lloyd · 03-12-2003, 07:46 AM

I've got the summit brand. They seem to work fine; needed a little custom adjustment with a hammer in a couple of places, but not much. They sent me 3/8" bolts though, and LA heads need 5/16" bolts. Gaskets they sent didn't appeal to me so I got a sheet of Fel-Pro metal-reinforced high-temp gasket material and cut new gaskets for both the flanges and collectors; they've not leaked yet and it's been pounded pretty hard for most of a year.

megatrek · 03-12-2003, 11:19 AM

Small block or Big Block? I've got headmans on the 383 in my RC. They fit real good and sound good also went on rather easy.

Dbeast71 · 03-12-2003, 02:42 PM

Small block.

With duals will they both need to run down the Pass side or will is fit down the drivers side?

Lloyd · 03-12-2003, 02:58 PM

Mine's on the passenger side; DS has the fuel tank on pickups, but you might be able to run it that way on a RC. I got a pre-bent Hooker exhaust, but it goes outside the crossmember and below the frame rail on the driver's side to clear the clutch linkage if you've got a manual transmission; I don't, so I cut that part out and replaced it with a straight section of pipe that comes back inside the frame/crossmember. Had to shorten the part that runs to the pass side a little also. I also put a short H-pipe just in front of the cheap $15 summit mufflers; it makes a pretty quiet system.

Dbeast71 · 03-12-2003, 03:41 PM

I haven't priced duals at a shop yet, when I lived in your part of the world (NM & CO) a system installed was 200-250. What did the Hooker system run? Was that a Summit deal too?

Where is Jamez Springs? I'm from Thoreau, mid way between Gallup and Grants on 40.

Lloyd · 03-13-2003, 06:38 AM

Yeah, I got the Hooker pipes from Summit also; something like $100 or a tad more. Whole system from the heads back was just over $200. Three reasons I did it this way: 1) places around here either use press-bent or serrated-bend pipes, and the Hooker kit is all mandrel-bent; 2) I wanted to weld everything from the collectors to the mufflers so that it was strong, would clear the doubler when that goes in, and could slip the mufflers off and replace them if I didn't like 'em (still may go to Flowmasters someday, but at $15 just HAD to try the summit mufflers); 3) wanted the pipes from the mufflers back NOT welded so that I can get them out of the way of the shackle flip when I get the hangers made - the tailpipes exit right under the stock rear shackle hangers. Shock clearance may also be an issue when the mounts get relocated with the shackle flip.

Thoreau, huh? Yeap, I know exactly where that is; may have even stopped for gas a time or two. Jemez Springs is North of where you are; go to Albuquerque and head North on 25 about 20 miles, then take 44 more or less NW towards Cuba. At San Ysidro turn off 44 onto 4 and go further north.

GRMhick · 03-13-2003, 10:32 AM

How do you like your summit mufflers? I was thinking of a set, but i was also thinking that they prob are about the same as muy current super turbos, and since i want flows on it, it is worth doing it right the first time.

Garrett

Lloyd · 03-13-2003, 11:18 AM

They're very quiet; maybe even too quiet. But since I'll be driving them on and off the pipes a few times as I finish up other stuff on the truck, I don't regret getting them. I would regret taking a 4 lb hammer to a set of Flowmasters.

sw99 · 03-16-2003, 09:19 AM

Hooker Headers !!!

GRMhick · 03-17-2003, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lincolnloc
Hooker Headers !!!

Do you have any actual experience with hookers? Or are you just blurting it out?

Garrett

03-12-2003, 06:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dbeast71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14973 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 122	What are the best cheap headers? What have you run that's good for cheap? Or cheap that's junk? I was thinking about the Summit brand. Summit brand $79.50 Hedmans $109.95 Dynomax $119 JC whitney $119

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03-12-2003, 07:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,793	I've got the summit brand. They seem to work fine; needed a little custom adjustment with a hammer in a couple of places, but not much. They sent me 3/8" bolts though, and LA heads need 5/16" bolts. Gaskets they sent didn't appeal to me so I got a sheet of Fel-Pro metal-reinforced high-temp gasket material and cut new gaskets for both the flanges and collectors; they've not leaked yet and it's been pounded pretty hard for most of a year.

03-12-2003, 11:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
megatrek Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13724 Location: Havre, Montana Posts: 37	Small block or Big Block? I've got headmans on the 383 in my RC. They fit real good and sound good also went on rather easy.

03-12-2003, 02:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dbeast71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14973 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 122	Small block. With duals will they both need to run down the Pass side or will is fit down the drivers side?

03-12-2003, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,793	Mine's on the passenger side; DS has the fuel tank on pickups, but you might be able to run it that way on a RC. I got a pre-bent Hooker exhaust, but it goes outside the crossmember and below the frame rail on the driver's side to clear the clutch linkage if you've got a manual transmission; I don't, so I cut that part out and replaced it with a straight section of pipe that comes back inside the frame/crossmember. Had to shorten the part that runs to the pass side a little also. I also put a short H-pipe just in front of the cheap $15 summit mufflers; it makes a pretty quiet system.

03-12-2003, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dbeast71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14973 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 122	I haven't priced duals at a shop yet, when I lived in your part of the world (NM & CO) a system installed was 200-250. What did the Hooker system run? Was that a Summit deal too? Where is Jamez Springs? I'm from Thoreau, mid way between Gallup and Grants on 40.

03-13-2003, 06:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,793	Yeah, I got the Hooker pipes from Summit also; something like $100 or a tad more. Whole system from the heads back was just over $200. Three reasons I did it this way: 1) places around here either use press-bent or serrated-bend pipes, and the Hooker kit is all mandrel-bent; 2) I wanted to weld everything from the collectors to the mufflers so that it was strong, would clear the doubler when that goes in, and could slip the mufflers off and replace them if I didn't like 'em (still may go to Flowmasters someday, but at $15 just HAD to try the summit mufflers); 3) wanted the pipes from the mufflers back NOT welded so that I can get them out of the way of the shackle flip when I get the hangers made - the tailpipes exit right under the stock rear shackle hangers. Shock clearance may also be an issue when the mounts get relocated with the shackle flip. Thoreau, huh? Yeap, I know exactly where that is; may have even stopped for gas a time or two. Jemez Springs is North of where you are; go to Albuquerque and head North on 25 about 20 miles, then take 44 more or less NW towards Cuba. At San Ysidro turn off 44 onto 4 and go further north.

03-13-2003, 10:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
GRMhick Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 87 Location: I live in hotels tear out the walls I have accountants pay for it all Posts: 7,203	How do you like your summit mufflers? I was thinking of a set, but i was also thinking that they prob are about the same as muy current super turbos, and since i want flows on it, it is worth doing it right the first time. Garrett

03-13-2003, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
Lloyd * Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 538 Posts: 1,793	They're very quiet; maybe even too quiet. But since I'll be driving them on and off the pipes a few times as I finish up other stuff on the truck, I don't regret getting them. I would regret taking a 4 lb hammer to a set of Flowmasters.

03-16-2003, 09:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
sw99 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15049 Location: COLORADO Posts: 1,702	Hooker Headers !!!