by Bob Gumm » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:04 pm
There have been a lot of questions regarding header selection. In my opinion, header selection depends on your engines needs and your preferences. I have more info on my web site covering these headers. Also, except for the big-block headers and the Stahl small-block race headers which require rerouting of the steering shaft, all of the headers have one tube (#1) that goes over (around) the steering column. Here is a brief synopsis...
Small-Block Chevy V-8 Headers
Sanderson CC13 (shorty headers)
Specifications: 1-1/2" Primaries with 2-1/2" Collectors
Pros: Very low-cost, no road clearance issues, not too difficult to install, no tubes pass through the fender wells, have a thicker flange (no warping = no leaks). Highest quality!
Cons: Small primaries, steering column must be removed and reinstalled, not a full-length header.
Notes: Best suited for mild engines, available with ceramic coating (recommended). They are so inexpensive that if you bought two sets it would still cost less than almost every header on this list.
Hooker 2135
Specifications: 1-1/2" Primaries with 2-1/2" Collectors (some don't have collectors; you weld the exhaust directly to the header).
Pros: Medium-cost, full-length header, no tubes pass through the fender wells, not too difficult to install.
Cons: Small primaries, possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for mild engines, add a "0" in front of the part number to accommodate air-injection manifold.
Stahl 124
Specifications: 1-5/8" Primaries with 2-1/2" Collectors
Pros: Medium primaries - great for those high performance needs, unrestricted flow, no tubes pass through the fender wells.
Cons: Very high-cost, car may require modification for clearance, possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for mild street-strip car if you don't mind the high-cost.
Don Hardy
Specifications: 1-5/8" Primaries with 3" Collectors
Pros: Next lowest cost, medium primaries - great for those high performance needs, less-restricted flow, not too difficult to install, no tubes pass through the fender wells, have been used with factory V8 Monza mounts with no interference issues.
Cons: Possible road clearance issues, collectors kick out at an angle towards the doors (this is actually good for strip cars).
Notes: Best suited for performance engines.
Hedman Hedders 68330 & 68340
Specifications: 1-5/8" Primaries with 3" Collectors
Pros: Medium-cost, medium primaries - great for those high performance needs, less-restricted flow, not too difficult to install.
Cons: Engine must use front engine mount plate, tubes #7 & #8 pass through fender well (may inhibit turning radius), possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for high-performance engines, very similar to the Hooker 2129 headers except the primaries are smaller.
Hooker 2129
Specifications: 1-3/4" Primaries with 3" Collectors
Pros: Bigger primaries - great for those high horsepower needs, less-restricted flow.
Cons: High-cost, engine must use front engine mount plate, crossmember requires modification to clear passenger side header, tubes #7 & #8 pass through fender well (may inhibit turning radius), possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for high-performance engines.
Stahl 123
Specifications: 1-7/8" Primaries with 3" Collectors
Pros: Huge primaries - great for those high horsepower needs, unrestricted flow, no tubes pass through the fender wells.
Cons: Very high-cost, car likely requires modification for clearance, steering shaft must be rerouted.
Notes: Best suited for pro-street or race-only car if you don't mind the high-cost.
Big-Block Chevy V-8 Headers
Hooker 2240
Specifications: 2-1/8" Primaries with 3-1/2" Collectors
Pros: Huge primaries - great for those high horsepower needs, less-restricted flow.
Cons: High-cost, engine must use front engine mount plate, steering shaft must be rerouted, tubes #6 & #8 pass through fender well (may inhibit turning radius), possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for pro-street or race-only car.
Stahl 224
Specifications: 2-?" Primaries with 3-?" Collectors
Pros: Huge primaries - great for those high horsepower needs, unrestricted flow, no tubes pass through the fender wells.
Cons: Very high-cost, car likely requires high degree of modification for clearance and front engine mount plate, steering shaft must be rerouted, possible road clearance issues.
Notes: Best suited for pro-street or race-only car if you don't mind the high-cost.
Last edited by
Bob Gumm on Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:55 pm, edited 6 times in total.
Bob Gumm
v8monza.com