Headers: which set to buy? what do you have?

[75stepside]

well fellahs, i'm lookin' into a new set of headers. i have a set of hooker super comp's, which are a great set of headers, but mine are really old (7 years) and the coating is starting to come off... so i'm lookin' into a new set... i've been lookin' at dynomax ceramic headers, jet-hot coated inside and out... they run $220. but i've talked to others that suggest i go with JBA or thorley headers... which run about $335 or better...

now, i'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for," so my question is what is the difference between the dynomax's (that are "gauranteed for life") or JBA's or whatever????

what do you have on your ride? anyone have the dynomax's that i'm talkin' 'bout?

[78SilveradoSWB]

I looked at the Dynamax coated, but I ended up buying Hedman Elite coated headers. The gauge tubing and the flange are of thicker material. Got mine from Summit with my 10% discount code, ended up paying $239.

[75stepside]

here's a question for ya, 78SilveradoSWB:

on your driver's side header, does the pipe for the #1 cylinder come up OVER the pipe for the #3 cylinder (the second pipe back from the front) ???

that's one reason that i want new headers... i just bought a great set of polished aluminum wire looms and my hookers b/c they have that bend up over the #3 cylinder pipe, wont let the looms go on... how are the hedman's made? are they ceramic?

[75stepside]

...how long have you had your hedman's? are they going to turn that blue color?

[BigRed]

As I answered on the OTHER forum and when we talked earlier, I liked the Dynomax ones. That's my vote. See website for pics.

[swervin ervin]

If your headers are still in good shape and only the coating is coming off, why not have them recoated at somewhere like High Performance Coatings

They coat older headers too, with a lifetime guarantee.

Dynomax are a cheap alternative, but I don't think they are coated in/out. Think about what you said about getting what you pay for and then put it to use when it comes time to buy headers. If it costs the same amount to have them coated as it does to buy them already coated, how good can the coating be? They're not giving you the headers as long as you buy the coating, are they?

I heard and seen folks say they're Dynomax headers have small spots of surface rust on them. Why do you think this is? To me it's a total waste of money if they are not coated on the inside.

My 2 cents is get the best you can afford to buy. You'll be glad you did. One thing I won't do is buy headers already coated from any one. The coating is much cheaper and will not last. Buy what headers you want/like, and have them coated.

[75stepside]

swervin ervin

as you see in an above post, i'm looking to get new headers that are made differently so that my polished aluminum wire looms will be able to be installed...

...just on summit's website... and the dynomax's are coated inside and out: "Another feature is a bright ceramic coating by Jet-Hot inside and out that not only looks good, but will last forever."

so, i'm sure that the coating will last for a few years, but not as long as more expensive headers...

i'd still like to hear from someone with the hedman elites...

[low 84]

the dynomax one are a really good deal. i have em and they look great. they are coated inside and out. i've had them on for over 6 months and they look the same as when i bought them. ceramic coated headers won't brown, the jba's however are nickle coated and they will turn a gold/bronze tpye color. i think the headman elites have a slightly thicker flange than the dyno's but i haven't had any problems with the dynomax flanges, it seals fine. the only leak i had was when i blew out a collector gasket at the track and it wasn't related to the header quality. so i personally would recomend the dynos if you want a nice looking set that won't break the bank.

[78SilveradoSWB]

75stepside:

I haven't installed them yet. Later on the project list, suspension first. Bought them early to take advantage of the 10% off Summit sale a couple of months ago. They are for BB Chevy 454, 427, 502. They are ceramic coated inside & out, but the finish is satin. This is true for the Elite line. Their other HTC headers have a polished ceramic coating. My particular headers does not have that crossover as you mention. The illustration as shown at Summit's site is not accurate. I do have a picture in my digital camera, but I have to leave for work in a few minutes.

[low 84]

75step - here is a pic of the dynomax's on bigreds truck. you can see that they do not have the #1 pipe that goes over the #3

[Izzy]

Originally posted by low 84
the dynomax one are a really good deal. i have em and they look great. they are coated inside and out. i've had them on for over 6 months and they look the same as when i bought them. ceramic coated headers won't brown, the jba's however are nickle coated and they will turn a gold/bronze tpye color. i think the headman elites have a slightly thicker flange than the dyno's but i haven't had any problems with the dynomax flanges, it seals fine. the only leak i had was when i blew out a collector gasket at the track and it wasn't related to the header quality. so i personally would recomend the dynos if you want a nice looking set that won't break the bank.

Hey can you email me that part#?? I'm looking to get the headers the first of january.

[75stepside]

thanks for all the info guys! its helpin' out... now i just need to decide!

fiveeightchevy

from summit, the part numbers:

WLK-86003 for SBC / WLK-86089 for BBC

[low 84]

yeah man i'll send it to you.

75step, i didn't use the same p.n. as those. i used a shorty version of the dynomaxs b/c of how low my truck is so its a different #.

[79BIG10]

I'm late here but I have Heddman Hedders. Mine do come up like your talking about over 1-3. Look at my pics in sig to see what I mean.