Cheapest SBC stainless long tube headers

[stangtjk]

For only $137 I figured I'd give these cheapo headers a shot. They appear to made fairly well . They have 1 3/4 tube that merge into a 3 1/2 collector. Patriot sells some that look identical and the application listed is for circle track cars.

After the first trial fit up I almost decided not to mess with trying to get them to fit but then figured what the hell.... On each side one of the middle primaries wraps around to the rear port which puts it right into the firewall. I've only fit up the passenger side so far. After beating on the firewall for a little bit I got it on and it clears everything else pretty good... Just barely rubs the frame right behind the motor mount...

I've seen a lot of long tubes that hang done too far but these are tucked up fairly decent. The driver's side looked like will be able to come straight off the header and go over the cross member, passenger side will take a couple bends to get up over the transfer case.

[stangtjk]

I've got a little more beating to do on the firewall then I'll smooth it out with a hammer and dolly so it doesn't look like a hack job.

[stangtjk]

Once I get these fit up I'll put this stash to use.... All 304 stainless.. Going to learn to do some Tig welding.

[87Skier]

I had Hedman headers on my 4x4 for a while. The collector lined up with the front leaf shackle. Didn't have to massage the body to get them in, but made the exhaust routing tricky since I had to come back up. It also meant that the front driveshaft was very close to the exhaust flange. It cut a slight groove in the front driveshaft after a few years.

Yours look like they are in a much better spot.

[Mike C]

I ran Heddman 4x4 headers on my Jimmy for 10 or 12 years. Not low hanging at all and unlike those stainless headers you have they will work with the 4 speed clutch linkage. Heddmans were the only ones I could find back in the day that would.

That Jones stainless exhaust kit looks slick. You will love TIG welding.

FWIW, 63-82 Corvette headers look almost exactly like the 4x4 Heddmans.

[A1971Blazer]

I'm not a fan of headers of any kind...but as far as the TIG.....be sure you have an extra tank of argon and a flow regulator...if you don't purge the inside of the thin tubing while welding....it will sugar and burn inside and your welds will eventually fail...

[stangtjk]

I've got that covered with a dual flow regulator.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by stangtjk

I've got that covered with a dual flow regulator.

Good deal....in your first post you mentioned "learning" to TIG...that's the only reason I mentioned it..sounds like you've covered all the bases...good luck with it....take pics of the progress....!