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best headers for sb in 73-87 k?

S

swedester

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I´m about to buy headers for my 87 burb k10 w.350tbi,and I think I would like full lenght headers.what is the best brand/buy? smooth bends/good flow and good groundclearance is what I´m looking for.
I´ve seen full length at summitracing under 100$,any good?
 
I personaly dont like headers and would sugest a set of stock "ram horn" type manifolds.

But a friend of mine has a set of "after burner" headers, and he seams to REALY like them. They are on his 79 k10, it has a pretty cool sound too.

after burner link http://store.summitracing.com/partd...BIG-49100-1FLT&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch

OOOPS that link is for the high priced ceramic coated headers I know they have them for around $180 for GM trucks.

ram horn pic

ce3a_1.jpg
 
The best headers for the money are Thorley. They fit great, don't leak and are nickel plated with a 3/8" flange. However, they cost $$$$$ But you get what you pay for.. Tri Y's. I put mine on over 5 years ago and never a problem. Cheap headers only wish they could last that long. Just my .02,,,,
 
You get what you pay for with headers. 100 dollar long tubes will rust/burn out. TBI runs leaner than a carb so the exhaust is hotter and will burn/rust out cheap headers fairly fast. Espically if there is a lot of salt on the roads in the winter. Also have to be modified to work with your TBI. They will need a 02 sensor bung welded in the collector or buy the reducer with one in in it.
The summit shorty truck headers will not fit a 87 Sub or K5. So forget about them.
The only headers I know of out there that work real good with TBI with no leaks and other problems are the Doug Thorley as said above, and the Edelbrock TES system. They are both very good quality headers. Fairly simple bolt on the stock 3" single exhaust.
I have Edelbrocks. They are stainless steel. Running them for over 8 years now. No rust no leaks. I have never replaced a gasket on them.

If you want a cheaper set I think Hookers are good. They are 16 ga tubes and will hold up better than the cheapos with 18 ga tubes. Summit sells them #HOK-2453HKR
 
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Oops I forgot about emissions stuff. I took all my emissions stuff off and in the thread where they were discussed he has a 90 350 TBI engine, but I believe they only would work without emissions.
 
Whole different ballgame when ya throw A.I.R into the picture....

I'm looking at having my welder bud throw a bung in a set of stainless Hookers to retain my smog pump...

Thorley's are smog compliant..
 
AIR is a pain in the butt, but I dont know how much it acutally helps a tuned engine. I went without one, even though the old one had one. Their relatively easy to retrofit, in case you need to add em (you can even do it without taking it out of the car.). THe kits are overpriced, something like 80 for a retrofit kit. MAybe 60. You can build your own retrofit for about 10. (home depot and 3/8th steel fuel lines). You only need like 2-3 ft, and a welder.

BTW, the summit 89 dollar ones are "ok". Build quality is like a 6/10- You can tell the build quality is terrible from the inside. only 18 ga too. No bung. SO you need to weld one on. And they interfere in the stock oil filter if you have an oil cooler sandwich plate.
 
I've always heard (for more years than I'd like to recall) that headers really only benefit high rpm motors - 4-8,000 rpms, etc. and that torque motors 1500-5000 rpm motors do better with stock, cast iron, headers. Any opinions? The stockers are almost indestructable.
 
They don't hurt low end if they are of the proper design for the engine.

Short tube headers (block huggers) typically only help at higher RPM's, long tubes help across the board.

As much as some people probably hate to hear it, long tubes outperform Tri-Y's as well, in the sole "impartial" test I've seen. Not trying to start anything, just informing based on what I've read.
 
I have a pait of FlowTech Headers that are Ceramic Coated I Hate those things they are rusty and leaky....They coast me 230 bucks to...I'm going to order a pair of long tube headers next spring.
 
I really like my Doug's Headers (http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ex/dougs/default.aspx) Doug Thorley left his company to his wife in a divorce so he went back and started his original company back up again. Doug's Headers are the original Doug Thorley headers and they are excellent quality. I have a 76 and so I got mine with the air risers for smog. The fit is excellent, the flanges nice and thick, and the ceramic coating is good. They are expensive, but as said, you get what you pay for. I had a cheap set from another Blazer I bought but I kept having to paint them, and they always leaked. Summit also carries them.
 
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