Header recommendation...

[Drey]

Holy crap I left the lounge...this is my first tech related post in god knows how long.

I am looking for a set of headers for my 406 SBC going in the blue truck. Planning on applying header wrap to help with not killing my starter and to keep underhood temps a bit lower.

Ive been told Hedman and Hooker are both good options, any of you guys got any horror stories I should hear before I order a set?

 

[swettysblazer]

What year truck?

 

[Drey]

83 GMC K20, Lifted 5 inchs on 35s




406 originally out of a 73 Caprice.

 

[79rustyk10]

I have the hookers on my K10. They fit really well for me.

 

[Kain]

hookers fit nice in mine.......

 

[Cili]

Whatever brand you decide on I would recommend a ceramic coating and make sure they have THICK flanges. My cheap headmans blow gaskets all the time because they are warped.

 

[sweetk30]

few diff part #'s fit and DONT hit the shackle bolts and keep the collector up high in frame . I don't recall the part #'s off my head but there listed in here a lot over the last year .


and yes ceramic coat over wraping them .

 

[livid4dirt]

Headman Elites, ceramic coated, 3/8 flanges that bolt to the head and a ball socket connector at the other end. A little more money but the hold up very well.

 

[folkenheath]

Is this 406 stock or you have a cam or anything in it? If it's not stock definitely try to go with some long tubes, I have had Hooker Comp headers in both SB and BB in my truck and they both fit excellent without hitting any shackles or anything. Also, Hooker is one of the few brands that welds the collector flange so it won't leak instead of the stamped crap with the floppy flange.

 

[dyeager535]

Go with the Hedman's, but every manufacturer is going to void the warranty with wraps.

IMO alone, spend the money for the Hedman stainless ones if you are intent on wrapping them. Yeah, they are 6-700, but they should last forever, and wrap shouldn't affect them.

Ceramic coatings are just that...coatings. I can shoot pictures of my Hedman Elites with rust, and my friend had to send back his jet-hotted product due to rust. Perhaps I look longer-term than most, but I don't like re-fixing things if I can help it.

 

[paratrooper307]

I've used the Hookers and Hedmans, and the Hedmans tuck up higher in the frame, but both fit well. I've found the ball and socket flange is more resistant to exhaust leaks. I was continually chasing leaks at the collector using fiber, copper, and aliminum gaskets. Your experience may vary, but I like that the ball and socket has no gasket, and gives you more leeway when lining up your exhaust.

 

[Stomis]

Definately go with ball and socket and make sure you use aluminum gaskets against the head.

My personal feeling on coatings is that they will eventually fail. Either spend the money on SS or wrap them. The headers on my old square body were wrapped since day one and the headers were still intact 10 years after the truck was built.