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Headers questions

nad

1/2 ton status
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Festus, MO
I'm wanting to get some headers for my Jimmy to make the exhaust a little louder and 'add' some power.

Anyway, I have stock size exhaust from the y-pipe to the manifolds, and then 3" from the y-pipe back.

I'm looking for some headers that I can just replace my manifolds with, without having to cut and weld and bend tube. I'm not quite that experienced with welding or tubing yet for that. So if anyone knows where I can get some shorties for it or if anyone has some they want to get rid of, let me know.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
shorties are pretty much useless...

thorley tri-y's and a few others, Edelbrocks iirc, have a stock y pipe replacement that goes with their headers...

i would just get what ya want. hack the y-pipe back some, install em, run it down to a muffler shop and have em hook ya back up...
 
Ah, yeah never thought about that, just get the ones I want, then run them open and drive to a shop. I was thinking installation would be expensive, but getting them welded shouldn't cost too much.

Thanks ryoken. You're the man.
 
Now what do y'all prefer? Long tube headers? Any specific brand? I'm looking for some pretty cheap ones, under $200. I was looking on ebay, but most stuff on there is off brand junk.
 
I was just looking at the Summit ones. $89 before shipping. Anyone have any experience with these particular headers?

Also, the installation instructions says it's necessary to remove the starter, power steering pump and alternator to install them. That doesn't sound necessary at all.
 
I was just looking at the Summit ones. $89 before shipping. Anyone have any experience with these particular headers?

Also, the installation instructions says it's necessary to remove the starter, power steering pump and alternator to install them. That doesn't sound necessary at all.
with headers, you get what you pay for. If you can't afford good ones, I'd wait until you can.
 
they're thin, thus they'll sound tinny.. like cheap headers do... not to mention they'll prolly rot out in a year...

starter has to come out.. ps maybe, alt prolly not....
 
with headers, you get what you pay for. If you can't afford good ones, I'd wait until you can.
X2 espically if you have TBI. It runs leaner and hotter than carbs and will burn/rust out cheap headers fairly quickly.
Also rember you have to have a bung in the collector to screw your 02 sensor in.
I have a set of Edelbrock headers TES system. I really like them. Have had them on for 8 years. They are stainless steel so No rust except a little on the Y pipe. No leaks! Never have replaced a gasket. Farly Easy bolt on to stock 3" exhaust with no welding. Nice HP & torque increase you can feel. Definatly worth the money IMO.
 
I don't need o2 sensors. It's an 87 so it's exempt from emissions, and plus I have a 78 carb'd motor in it.

I was looking at the TES ones, but couldn't find a price on edelbrock's site or any way to purchase them.

I'll probably just ask for a set of the Hooker's for Christmas from the ole' lady ;) She knows she'll be stuck buying me parts for the truck anyway ;)
 
Well...Sure aint no harm in asking the O'l lady for a couple of Hookers for Christmass. :D

Beings you are carbed pass on the Edelbrocks they are pretty spendy. Hooker Long tubes will be better for you.
 
Sweet, sounds good. I'll just get them and bolt them up to the heads and drive it to a shop when I get the chance and have them figure out the rest.

Or maybe I'll just run them open all the time :D
 
isnt there a preferred set of headers that fit great, i have had alot fo trouble with headers before. are the ones ryoken linked the goodns?
 
The one's ryoken linked claim to fit K5 Blazers. I dunno, but I can see myself having a lot of trouble with them too, just because I have bad luck when it comes to stuff like this. Anything that isn't directly bolt on is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Seems pretty simple, just as long as I can get a shop to weld them up. I'm sure it looks simpler than it really is though...
 
lol, i have my collectors cut off because they would hit the shackles. unknown brand/application.
 
nah i welded my pipes to the header. its gonna be a blast getting it out when i replace it with a sweet setup. do it right the first time!! i have a feeling theyre 2wd headers.
 
Lol, well I've been reading some threads on here and a lot of people have problems with their headers hitting their shackle. Maybe I should just stick with the manifolds. Couldn't be that much sound difference and HP gains, right?
 
Quite a bit of performance difference depending on the motor. 20-40HP is commonly thrown around over manifolds on a 350. Of course that depends on how much the engine is being choked currently, a built 350 is going to benefit more from more efficient exhaust than a stock one, thus the claimed HP gain disparity.

Of course, you can't throw headers on and get the most out of an engine without tuning it for them, more efficient exhaust can mean more efficient intake, which changes fueling needs.

I thought the Hedman 69830's were the hot ticket now? Only question to fitment seems to be for those with the manual transmissions, plug access sounds to be the same as the 69890's that I've got, and it is almost as easy to get to them as it was with manifolds. Most headers aren't that way.
 
Well I was told my motor was bored .50 over and had a mild cam, but I'm highly doubting it.

Anyway, those hedman 69830s are wayyy out of my price range.
 
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