What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Hedman Elite Header Review

during a break in, you cannot shut the motor down until the cam is broken in, and if your running lean by chance because on an initial startup its hard to get everything perfect, you will overheat the headers as they need to cured before they can get really hot for prolonged periods of time.
 
clarkjw24 said:
This strange. I've never heard or done this. I've broke several motors in with headers. Also what do you mean by wait long enough?
Click to expand...

My headers were glowing red from break in. I should have waited longer, although the manifolds did not glow when I was initially "breaking it in". No idea how long would have been "long enough", but I know that the time I ran it on manifolds wasn't long enough. :)

Glowing is too hot for the headers, discolored them, and apparently affected the coating, because they have started to rust in areas that have not been scratched or otherwise compromised the coating.

Read the "Warning!" near the top of the first page:
http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstructions/500/520/520-12611.pdf

Sorry, looks like the link has changed to something else not relevant to the thread anymore.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the info everybody! I have decided to go ahead and return them, thanks Craig! I really appreciate y'all's advice on this, I'm not familiar with headers...yet! Thanks! :waytogo:
 
Just read through this whole thread again, but too tired to find what I was looking for. I swear someone had mentioned the part number in here that was the same design but with 1/4" flange and 18 gauge and didnt have the ceramic coating. Anyone got it? Cant really afford the ceramic ones, but if I should save I can. Really worth the 3/8" flange, 14 gauge and ceramic? Thanks guys
 
lak2004 said:
Just read through this whole thread again, but too tired to find what I was looking for. I swear someone had mentioned the part number in here that was the same design but with 1/4" flange and 18 gauge and didnt have the ceramic coating. Anyone got it? Cant really afford the ceramic ones, but if I should save I can. Really worth the 3/8" flange, 14 gauge and ceramic? Thanks guys
Click to expand...


Depends, How long are your going to keep your truck? If more than a year then I would say do it once and do it right.
gabe
 
Got the Jimmy all together and wheeled it! The headers fit and work great! I had a 2.5" Y into 3" single, high flow cat, cherry bomb (flowmaster style) muffler exhaust made up and with the headers, it looks, sounds, and fits great!
 
If you lose bolts/nuts, I'm going to say the exhaust isn't mounted solid enough. Of course, without knowing your truck lol. :)

I lost the bolts/nuts on one side, only because the exhaust wasn't welded up. Welded up side never came loose.

Whether its the joints, or the mounting, too much flex in the exhaust pipes or mounts allows the engine to leverage against any joints and loosen the bolts or clamps. I reused all the stock hangars on both sides, haven't lost any cylinder head flange bolts either, and they aren't locking.
 
I installed a set of Flowtech a few years ago. I did not have clearance issues but had to keep tightening the exhaust bolts and the headers were noisy. I could hear every engine pulse. After two years I removed them and reinstalled the old cast iron manifolds.
I should have chosen a quality header , like you had. The heavier guage steel and ceramic coating would have them run quiet and cool. - Good choise -
 
Do the Elite headers come with good harware and gaskets, or should I go and get a copper flange gasket and stainless locking bolts?
 
I haven't had a single leak on mine since installed except when I didn't weld the exhaust up solid. I'm using the "cheapy" steel faced fel-pro gaskets that come with the engine rebuild kits.

Guy I knew awhile back who built a lot of engines (both race and street) said that those worked the best out of all the gaskets out there, perhaps excluding the solid copper ones.

But that's the point of getting headers like the Elites....the flanges are thick enough not to warp and give you leaks, if your exhaust system is solid.
 
i put headman elites on my shortbed , they were the only ones with a 3inch collector...and they only make em with ball flanges now. so i used camaro pipes form the exhaust shop that i work at, they bend real nice through the cross member. i ran all 3inch dumped behind the bumper. i used the truck at least 50 times and never had a problem, i used the hardware that came with em.
 
Chevy305 said:
Do the Elite headers come with good harware and gaskets, or should I go and get a copper flange gasket and stainless locking bolts?
Click to expand...
I used the same as dyeager, the Fel-Pros for the upper flange gaskets and the bolts that came with the headers. Down at the collectors I re-used the copper gaskets I had installed on the previous headers about a year ago. Haven't had any leaks at all...but then...I only drive my K5 about 3,000 miles per year. :D
 
I work with a guy who used to work at Headmen, he had a buddy that worked with him aswell. He and his bud used to do all the header welding for like 20/25 years there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom