Your thoughts on headers

[RENO88]

So I think I want some headers to install next. I have a few considerations on what I need. They need to be somewhat cheap about 200 dollars. They must be carb legal as I live in California. Lastly, Id like to be able to change my plugs with out too much more hassle.

Thanx in advance - Reno

 

[dyeager535]

I've gotta say that so far the Hedman's and maybe Thorley's are the way to go if you want plug accessibility. Can't help you on the CARB numbers, you may have to research that yourself, but this thread is super helpful IMO.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213472&page=2

Don't buy cheap headers, please. Save money now, spend it later when they rot out or warp and you have to replace them, re-doing your exhaust to mate up again.

 

[454k30]

Buy either really good (expensive) headers or dont do it at all. With all the crap I have gone through with warped flanges and blown gaskets I wish I had just kept the stock manifolds.

 

[1978Blazerk5]

I got the headman headers with the 3 inch collecter, that are legal in california, there probaly out of your price range but if you want part numbers i can go though my receptis for ya.

 

[m-4x4-chevy]

I put the Doug Thorley Tri Y headers on my 86 with 350 cu in. Like the way they fit. Only 2 tubes go down on each side after the first pair of Y's. More room around the spring shackles, starter, etc. Great low end and mid range torque and boosted hi end power as well. They came with good gaskets. Retorque ocasionally for the first 6 months. Then forget em. Never had a problem with these. I agree with the other guys. Don't by cheap headers. I've had cheap headers on other 4x4's. Nothing but trouble.

 

[badmix]

IMO, unless youve got a built motor, leave the cast manifolds on. Like others have stated, go big or go home. meaning the THorley are probably the best but also the most expensive. I have some cheapo Heddman headers, I have to retorque header bolts all the time, ive had to replace gaskets atleast once a year and they didnt fit that well. they had to be tweaked. If I ever get the time, im going back to cast manifolds, easier to change spark plugs as well.

 

[Thunder]

If you need a CARB #. There aint much out there. I know of nothing with a CARB# for a K5 for less that $400
IMO the Edelbrock TES system is your best and cheapest bet. TES is CARB approved. It works very well. Far and away better than stock manifolds.
The headers are stainless steel they come with a high flow Y pipe. It is a simple direct bolt on to your stock exhaust system
I have had been running a TES on my K5 for 9 years now with problems, no rust on the headers or Leaks.
some of plugs are a difficult to get to with a ratchet/socket. But a combo wrench and plug socket gets on them them just fine. Really no big deal.

 

[Duntz00]

ive run the cheap dynomax headers for 3 years now and have only replaced one gasket on the passenger side, but i did an old hot rodders trick to fix mine. you cut the mounting flange between the front and back tubes and have not had to tight them or replace a gasket in 3 years, just replaced passenger a month ago

here is some pics of what i did

 

[nad]

I've heard of doing that, and I've also heard of mill filing the heads and header flanges and just not using a gasket at all....

I just put headers on my Jimmy, cheapies from a local guy getting rid of them. Took it to the shop to get it all mated up, and I got a Flowmaster 40 put on too, because my muffler was trashed.

My truck is quieter than most cars are now. I was really disappointed... I thought the Flow 40 was the loudest muffler out there, and I thought headers were supposed to make it louder?

Pretty much just a waste of my time and cash, but oh well.

 

[Duntz00]

are you running catalytic converters on it

 

[nad]

I have one converter, yes. It's just 1 3" outlet. The y-pipe is like 2.5" though.

 

[Duntz00]

the converter muffles it some so it isn't going to be as loud as a truck with no converters. i don't have to worry about that here, no inspections

 

[nad]

It's not required for emissions here, but for some reason it's necessary for saftey inspection? I thought about hollowing it out, but that's just too much work...

 

[Duntz00]

if ya had access to a torch and a welder, i would cut it open and knock all the crap out of it and weld it back up but that's just me

which i am running full length headers, true duals with no converters and glass packs

 

[badmix]

Im running true duals with Flowmaster mufflers. when I put the headers on, i omitted the cats. Truck was raspy and too loud IMO. So I had some catco cats put on and it quieted things down, but I still got a good sound with the flowmasters, its just not raspy now.

 

[nad]

You can't even hear mine running at idle. It has a little rumble when you get into it though.

 

[Duntz00]

my 88 1/2 ton chevy i use to have i ran hedman full length headers 2 1/2in pipe and 50 series flow masters, one of the best sounding trucks Ive ever owned, wasn't too loud but had a nice deep mellow tone. i would put 50 series on all my truck but man i ain't paying $100 dollars a muffler for them

 

[Duntz00]

You can't even hear mine running at idle. It has a little rumble when you get into it though.

is it your factory converter, if so it might be plugged up and would be time for a new one or gut it

 

[nad]

I got it put on at a shop 2 years ago. Reno, sorry for hi-jacking your thread, we got side tracked.

 

[guz71]

you probably made the mistake I did and got the delta flow 40 muffler. I have that muffler with no cat and its not very loud either. You can hear it rumble a bit at idle and make a little noise when you get on it but its nothing wild. I had a tahoe with an original 40 and that one would scream. I had dynomax headers on mine for a while and recently switched back to stock manifolds. Couldnt tell a difference in sound or power to be honest, but I also have a bone stock tbi 350. Personally I hated those headers. I replaced the passenger gasket twice over the period of about a year and just gave up on the collector gasket.