Headders? For 79 K10

[nascarusc]

Gotta a 1979 chevy k10 with the 5.7 350..... Just wondering whats the best set of headders i can get for a decent price. The truck all ready has duals on it, no cats & i think flowmaster mufflers. It sounds good but i think it'll sound better with headders. I've heard some brands dont bolt-up 100% right an you'll end up with a exuast leak. But im only 17 an dont wanna spend $200 or $300 on a set, i was thinking at the most $150. Apperance dont matter. I aint into all that chrome under the hood anyways. So anyone that knows whatever brand sounds good, dont leak, and wont clean out my wallet.. Let me know, Thanks

[trickedout420]

cant have your cake and eat it too...spend the money on heddman headers...will cost you right around $300 and have a lifetime warranty..ive had mine for around 5 years now and bought the stage 8 locking fasteners for them and i have never had a leak or a single problem from them

[bignugly]

got to agree with ya, that is one area you dont want to be cheap

[lenoardmike]

yes you have to their is no other chance.


Performance Tuning (http://www.engineperformancechip.com)

[rich weyand]

One other hint on headers. Getting the bolts torqued properly, and keeping them tight through temperature cycling, is a bear because of the tight clearances. Mr. Gasket has a set of header bolts with inner and outer hexes. That is, they are hex head bolts, but they also have allen hex sockets in the bolt heads. This makes it much easier to torque them down with a 1/4" drive allen wrench socket. I check them every oil change because they like to work loose.

Rich

[~Super~Midget~]

i went cheap on my 77 mud truck i got rid of not to long ago, ran flowtech long tubes and never had a problem with them, only downside is i had to switch over to shorty header spark plugs but i was getting new plugs at the same time anyway so it was really a non issue, i ended up putting a heat shield boot on 1 wire on the driver side for my own peace of mind but they fit fine and worked great for me

[GreaseDog]

i too have run Flowtech headers for years without issue. never had a problem with plug clearance on them using stock plugs and wires. only problems i ever had with plug wires were from my own slip ups with routing and securing them.

with that said, i have also had good luck with Dynomax headers in the past. both Dynomax and Flowtech offer dual exhaust kits for 73-87 trucks, as does Hooker and Thrush. i have the Dynomax kit on my 77 with i believe Dynomax headers, and Flowmaster 40s. its a crimp bent setup, where the Hooker kit is (or was) mandrel bent. i'm unsure of the Flowtech kit for this vintage, and i just discovered the Thrush kit a few minutes ago.

the Dynomax, Flowtech, and Hooker kits all put one pipe out each side behind the rear tire, and the thrush kit exits on either side under the bumper. all 4 kits are 2 1/4"

[robotic_junky]

I have the bottom of the line Hedman long tube headers on my 87 Silverado. Driver side, I put it on by going underneath and then attaching it. Passenger side, I put it on from top side, but one of the bump stops on the frame had to be take off to get the header on. Also the Hedman had a ball and socket (gasketless) connection instead of the traditional collector gasket style.

I haven't ran the headers that much, but where I scratched them now has rust (had them for 4 years).

[rich weyand]

i too have run Flowtech headers for years without issue. never had a problem with plug clearance on them using stock plugs and wires. only problems i ever had with plug wires were from my own slip ups with routing and securing them.

with that said, i have also had good luck with Dynomax headers in the past. both Dynomax and Flowtech offer dual exhaust kits for 73-87 trucks, as does Hooker and Thrush. i have the Dynomax kit on my 77 with i believe Dynomax headers, and Flowmaster 40s. its a crimp bent setup, where the Hooker kit is (or was) mandrel bent. i'm unsure of the Flowtech kit for this vintage, and i just discovered the Thrush kit a few minutes ago.

the Dynomax, Flowtech, and Hooker kits all put one pipe out each side behind the rear tire, and the thrush kit exits on either side under the bumper. all 4 kits are 2 1/4"


Does anybody make a true duals setup for the OOBS that has twin rear exit? I have that now, and I love the setup and the way it sounds from behind the truck, but I have no clue what it is, or if the PO cobbled it up or what.

BTW, have about a week on the new GMPP 350/290hp with Edelbrock 1406 carb and Edelbrock 2601 air-gap intake manifold. I jumped a size in the step-up springs on the carb to cure an off-idle sag, and that mostly did it, but I will probably jump up one more to kill it completely. Currently have the Hooker headers the PO put on and true duals with some pretty free-flow mufflers. It's a sweet setup and I like it a lot, but I really don't care for side exit pipes.

Rich

PS -- Or is that what you meant when you said the Thrush exits on either side under the bumper? Do they point straight out the a$$ or do they kick out to the sides?

[timbanditos]

Rich, thanks for the tip on the MR. Gasket header bolts, I'm looking to get some new headers on my 78' I just picked up, those sound like a worth while investment.

[vic_V8]

I ran Summit brand (probably flow tech) for $150 on my 450 hp mud truck with no problems at all. Regular length plugs even fit.