What type of headers should i get

All styles, with the exception of cast, are made with mandrel-bent tubing, offering smooth transitions from the exhaust port to the exhaust system. Mandrel-bent tubing moves the exhaust easily and quickly away from the head, this transition reduces HP loss because of the normal back pressure in an OE manifold. However, for peak performance, a set of headers should be combined with a full-length performance exhaust system.

Hooker and Flowmaster do exhaust right. There are 4 main types of Headers you will find, here are the features of each.

Cast iron manifolds are available for certain select vehicles. While cast iron is heavier than other materials, it soaks up heat better, a plus for emissions, and it prevents unwanted heat from radiating onto other nearby components.

Performance cast manifolds differ from OE by offering smooth flow and better design. Being cast iron means they will provide years of leak-free performance with less under hood noise than traditional headers.

Cast headers are heavier than a tubular version but with very little care will virtually last forever. They are heavily supporting LS engine applications. Cast would be the choice of those who want increased performance with virtually no maintenance and no annoying header leaks. However, applications are very limited. Most hot rods run these since they are close to the engine and usually clear narrow frame rails. The shorty design offers performance gains slightly above the factory exhaust manifold but does not provide maximum HP in the lower ranges.

This design offers longer primary tube lengths, they usually combine into a four-way collector with a flange to bolt up to the rest of the exhaust. The extra tube lengths step up the low and mid-range performance numbers and still offer a solution for those concerned with ground clearance. This would be the most commonly known style, once upon a time, these were all that were offered.

Shorty headers usually work best in limited space engine bays, as well as lowered cars. They will also usually work well with your factory exhaust system, should you choose to keep it. You can get the most for your time and money by buying a set with equal length primaries. These will scavenge gas from each of your cylinders equally, meaning your power is consistent and your torque curve broader in the low to mid-range spectrum.

Some common types of shorty headers are block hugger , tight tuck , and clipster headers. Full-length or long tube headers are the most recognizable header setup, usually consisting of long primaries tubes converging into a 4-into-1 style collector. The long primary tubes reduce the chance that you will have back-feed of gases into a different tube. These headers help to produce the most overall power with a broad spread through the low- to mid-rpm ranges.

Tri-Y headers get their name from the design of the primary tubes. One header will have four primary tubes which Y into two secondary tubes and finally Y again into one collector creating three Y connections, thus the name Tri-Y. This header design will typically add low to mid RPM torque without sacrificing top end horsepower. Another reason for their popularity is that some tight clearance applications a Tri-Y can be constructed to fit when there is no room for traditional 4 into 1 long tube headers.

Many specialty header designs such as Lake Headers , Lake Pipes , and Zoomies are designed to be era correct for certain car builds. An early roadster or coupe with a set of loud and proud Lake Headers brings back the early days of Salt Flat racing. And what about a set of Zoomies? Nothing makes a statement quite like a high powered V8 engine firing up with a set of Zoomie headers. They have been a staple of the drag racing scene since the beginning and what better way to say "I came to race" then a set of Zoomies.

Aftermarket headers are usually made from either mild steel or stainless steel. The major differences between the two is cost and corrosion. The basic mild steel headers will be quite a bit less in cost, however they will sacrifice durability and longevity due to rust and corrosion with long term use. On the other hand, stainless steel headers will not rust or corrode but cost more up front.

One option you could pursue to extend the life of your headers is ceramic coating them. July 11, at pm. Anthony says:. July 18, at pm. Marc says:. July 24, at am. Omar Hernandez says:. August 3, at am. Alex says:. August 20, at pm. Angel gonzalez says:. August 22, at pm. Marc Roman says:.

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