I got a set of used Edelbrock TES headers (no y pipe) when I bought my car, havnt put them on, but all i hear is that theyre bad. Are they really that bad? should I sell them? I dont have much money...thx

 

TES are the worst 1-5/8''headers out, but they still work much better than stock logs! Many of the guys on here do fine with them, I have seen a few low 12's. I got them before I knew any better, and am still running them cause I don't think buying another set it worth it at this point.

 

Chevy High Performance magazine dyno'd an engine with a set of TES w/y-pipe, put out 380 ponies.

Of course, those weren't the LG4 TES headers they had to use in the "project", and when those went on as the engine went in the car, the drag strip performance was disappointing, to say the least. They never followed up, but the EFE valve was the most likely suspect.

 

Just to give you some insight on why they are considered inferior:
the 1-5/8" pipes come into the collector and in order to fit, they are squished to maybe a 1/2"-3/4" opening which of course restricts the flow considerably. More expensive headers are welded properly at the collector, i.e. no deformation of the pipes and free flow.

As mentioned here earlier, they still flow better than the stock manifolds. But the collector restriction earned them bad reputation.

I was recently deciding what headers to go with. I had a great offer on the Edelbrock TES headers and thought that I could simply cut them up and re-weld them myself, eliminating the restriction. If you don't have much green to spend and can get them cheap, you can invest some labor and make some nice flowing headers out of them.
What happened in my case, I found a set of used Hedman headers for the same price and bought those instead. But I was just lucky!

Hope this helps.
Lou

 

I have a set on my car and I love them. I picked up a bunch with them and they fit pretty good. I don't think the collectors are all that "squished", they are cut at an angle and welded together, but I'd bet the flow is pretty much un-effected. As long as you don't have a tricked out big-inch small block, they do great. My biggest bitch with them is the y-pipe. The way it bolts to the collector is a pain in the *** to deal with. If you don't get it just right, the collector flange hits the cross member and makes a really bad "knock-like" noise. Other than that, they are great, emission leagal shorties.

 

If you dont have a Y-pipe for them, then don't bother using them. You will either have to have one made or buy a new one.

I would just clean them up, paint them, and sell them. Get a set of Hedman or Hooker shorties for your car, and the Y-pipe for them, and you'll be far ahead of where you'd be with the TES set. I have a set of Hedman 1-5/8 shorties and they kick ***... real 3" ID on the collectors, 1-5/8" tubes are are NOT pinched down anywhere, all the bends are smooth (although i can't say I've seen aftermaret headers with bad bends).

They are cheap too.

 

Hmm....
Well the set i have are coated with something I think, theyre silver (not chrome) but theres a little discoloration here and there....nuttin a little work with a brillo pad or something couldnt get off. So I should sell them, huh? I actually dont want emmissions headers cause although all the AIR stuff IS still in the engine bay of the car, its carb'd and nutting really works right or is hooked up right, so its not like it would be much different if i just removed it...just a lot cleaner and easier to work with :-)

 

Hope they're not too bad. Santa (UPS) just delivered a brand new TES with ceramic coating for my 88. Seem to be about the only headers I've seen in many searches that didn't require special plugs, moving stuff, bending this or that, or outright interference with something. Find out when it gets a little warmer around here. Hard to find headers that really fit well for any car though.

 

Hopefully you got new stock items. Edelbrocks old TES were a dual diameter design, some primaries being 1.5", and some being 1.625". They've since redesigned them with 1.625" diameter primaries on all cylinders.

And while not the best available, I've yet to hear of one person who wasn't pleased with the sound/power increase. MUCH better than stock manifolds

 

i just installed mine a few months ago, and man i love them! They look good and give it a deeper sound, and there much better then those cruddy manifolds that come stock

 

before you buy them, check out Hooker 2055's.. compare the collectors to the edelbrocks.. and notice that on edelbrocks, the tubes are bent and narrowed were they join into all 4.. the Y pipe is a joke..

are the better than stock?

hell yes, anything is

are they well made?

no

can you buy something better for a better price?
damn right you can.

shop around and do it right the 1st time

 

I alraedy have them....
They came WITH the car when I bought it....
I was a little "Eehhh" on the price (Though now i look back and kick myself for paying what i did....oh well, i blame the seller partially for being an asswipe and pretty much lying to me completly about everything, but i should have had it checked out first...oh well), and he was selling the headers seperatly....i told him to throw them in and it was a deal, so they've been sitting in the back seat sicne i got the car pretty much.

I just dont know if I'd be able to get anything for them if i put them on eBay (Enough to buy another set of better headers that is)

 

Don't listen to the people that say they are, "the worst out there", because that's just based on personal opinion and not raw data facts. The edelbrock TES are great emission legal headers, especially now that they offer them ceramic coated from the factory! I am going to buy them in the spring, and as far as performance goes, you are going to get basically the same improvements with the TES as any other 1 5/8" system. Everybody rants and raves about the Hooker 2055, but hell if I'm going to pay all that money for non-coated headers. I revert to Chevy Hi-Performance and their build up on the 92 RS. They used the TES and are making crazy horsepower never seen before with the little 305 TBI. Bottom line, they are as good as any other system out there.

 

Some versions are as good, I'd say. But, some versions are pretty poor, namely those designed to fit into LG4 or LO3 exhaust systems.

 

Yes, but any header designed for the LG4 or LO3 is very poor.

 

At least the Hooker, Hedman, and TES are all 1-5/8" primaries. Dynomax and Flowtech are not.

It's what happens after the collector that makes the LG4 TES less than desireable. Since the originator doesn't have the TES y-pipe, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

I just got the Edelbrock TES, ceramic coated. First noted that only the upper shorty header is coated to the flanges. The Y pipe is black and not heat paint at that. Slipped them together on the floor and the left side header looks to be at an odd angle. Can't tell without fitting it on the car I suppose. Headers look really good, well finished, good welds, and the port area is very smooth and no flanges or obstructions, except the air tubes. If the fit is good, I'm real satisfied.

 

i would love some input on this subject...

here me out..

my car had true dules 2/1/2 flow with dumps but it would not clear all the new suspention. so when i droped the new motor in i got a killer deal on the hedders and y pipe for 150$ and all emmisions are welded up with seramic coating.

now i have a 355 with .100 dome pistons ported and polished 882 heads and 292 cam with a 2800 stall and a single plane intake.. sould i look to upgrade to the slp hedders later on..i bilt the car to handle not to drag race so in need ground clearence..heres some pic's of the new heddres and the old set up i had(still have ) in storage..

thanks for any help chris,

 

 

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Air_Adam
[B]If you dont have a Y-pipe for them, then don't bother using them. You will either have to have one made or buy a new one.

I just bought a new Y-pipe for mine it was only $31.00 plus shipping.I have the part numbers if any one needs them.

 

i am still wondering who to beleive i mean i hear lots of people say the edelbrocks are crap then i hear people like them i think i will just go for some dynomax black jacks and be done with it.

 

The truth lies somewhere in between.
Some people love them because of the increased flow compared to the stock manifolds.
Other people hate them because they cannot measure up to Hookers or some other overpriced headers.

Yes, the Edelbrock headers are not exactly the best but they seem to be good for beginners. If you want a cheap and smog-legal upgrade for $100, go for it. If you want to build a race car, get some longtubes and expect to pay more in the $1000 range.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, they are better than cast iron manifolds. All I was saying was that if you are going to have to spend money on it, you might be better off getting a better set to begin with, like Hooker or Hedman.

 

Can I get the part #'s? Can you let me know where you ordered them from too?

Thanks

 

SpeedingPengiun,

Where in MA are you? A good friend of mine, Mike Forte, has a speed shop in Burlington, MA - he's a complete Chevy nut and has been racing a Camaro since before I could drive (1980's?).

Anyway, he might know a buyer for you, and could probably help you find a better set of headers. His shop is Forte's Parts Connection - he might even have a dyno, I haven't been to the shop in a few years. I live in CA now.

And don't feel bad about paying a little too much for your car - I think it's happened to most of us at least once. To all but the most descerning eye, the excitement of a new car along with the vision of what it will look like when you'd fixed it all up can sometimes could otherwise sound judgment.

The longer you keep your third gen the more you will love it, and eventually you won't care what you paid for it. I don't want anyone to know how much money I've put into my '87 T/A in my quest for the 'perfect third gen'.

Good luck in your search for high flow