I know that the SLP hedders are supposedly the best. They are quite expensive though. I was wondering how the other hedders out there were. I have an '83 TA with a V8 350. What hedders would work best with my car? Im not exactly sure, but i was told it is a 350 4 bolt main engine(dont know if that is really any better). I have heard that the Eldebrock TES and the Hooker hedders were good too. What about Heddman headers, and thornly? Which hedders are the best? Which ones are most worth the money you pay? Which ones do you suggest?

 

You get what you pay for. Pay the big bucks for some stainless headers and they'll last for many years. Buy some mild steel headers, get them coated and they'll last about the same amount of time.

With headers, bigger isn't always better. A typical street engine will work best with some 1 1/2" primary tubes. A lot of modifications and 1 5/8" headers are best. 1 3/4" and larger are designed for race engines and will actually hurt horsepower on the street.

Shorty headers are the easiest fitting. Full length offer more power potential but usually always require modifications to get them to fit.

With that knowledge, buy a set of headers you can afford and install them. Any header is better than factory manifolds.

My best times (below) were with 1 5/8" full length Hedmans.


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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

I know myself and lots of other people who are fully satisfied with the Edelbrock TES Headers we can get for $320 or so.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End

Current Mods: LT4 Hot Cam, Comp Cams 1.52:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

7.5" 10 Bolt with 3.42s soon to come!

 

I used hooker shortie's on my 92rs. they are non smog tho. $165.00 good deal I thought, and they work very well. am happy with them.

 

And I'm more than satisfied with my SLP headers... They're worth the extra cost, especially on a 350 or larger engine.

1 3/4" headers work just fine on street cars. But I'd get 1 5/8" for a stock engine.

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West Coast GM Shootout 2001!
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Do any of the brands mentioned here have provision for AIR? If so which. Thanks.

 

SLP and Edelbrocks both have AIR (you can get SLP's without AIR pipes, not sure about TES)