Another header question I know, but need some input. I have Flowtech ceramic coated headers on my 350 now. I bought them based solely on my budget and am not all happy with them. They began rusting about in about a year with the car stored inside. The fit is awful - leaks like a sieve and always has. I bought every known gasket including SCE copper and no luck. I have doubled up on gaskets and have gotten better results. Heads are true so it's a header issue. One good thing is that they installed pretty easily, but they do hang low. I am not willing to,spend a $1,000 for ss headers and my budget is $600 max.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

 

Hooker Competiton Coated is my choice. I have them on two cars; both small-block Olds 4-speeds and couldn't be happier. They fit, seal, and look great.

 

Thanks Dave and I have been looking at them. They seem to get consistent positive reviews.

Thanks again.

 

I always had good luck with Hookers. I currently run Kooks but only because they have 1 7/8" tubes instead of 1 3/4".

 

I usually run basic summit headers,and they have fit well on quite a few applications,that I've installed them on.
My cars are drivers though,and I consider the engine the working part,and don't think they should look perfect...if you actually drive the car.
That being said,I recently installed Hooker Super competition,and they fit just as good,but have thicker tubes and nicer flanges.

 

I've never had headers on my Olds motors, but I am looking at Hedman, olny because that is all that will fit my car I wish I had more choices because I would like Hookers.

I think Hedman is part of Hooker, but I'm not sure

 

I have hookers and I had to lift the motor to install them. they hang pretty low and it makes it a pain in the butt to access my Starter. I have to unbolt the left side to take my starter out. other then that they fit well.

 

380 racer. Nice how you photoshop the jackstands out of your pictures! Just kidding. Awesome shots, love your car. If I knew what kind of header I have I would recommend them. I think they are Hooker but they don't have that tag on them.

 

Thank you.

 

The Flowtech suck. Mine also starting rusting in 1 year and peeling after that. Doubled up gaskets helped but still leaked slightly when cold. My Sanderson headers are much better but require custom down pipes, being shorty headers.

 

I 2nd that!

 

hooker competition headers with the jet hot coating will cure what ails ya! jet hot is great! they coat inside and out & it's ony about $300 bucks to do a set.
i like the way my comps fit my '70...

 

Just one note to be aware of here - Hooker Comps are 1 5/8" primaries, SUPER Comps are 1 3/4" just so you don't get the little ones when you are expecting the bigger ones or vice versa. Hookers are a virtual assurance of successful installation & service. I did however get a set of comps for the red car & they had a bad weld & resulting leak between tube & flange. They were very quickly replaced by Summit before the bad ones were even picked back up.

 

Hookers on my are 30 plus years old, just been spraying them with high temp paint over the years, still no rust through.

I have to replace the Mr.Gasket flange gaskets once a year along with collector gaskets. I have been told soaking those gaskets over night in water before installing them, helps if you have above mentioned issues but I haven't ever had to do that.

 

Thanks for all the input and I ordered the Hooker Super Comp Ceramic Coated headers. Should have them early next week. Now just hoping for an easy install.

Thanks again.

 

the comps aren't bad to install, figure on dropping the oil filter mount and maybe having to move the brake line on the driver side. i also pulled the steering shaft when i did mine. none of it is horrible, just busy work... go into it with the proper expectations and it's not a bad job at all, ie it's not a 20 minute job... the larger tubes on the super comps might make it a bit more difficult but it shouldn't be too horrible...

i might also add that the proceedure can be hard on the dipstick tube... if you work from the bottom with a screwdriver and some mild hammer activity usually once you get it moving you can drive it up & out... you'll have to get rough with it to get it started, not really any way around that but it should survive the ordeal....

 

Are flotech headers really that bad? Im on a budget as well and I was considering buying flotech.....what model where the ones you bought first 69olds?

 

I bought the flowtech headers as well but have yet to install them. I go mine ceramic coated from summit with the bigger 1 7/8's primaries. Hope they work out...

 

does anyone know how the installation process goes for the flowtech headers i have? Whats the easiest way to install them? from the top, bottom, or do I have to lift the motor? If I were to pay a mechanic to do it whats the ballpark figure I'll have to pay?

 

?

 

I put flowtec headers in my 72. I laid them in while the engine was out so i dont know how tight they are to get in with everything still in place. They have worked well, my only complaint being the passenger side header hangs a bit low

 

a nice set of big block springs will fix that

 

There's an idea thank ya