351W / Headers
351W / Headers
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
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I have a pair of Hooker Competition headers on my truck and it was a pretty clean install once the manifolds came off. They cleared the frame beautifully on my 82' f-150. the only problem was the oil dipstick was in the way which isnt that hard to work around. They gave me a good 15-20 horse also by adding them and gave it a much meaner sound.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
headers suck, you always have to worry about gaskets and crap, plus on a ford they seem to like to cook starters.
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Ive had my headers in for a few months now and havent had a problem yet with gaskets. The trick to make the gaskets last long is buy 2 sets one metal and one paper gasket set. Coat both sides of each gasket in grease as it will help them seal when it heats up. Put the metal gasket towards the engine and the paper towards the header. And then just check the header bolts periodically every month or so.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Ontario Canada
Header
If you want trouble free headers go with a good brand name (I used hedman, Hooker is now getting better too) and go ceramic coated. Ceramic: Excelllent heat dissappation and therefore resist warping which causes the gasket to fail. If you are seroius about keeping the truck and don't what to be tightening bolts or replacing gaskets, go with the ceramic coated headers. They cost more but reduce the headaches. Plus they resist rusting. Regular headers will start rusting two days after you put them on and use them and you will see
Bruce P.
Bruce P.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Ontario Canada
Header
If you want trouble free headers go with a good brand name (I used hedman, Hooker is now getting better too) and go ceramic coated. Ceramic: Excelllent heat dissappation and therefore resist warping which causes the gasket to fail. If you are serious about keeping the truck and don't what to be tightening bolts or replacing gaskets, go with the ceramic coated headers. They cost more but reduce the headaches. Plus they resist rusting. Regular headers will start rusting two days after you put them on and use them and you will see
Bruce P.
Bruce P.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Aye i have the black painted headers and the Paint heats up and chips off within the first hour of running with them. As for the warping i havent had that problem yet. But the Hooker Competition header's have been trouble free for me for over 4 months now.
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