Hi, I would like to put Headers on my truck, I've got a 85 F-150 with a Crate 302 V-8. I've got a JC Whitney catalog and I found a set that I'd like buy but my dad talked me out of them because he said that they are so thin that they'd melt under the engine heat. He also said to go with Hedman or hooker headers? are those good brands? And how much money should I spend on these headers to help my engine get more HP and Torque. And I have regular single exhaust, I also plan to put Dual Exhaust on, should I buy a kit and have the shop install them, or get a custom exhaust system, what are some pro's and con's of them.
Thanks for everyone's help!
Nick

 

I may cost a little more but here is what worked out great on my old 1990 F150 with a 351 5Speed. I used Hooker super competition Headers with an High temp coating to help trap the exhaust heat and keep the engine bay cool. (about $300.00 from summit) going into 2 2.5" dynomax universal highflow cats. (about $70.00 a piece from autozone) and Used a Hooker exhaust kit from Summit ($150.00) And 2 Flowmaster 2.5" mufflers I put a new oxygen sensor in the pass side header collector and had a H pipe welded in after I got it all together. I also ran both AIR tubes from the cats into one then ran it up to the AIR pump.It cost me a little more but when it was done I drove it for 3 years with no leaks orproblems of any kind and it still passed an emissions check. I also installed a chip in the computer and a mild cam. among a few other things. Woke it up pretty good.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

well Brad (bgodkin),
thanks for your reply, but what I'd really like to get an answer to is, what a reasonable price for a set of headers is worth? Because like I said I found a couple sets one was a Dynomax Standard Series Headers and my dad took one look at them and said: They will melt under your under heat, and they are 94.99. He said that they'd melt under the heat in the bends in the pipes. I know that headers do alot of good for my exhaust system thats why I would like to get them, but if that is true, then i'll just stick with the exhaust manifold.

 

$200-300 isn't an unreasonable amount to expect to spend. hooker and hedman are both good headers, and ford racing makes a set of stainless steel headers for about $250. of course, you could spend up to 500 or 600 for some basani or thorley or custom-made headers. sky's the limit! look for a set for around $200-250 and you should be pleased.

chuck

 

I can't say I have ever heard of headers melting. but it is possible. From past experience I would not use Header wrap tape. It seems to make the headers weaker as it holds in the heat and crystalizes the metal. Hooker and Hedman are about your best choices though. Look in the 150-250 price range.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

>Hi, I would like to put
>Headers on my truck, I've
>got a 85 F-150 with
>a Crate 302 V-8

I've had dual exhaust on two vehicles in my life, a 1969 Road Runner Convertable, and a 76 Chevy Silverado 2wd with a 350 V8. I will never have dual exhaust again as long as I live. The reason is it's more than twice the cost in exhaust systems. Twice as much pipe and muflers, and the pipes don't last very long because they don't get as hot and drive the moisture out of them.

I'm a 45 year old.. old foggy.. :=)

You are probably a young guy, and dual exhaust with headers does sound really nice. If I were young again and had the money, I'd get the more expensive headers and some Thrush mufflers,, don't even know if Thrush is in business anymore.
You want mufflers that are fairly quiet but don't restrict air flow... and larger diameter pipe.

I'm a plumber,, and one thing about pipe is a small increase in pipe diameter gives a bigger than expected increase in flow. Do some simple math.... the area of a circle is pie R squared.
figure the area of a 2 inch pipe and a 4 inch pipe, then compare the answers... I have doubled the diameters,, but the area's are more than double.

LeRoy Wolff
84 Ford F-150 300 six

 

Well guys, thanks for all the responses,
And I'm still stuck between getting the headers or not, And yes reroy, I'm a young one, 15 turning 16 December 12 and cannot wait. But I think that I'm going to get the dual exhaust. But the headers I'm still not sure on, so the headers that are only like 85-100 dollar range are not worth the trouble is that you guys answers? I think that I'm going to agree with you guys, and hold out till I have enough money to get a good set of headers for the 200-300 range. Thanks for everyone's help!
Nick

 

I'm a 50 year old foggie and I like the dual exhaust. I don't think you can beat the Thorley headers for fit and price, but I also think that Hookers are excellent. I haven't heard as many good things about Hedmans. From what I hear, Dynomax builds a pretty good header.

It is important to get a good gasket for your headers. ROL makes about the best there is and Buffalo is a close second.

Hey, my son threw on a $35 set of headers on his car and drove it for two years with no problems before he sold it.

The Thorleys will cost around $350 and are Nickel plated. I've had mine on for two years and they look great. If you can get them ceramic coated (expensive) that's even better. I have one of the few headers that I do not have to remove to get the starter out.

Oh, and just to save your starter from the added heat of the headers, by a blanket for the starter and wrap it.

I run true duals into Dynomax universal 12" long cats and then into a dual in, dual out Flowmaster 50 and finish it off with 3"X18" stainless steel pencil tips. I got my exhaust custom built and that cost me $450 for aluminum pipes. Still looks good though.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik