Thread: Block hugger header options?

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I was looking at Sanderson and Street & Performance and they both seem to be nice and come coated for just over $400. I started looking around some more and started finding others (Speedway Motors, JPL, etc.) for about half that coated. Is there that big of a difference where I will get what I pay for? I feel they will all flow well enough and am most worried about the coating and preventing rust. Would I be okay with one of these cheaper sets or should I go for Sanderson or S&P, etc?

Make sure they have thick flanges

Edelbrock.com - Exhaust - Headers - Street Rod/Muscle Car

I have the Speedway coated block huggers on an engine which I have not started in over two years but I have had them on and off several times with plenty of opportunity to scratch the coating and they still look good so the coating is fairly sturdy.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

what would be the advantage to the more expensive "name brand" headers then? half price is pretty significant...

Flange thickness, diameter and wall thickness of the tubes, along with the quality of the coating.... If you're building a driver, go with the cheapies... If it's a show car, get Sanderson's, great quality!!!!!

They're not equal length and really don't offer any significant performance improvements.... They look nice and eliminate a lot of clearance issues common with long tube headers on a Hot Rod.....

one thing i just noticed about the Speedway headers is I don't see any mention of plugs for o2 sensors. maybe that would have to be a custom order or a reason to get Sanderson or S&P?

Well, if you have to have an O2 sensor then that would be a reason.....Or, just weld a bung in the pipe that attaches to the header and put the O2 sensor in there....

I agree with Dav. I had a 1986 5.0 Ford motor with O2 sensors in the exhaust pipes about five inches from the collectors. Backyard welded bungs. Engine ran great.