Headers vs 360 manifolds for 318

318 exhaust

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Dartfreak75

Dartfreak75

Restore it, Dont part it!
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In terms of flow and performance what would be better cheap summit headers or original 360 manifolds? I have both just curious to what is better!
 
dartfreak75 said:
In terms of flow and performance what would be better cheap summit headers or original 360 manifolds? I have both just curious to what is better!
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What's the rest of the equation?? "Better" is very subjective.....there are people who have put manifolds back on as they get tired if nagging annoyances, leaky gaskets hitting the ground, higher under hood temperatures; others are not, or have not, been bothered with such issues. On something very mild, might not notice much of a difference.......seeing's how you have both, put the headers on, see how you like therm; later try the manifolds. I know its a lot of work, that's how you learn, AND remember, it is dependent upon the rest of the combination.
 
Go 3 inch fenderwell headers or don't even bother. Go BIG or go home!
 
Thanks the combo is a stock bottom 318 mild ported 302 heads 340 intake 600 cm carb and the cam is still up in the air but lets say a comp cam xe262h cam stock TC with 904 transmission and 2.76 gears. I am just curious I have every intention of using the headers just curious if the larger cast manifolds would flow better on the smaller port 318 engine. I have some concerns about the headers one ground clearance two heating issues in the engine bay three installation issues iv read all the horror stories lol
 
run the headers, your engines not smart enough to know theyre cheap!if youre worried,just lie to it and say theyre TTI's!
 
Cheap headers work fine. The first time installing them truly sux. But after that it's really not that difficult if you are able to safely get the car up high (2.5 - 3') to allow a fairly straight shot up into place. Sure you will likely have to disconnect the steering linkage, sometimes removing the starter helps. But seriously, with a bit of practice your looking at about a leisurely 2 hour job, if that. The sound and potential performance gains are nice. And as long as one doesn't go gonzo over speed bumps, RR crossings etc that don't bottom out. The money I saved sticking with the cheap Hooker Comps is going towards a 2nd chunk with 3.91's. But to each their own I guess.

Enjoy!
Pat
 
rigger3006 said:
yep, the jegs setup is very good for the price, beer and some interesting language and they work out pretty good, better price than the muffler shop
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Do they come pre bent and everything? Just piece it together? The car currently has dual exhaust I'm not sure what size I wanna say 2 inch maybe 21/4. It has two new (15 years old but never ran) thrush mufflers. Not glasspacks actual thrush turbo mufflers not even sure if they still make them lol. I was gonna weld in a x pipe and work forward from the crossmember back it's all there.
 
That was actually gonna be my next question mufflers or no mufflers lol. I like the sounds of a straight piped 318 is there any performance benefits between the two?
 
I've run both, many times. Without doubt, the manifolds are better fitting, and less trouble all the way around. No, they don't perform as well, even on a mild 318. Let me offer this: IF you are going manifolds, get 360/340 B-body manifolds from around '72-73. Very cheap, and do not raise up over the steering box. Much easier to change plugs or anything else on the driver's side with these manifolds. Lately, I've been just ordering the TTI head pipes for them. A nice combo for a mild motor daily driven.
You can go to the "2018 small block race" in the race forum and see the manifolds used on both my Dusters.
 
Stock manifolds, 340 or 360 manifolds, (there are many combinations) cheap headers, or expensive headers, in that order. Your choice. Your 318 won't really know the difference except for something better than the stock 273/318 manifolds.
 
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dartfreak75 said:
Thanks the combo is a stock bottom 318 mild ported 302 heads 340 intake 600 cm carb and the cam is still up in the air but lets say a comp cam xe262h cam stock TC with 904 transmission and 2.76 gears. I am just curious I have every intention of using the headers just curious if the larger cast manifolds would flow better on the smaller port 318 engine. I have some concerns about the headers one ground clearance two heating issues in the engine bay three installation issues iv read all the horror stories lol
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I agree with willrun. For me, with those parameters, manifolds. Cheap headers rust out quickly and are just a pain in the ***. JMO.
 
I have run a LOT of the Summit style headers through the years on a variety of A bodies. I found they are time consuming to install, but not difficult. Most of them fit without hitting a thing and the only thing any of them ever hit were the torsion bars. A few tweaks with a large pry bar fixed all that.

A full length header will outflow manifolds by gangbusters. Period. They will add power just like they were designed to do. Just because they aren't TTI or Dougs, or some other ridiculous costing nonsense doesn't meant they are pieces of crap.

Ceramic coating protects anything it is applied to and doesn't care what brand it is. You can even buy the painted headers and paint them with VHT yourself and make them last a long time. I just love when all the snobs come out acting like 700-1000 dollars or more is the way to go with headers. It's not.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I have run a LOT of the Summit style headers through the years on a variety of A bodies. I found they are time consuming to install, but not difficult. Most of them fit without hitting a thing and the only thing any of them ever hit were the torsion bars. A few tweaks with a large pry bar fixed all that.

A full length header will outflow manifolds by gangbusters. Period. They will add power just like they were designed to do. Just because they aren't TTI or Dougs, or some other ridiculous costing nonsense doesn't meant they are pieces of crap.

Ceramic coating protects anything it is applied to and doesn't care what brand it is. You can even buy the painted headers and paint them with VHT yourself and make them last a long time. I just love when all the snobs come out acting like 700-1000 dollars or more is the way to go with headers. It's not.
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Thank you. Me and you think alot alike I hate it when ppl tell me that more is always better. Sometimes (most of the time) the more expensive stuff is somewhat better but that doesn't mean that it's a necessity or the cheaper stuff should not be used. I get sick of hearing that crap. Oh that's a cheap pos throw it away and buy this 1000 dollar whatever cause it has to be better. Or just throw money at a problem that can be solved with a little ingenuity and hard work. That is one thing I have going for me I'm dirt poor but I'm a heck of a hard worker and pretty good problem solver lol. When I first got into gunsmithing i trained under this "master" gunsmith he was a very talented guy and had Great knowledge but he was lazy and a know it all. If it wasnt his way it was wrong period. He told me you cannot build an accurate rifle without a lathe and all this other high dollar equipment. Well when I started my first one he got so snobby and pissy cause I was doing it my way that he quit teaching me lol to date I've built 5 rifles 2 ars 2 shotguns and a 1911 all without a lathe. I made my own tools had to rent some reamers and other specialty tools but I did it in an unusual hand tool only way. Was it harder? Yes alot harder. Do I wish I could afford a lathe? Yes very much so I wouldn't have had to buy a cam bearing tool yesterday lol. But it can be done without spending a fortune.
 
One question about painting the headers. Do yall think that oven/grille paint will work good? Its super tough and flat black it is rated for a grille so temp shouldn't be a problem.
 
dartfreak75 said:
This is the stuff.

View attachment 1715231056
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I personally like VHT, and it can be bought at O'reilly's, not much more than the grill paint. I also agree with RustyRatRod, I've ran cheap hedmans, cyclones, etc headers and they've worked great for years. But, any header will be somewhat of a pain no matter what you spend (I've had Dougs) to install, or starter removal, and the such. Yes, they add horsepower, but no way are they the deal breaker on a real mild small block.
  • P.S.-- i'm not voting any way, just stating my real experiences through all the years
 
Here are the manifolds, with TTI head pipes hooked to Jegs duals out the back. Did it all myself at home, no hoist.
 
If the car sits any lower than stock in the front, or if you have soft torsion bars, you'll cringe every time you go over a speed bump with the cheap headers. Not worth it IMO.
 
318willrun said:
Here are the manifolds, with TTI head pipes hooked to Jegs duals out the back. Did it all myself at home, no hoist.
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Thanks buddy. That engine looks and sounds amazing. So clean!! You did an amazing job! Thanks for sharing that!
 
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