TTI Headers

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Joel Chapman

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Are TTI headers really worth the money, meaning they aren’t that big of a hassle to install and massaging the headers is at a minimum? Pretty much every other brand has reviews at summit of needing to mod something or bash the pipes. Will buying TTI avoid all that?
 
I don’t know honestly having installed a few brands on a body MoPars . It seems the more money you spend - the easier or “better the fit.” My recent adventure of Dougs ceramic coat small block headers in my demon 4 speed was no dents or bending BUT due to the ceramic coating I felt like the whole job I was walking on a tight rope over a river full of alligators. They are definitely “better” than the $150 summit headers - all depends on what you want for results. Balanced exhaust gases.... anything brand headers. Ground clearance- Dougs or TTI is a must. Ease of install- buy a Chevy. Lol!
 
Are TTI headers really worth the money, meaning they aren’t that big of a hassle to install and massaging the headers is at a minimum? Pretty much every other brand has reviews at summit of needing to mod something or bash the pipes. Will buying TTI avoid all that?
The answer is that IMO they are not worth the money and are a total ***** to put in. I put a set of long tube small block TTI headers in my 67 Barracuda twice because the first set cracked thru a weld at the head flange.
In their defense I am not aware of any header that just drops right in an A body mopar.
You may want to look at a set of Schumacher headers if you can still get them.
Good luck
 
Never tried TTI headers. I used their head pipes twice and they fit great. I installed Doug's and I can vouch that they fit much better than the cheapies. I would imagine TTI's would fit better than the cheapies too..... just so much is tied into the car - how the motor sits, and how much of the tolerances the car uses up when it was built
 
Tti’s slide right in but there is a proper way to put them in. They go in from the bottom.

You need to remove the center link and or jack the engine up if needed to gain clearance.
 
Depends on what you need. I used their SB shorties in my Dart cause A, I didn't want long tubes and B, they are the only A body shorties that work with a 4-spd. All others are for auto only.
I've built a few big Hemi motor Cudas and they have the big *** 2.25 primary tubes.
If your just building the average street car there are plenty of other options.
I've had good luck with Hooker Super Comps and Dougs too. Hooker Comps don't fit well.
 
My TTI 440-200 fit great, it’s everything else that got in the way! Steering column? smash. Torsion bar? Smash! Steering box? Smash! Pitman arm grease fitting hitting header? Smash!
Everything else fits great now too. Haha
 
Are TTI headers really worth the money, meaning they aren’t that big of a hassle to install and massaging the headers is at a minimum? Pretty much every other brand has reviews at summit of needing to mod something or bash the pipes. Will buying TTI avoid all that?
Nope. If the car is out of whack, nothing will fit properly. Get the engine in the right spot, replace saggy motor and tranny mounts, move the column away from the engine, etc... and TTIs fit great! You can easily make, or remove, 1/2" of clearance just by loosening some nuts and bolts and moving things around.
 
I love mine. They are 2 1/4 step headers. They are tough to install but once they were on I had more room than I had with my old headers. TTI knows their stuff, and you will have a minimum of massaging to clear things. I highly recommend them.
 
Are TTI headers really worth the money, meaning they aren’t that big of a hassle to install and massaging the headers is at a minimum? Pretty much every other brand has reviews at summit of needing to mod something or bash the pipes. Will buying TTI avoid all that?

If you do a search here on Abodies You will get a ton of answers.
 
If you get the TTI's, make note of lubricating them during the off season as per instructions. I found out to late and my $800 headers are now rusting
 
The 68 Barracuda in my avatar was a pice of cake using the TTI 340 step header. Of course mine had a complete RMS front suspension. I put it on my 2 post lift, slide them right in from th bottom. Had to install a bolt at the header flange to keep them from falling out on my head.
 
I must have been the lucky one. Mine dropped right in.
I fought the drivers side because of the power steering gear box and had to put in new motor mounts as the old ones were sagging bad,
 
I have nickel ones on my Dart and I painted the insides before I installed. Maybe that will help, don't know.
 
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Pictures say a lot I think.
had to dent mine to clear the steering box and put a spacer on the motor mount. not a thick spacer about a 1/4" . Other than that no problems and good ground clearance, haven't scraped them on a speed bump yet. Expensive but I like my TTI headers.
 
I thought they fit pretty nice into my 68 Barracuda, as well, with a 360/A833/power-steering; just minor (IMO) adjustments.
And mine even hold their torque at the flange. I haven't ever had to retorque them.
The way I drive, only this style will survive; my car is lowered a bit, and I never have to adjust my style to accommodate them. One of my favorite things to do is, if I get lucky and see a tuner-car crab-crawling over a speed bump; I slap the throttle hard going over said speed bump,as I roar past, trying to get air,lol. Hyup, juvenile I know, but some things are just priceless.
I can't say that about the 7qt roadrace oilpan, that only hangs down less than inch, below the K-member. After I smashed it, and had to take it off to clean it and fix it, I finally fabbed up/installed a skid plate from 1/4 inch steel. Yeah, it's heavy, but it's doing the job!

And finally, my TTIs were new in 1999. I drove those headers 4-seasons until spring of 2004 or 5. They finally rotted out at the top of the merge where the gravel,snow, and salt accumulate. No big deal for me cuz the engine was coming out every winter anyway for inspection;( and a smoggerteen went in for the winter), I just welded it up. Three or four years later, the other side needed a patch in the same place, and they need attention again. But where are you gonna get an under the steering header that even lasts 3 years in these conditions; Never mind 20 years with minor repairs?

Doing the math, those nickel-plated TTIs are the cheapest header per year, I have ever had. I paid 500USd in 1999;
500/20yrs=25 bucks a year. I suppose you could buy a cheapie header every 5 yrs, and not have to fix the merges, and come out even, but just try and get a cheapie to go 5yrs.
If you figure it as cost per thousand miles, it gets even better;
My TTIs have close to 128,000 miles on them.
500/128= $3.91 per 1000 miles/ ~39cents per 100.
If your $150 headers make three summers and drive 10,000 miles, that comes to; 150/10=$15 per 1000miles/ $1.50 per 100; nearly 4 times as much.
And in 20 years you will burn thru ~6 or7 installs....... How much fun is that with under-the-steering, headers..... And you will burn up flange gaskets faster...

IDK;I chose TTI's for the road clearance; $500 seemed fair. Bottom line is that I've never been sorry.
As I recall, in 1999 they were the only company to offer this drop-in style header.
 
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In the fall of 2011, I managed to install TTI long-tube headers and mandrel bent 2.5 inch X-Pipe exhaust system in my 67 Barracuda not long after an extended hospital stay and my left arm barely worked. Easy to install, and best fitting headers ever. And power? Unbelievable how much they helped over the 340 hi-po manifolds I had been running. And this on a fairly mild 360. In fact, I had to start running drag radials on the street because I got tired of going sideways every time I gave it full throttle in low gear.

I was so impressed that I bought TTI's for my 65 Barracuda, which has a much smaller engine compartment than 67-up. They were a lot more work to install; had to move things (brakes lines, battery cables, starter wiring and the like), change clutch linkage, shorten the steering column jacket, etc., etc. plus take a BFH to a couple tubes to get everything to clear.
 
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Thank you for all the answers! I’ve been looking towards getting some shorty headers from TTI. The engine is coming out while I’m deployed for a full rebuild anyways I figured now would be a good time to try and upgrade the exhaust. It’s going to be rebuilt a little bit beefier then stick but nothing crazy. Just read lots of stories on here bout power steering causing issues with full length headers and clearance issues as well. I saw a set of block huggers on summit but they are center dump and I think I read on here that center dump shorties are not the best?
 
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