Fenderwell headers.....again

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1995dak

1995dak

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Hooker Super Competition Headers 5215-1HKR

I have been doing a lot of homework on fenderwell headers for my Duster. Going to build a stroker out of a 74 400. Anybody using these specific Hookers and if so any input? I will be running manual brakes with power steering. Any input is greatly appreciated.
 
I have had the Hooker, ProParts & Hedman fender well headers on my dart. preferred the Hedman. the tubes looked cleaner and if I remember correctly they were closer to equal length. the collector is also higher up and gave me better ground clearance. the car is currently in pieces awaiting time to revise it.
 
A 43 inch primary???? I would run exhaust manifolds first.

That header is 60-70...who knows, could be more depending on your combo HP off a good set of headers.

I'd look and see if TTI makes an under chassis header. I'm not sure if the Headman header is under chassis/some tubes out the fender well but if it is, that would be better.

I can't think of a scenario where a primary tube length of 43 inches would ever work. Maybe, maybe 38 inches would be ok. 34 would be better.
 
vitamindart said:
I have had the Hooker, ProParts & Hedman fender well headers on my dart. preferred the Hedman. the tubes looked cleaner and if I remember correctly they were closer to equal length. the collector is also higher up and gave me better ground clearance. the car is currently in pieces awaiting time to revise it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input, I like the idea of the ground clearance. I will look into the Hedmans.

yellow rose said:
A 43 inch primary???? I would run exhaust manifolds first.

That header is 60-70...who knows, could be more depending on your combo HP off a good set of headers.

I'd look and see if TTI makes an under chassis header. I'm not sure if the Headman header is under chassis/some tubes out the fender well but if it is, that would be better.

I can't think of a scenario where a primary tube length of 43 inches would ever work. Maybe, maybe 38 inches would be ok. 34 would be better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input but I am not gonna use the TTI's. I want a bigger primary than that and refuse to lose my power steering. Plus, the car was set up for fenderwells when I bought it. Plug and starter access is important to me and I guess I am just an old fart cause fenderwells still look awesome to me.
 
Other issues with the Hookers is the possibility of them hanging up on ya' backing down a trailer, getting the exhaust back under the car past the frame connectors, too tight for front torque boxes, 26" tire height and still rubbing.
Other than that (and previous input from other posters), they are just F&D!:)
 
yellow rose said:
A 43 inch primary???? I would run exhaust manifolds first.

That header is 60-70...who knows, could be more depending on your combo HP off a good set of headers.

I'd look and see if TTI makes an under chassis header. I'm not sure if the Headman header is under chassis/some tubes out the fender well but if it is, that would be better.

I can't think of a scenario where a primary tube length of 43 inches would ever work. Maybe, maybe 38 inches would be ok. 34 would be better.
Click to expand...

So I just watched a newer engine masters where they tested several different styles of headers on the dyno. The fenderwell did not sacrifice a bunch of power. They actually made more power than the dyno headers with an 18inch extension. It's on MT on demand now. Pretty good watch.
 
yellow rose said:
A 43 inch primary???? I would run exhaust manifolds first.

That header is 60-70...who knows, could be more depending on your combo HP off a good set of headers.

I'd look and see if TTI makes an under chassis header. I'm not sure if the Headman header is under chassis/some tubes out the fender well but if it is, that would be better.

I can't think of a scenario where a primary tube length of 43 inches would ever work. Maybe, maybe 38 inches would be ok. 34 would be better.
Click to expand...

But yet, some how, some where, somebody was able to make power with them. Even at the ridiculous 43” tube length.

IF you play with a calculator for tube length + tube diameter, CID, you’ll find that weird (?) cam timing comes into play as well or with engine size and targeted RPM. If you mess with it enough, you’ll find to max power peak areas for both torque and hp.

OK, now your saying that makes no freakin sense at all, I know, I know. It’s kind of like pushing 100 psi down a engine throat & soon it to 10K and make ZERO torque and HP.

And that’s a tale for another day....
 
1995dak said:
So I just watched a newer engine masters where they tested several different styles of headers on the dyno. The fenderwell did not sacrifice a bunch of power. They actually made more power than the dyno headers with an 18inch extension. It's on MT on demand now. Pretty good watch.
Click to expand...
Yea! That was pretty good and I was very curious at what they would find across the line of headers.
I’ve always heard people eat on the fender well headers and there really long tubes. But they were made for a reason. Besides shoving a BB into a small car that is....
 
1995dak said:
So I just watched a newer engine masters where they tested several different styles of headers on the dyno. The fenderwell did not sacrifice a bunch of power. They actually made more power than the dyno headers with an 18inch extension. It's on MT on demand now. Pretty good watch.
Click to expand...

I don’t have MTOD. I can tell you I’ve NEVER seen that. Every fender well header I’ve tested is a looser. Without seeing what they did, I can’t say what their results were.

I take FW headers and make something else out of them.
 
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I believe these are Hookers on a Buddies Scamp

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i never liked how you had to cut so much to fit them things.. i used the proparts haeaders and liked them more.. even ran them on a abody with power steering and power brakes.. power steering was real tight though.
 
I can tell ya when I dumped my ProParts and went back to fender well headers my car picked up over a tenth and ran cooler. the Proparts were ceramic coated inside and out in a futile attempt to keep the temps down. I hated the tire rubbing but, if I ever build another big block A body it would be fender well headers all day.
plug changes are a breeze, I could pull the headers with the car on the ground if I wanted.
 
I had a pair of Hooker fenderwells (I think #5205, it's been a long time) in a '70 A-body. They were a big hit - they hit the small tires, they hit the body, they hit the ground, they hit speed bumps... :mad: not to mention the impressive heat where your feet go. And that was with the low-deck. They were an even worse fit with an RB.

Never again. I'd give up that tenth in a heartbeat! :realcrazy:

I'm currently running a pair of lightly used Hedman 78030 (B-body) 1-3/4" and they fit with very little massaging. And I paid $100 for the set - new is still only $239 I think.
 
never had an issue with the dragging or hot floor and that was on an RB with raised port Indy heads. the Hedman Hustler's are nicer than the 5205's.
 
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