Recommendations for good "A" street header

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Captainkirk

Captainkirk

Old School Mopar Warrior
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Soon (hopefully when the weather breaks in the spring) I will be shopping for a new set of headers for my A-body '72 340 Duster. The car has power brakes but manual steering, and a 4 speed for fitment. J-heads. Looking for recommendations on a decent set of street headers that will fit with no body modifications and won't break the bank, from you guys that have actually installed them and had a chance to evaluate the ease of installation and performance gains, as well as durability and quality. FWIW, the engine is out of the car (resto) so going in might be a little easier than some installs.
I don't mind spending a little extra if it's gonna actually buy me something.
Talk to me.
 
pntastar69 said:
Here we go again, round ***?
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Not trying to re-hash anyone's old battles. Everyone's build is different...which is why I listed my car's specs. Every manufacturer claims their product is "the best". I'd like to hear from actual users who can back up the claims or call bullshit on them, is all.
 
I installed the d453 from dougs in my 70 duster last year. With the 4 speed and manual steering I had a few tight spots. Had to put a couple dings in them for clearance around my torsions bars. One per side from what I recall. Your results may vary as I have the older style biscuit engine mounts and with 50 year old cars and factory tolerances, you may be just fine. I believe the 72 dusters have the spool style so that may make a difference. The drivers side header is not fun to get in.

the clutch linkage is also very tight to the header and you will have to modify your clutch z-bar. You can use the old big style starter, but the Dakota/ram mini starter fits much nicer with the headers.
Had to lift the engine up about 2 inches for the header to get in there. The car also has to be up in the air quite a bit probably have to jack it up about 2 feet or so. Good luck.
 
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cawcislo said:
You can use the old big style starter, but the Dakota/ram mini starter fits much nicer with the headers.
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Forgot to mention...yeah, right now I have the option to switch over to the mini starter but as with everything else, it adds to the bottom line. Pretty sure I have two of the original starters to choose from. Also, thanks for the tip on the Z-bar mods. With headers I've had in this car in the past, never had to modify anything (Kustom headers and Doug Thorley's) and would like to avoid as much as possible.
 
Captainkirk said:
OK...but why?
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Fitment and the quality of the construction. I replaced the old headers on my dart with the tti step headers and they fit much better. I is a job to install them but once they are installed you will love them.
 
Do any of these longtubes fit cars with power steering? I'm thinking about doing some on my 71 Dart.
 
Captainkirk said:
Forgot to mention...yeah, right now I have the option to switch over to the mini starter but as with everything else, it adds to the bottom line. Pretty sure I have two of the original starters to choose from. Also, thanks for the tip on the Z-bar mods. With headers I've had in this car in the past, never had to modify anything (Kustom headers and Doug Thorley's) and would like to avoid as much as possible.
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you can get the newer style 1995 ish Dakota or ram truck starter at many junk yards or eBay for like $40. Faster cranking and a bit more room to work around under the engine.
 
Captainkirk said:
Soon (hopefully when the weather breaks in the spring) I will be shopping for a new set of headers for my A-body '72 340 Duster. The car has power brakes but manual steering, and a 4 speed for fitment. J-heads. Looking for recommendations on a decent set of street headers that will fit with no body modifications and won't break the bank, from you guys that have actually installed them and had a chance to evaluate the ease of installation and performance gains, as well as durability and quality. FWIW, the engine is out of the car (resto) so going in might be a little easier than some installs.
I don't mind spending a little extra if it's gonna actually buy me something.
Talk to me.
Click to expand...

Dougs D453’s. I run them on my ‘74 Duster. 340, manual steering, previously a 4 speed, now with a T56.

The Doug’s are tucked in closer than the TTI long tubes by about 3/8”. You’ll need the same modifications to the z-bar for both the Doug’s and the TTI headers. And the mini-starter for both as well. With the mini starter you can do a starter swap without removing anything else, just have to turn the steering all the way to the right.

I bought a set of TTI shorties to gain some additional ground clearance from the Doug’s, after installing them I switched back to the Doug’s. Finish on the Doug’s was better. And even the TTI shorties has just as many tight spots as the Doug’s. I compared those two in my install here My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head

I did have to dimple the D453’s at the torsion bars on both sides. But it was a very small dimple and I run 1.12” torsion bars. Plus with the spool mount K there’s really no way to adjust the engine. With the biscuit mounts you can shim them a little to make adjustments. I’d buy the D453’s every time for a small block a-body.

dart_68 said:
Interesting...Summit says the D453 headers do NOT fit my 1973 Duster.
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They do, the stupid fitment chart has been wrong for years. I have them on my ‘74.

1971 CY Dodge Dart said:
Do any of these longtubes fit cars with power steering? I'm thinking about doing some on my 71 Dart.
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The Doug’s D453’s will. So will the TTI’s. Some of the cheaper ones will too, but some of those won’t too.
 
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