should i stay stock or go with headers

[skeets 66]

I am going to stick with my 361 motor right now till the tooth fairy brings me more cash,,,,question is should i go stock or put headers on the 66 charger,,,,i have heard alot of nightmares about headers,,,,if headers ,,,what brand

thanks guys

[terrible one]

That depends. . . is the motor stock? If not, what have you done to it? In my opinion, there's no point in dealing with them if they aren't going to offer you a power gain. However, if you're going to be choking your motor with the stock manifolds then go ahead and go with headers and some nice thick copper gaskets. Don't have much for recommendations as I'm inexperienced between brands, but I went with the Hedmans for my '68 per the suggestion of Ron

[RECHRGD]

As previously stated, if your engine is stock the hp gain will be there, but not that much.  If you plan on future performance upgrades, then yes, headers should be part of the package.  I have Hooker Competition ceramic coated headers and have had no leaks in ten years of cruising.  The down side is that most of the headers on the market will "capture" the starter.  With mine, I had to replace the stock starter with a mini starter, as the big stock unit was getting cooked.  I still have nightmares about my starter going bad while out on the road somewhere.  I think the only headers for a 'B' body that don't capture the starter are TTI's and they're pretty spendy.  Bob

[ChgrSteve67]

I just finished going through the headers / no headers pain with my 67.

First of all if you are going to use headers you will have to change the starter to a mini starter.
The first set of headers I got hit the mini starter and I had to send back. I think they were full length headman headers.
The second set were hooker headers, they fit but hung lower than the stock exhaust. I kept dragging them on speed bumps and driveways. Caused several exhaust leaks. I well sell them for cheep if anyone is interested.
The third set were headman ceramic coated short headers, looked good but the idler arm hits the collector so I could not turn the front wheels so off they came. I could have taken them to the exhaust shop and had them modified so they would work but I had reached my limit with messing with headers.

I put the cast iron manifolds back on and am a lot happier. I think it even sounds better without the headers - not as tinny.
I probably lost a Horse Power or two but since I'm not shaving tents off my Quarter mile times and I can still roast the $#!* out of the tires I'm good with that.

I say if you are going to replace the motor later then wait and spend your cash on that then on the 361.

Steve (Just my 2 cents)

[Runner]

i have headman headers on my 68 plymouth that i drive every day. stock starter, i replaced it when i put the 4 speed in the car but it was still working.   it doesnt leak. i have hooker comps on my 452 low deck stroker, stock starter, been on the car for at least 15 years,  the car is more of a toy so it doesnt see near as many street miles as my 68 plymouth.  i have headmans on my daughters 69 440 in a bee clone  the do tend to leak a little and they did when they were on my 452 i think a flange is badly warped..... from the factory. ran the stock starter on that until it went bad and went to a mini that i had been saving for my roadrunner but never got around to putting on. it didint go bad from heat, it just wouldnt always engage the fly wheel.   my wifes panther pink 72 satellite has headman headers on the 318, they dont leak, they have been on that motor for years ( it was in the bee clone beofre it went big block)        so i havent had any issues with starters and headers, i can change  starter in an hour or so with headers.     i have no issues working around headers what so ever.  so other than the one set of headers that have a small leak, ive had great luck with them.  at some point ill replace those weith a new set and get rid of the leak.   ive found good gaskets make a big differeance.   

[Blakcharger440]

i have headman headers on my 68 plymouth that i drive every day. stock starter, i replaced it when i put the 4 speed in the car but it was still working.   it doesnt leak. i have hooker comps on my 452 low deck stroker, stock starter, been on the car for at least 15 years,  the car is more of a toy so it doesnt see near as many street miles as my 68 plymouth.  i have headmans on my daughters 69 440 in a bee clone  the do tend to leak a little and they did when they were on my 452 i think a flange is badly warped..... from the factory. ran the stock starter on that until it went bad and went to a mini that i had been saving for my roadrunner but never got around to putting on. it didint go bad from heat, it just wouldnt always engage the fly wheel.   my wifes panther pink 72 satellite has headman headers on the 318, they dont leak, they have been on that motor for years ( it was in the bee clone beofre it went big block)        so i havent had any issues with starters and headers, i can change  starter in an hour or so with headers.     i have no issues working around headers what so ever.  so other than the one set of headers that have a small leak, ive had great luck with them.  at some point ill replace those weith a new set and get rid of the leak.   ive found good gaskets make a big differeance.   

What kind of gaskets do you use on your bigblocks?

[Runner]

i love these   http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PHP%2D66036&N=700+4294886211+400251+4294908078+4294908118+115&autoview=sku   and i like the deadsoft aluminum gaskets on the collectors.  ive tried copper and didint much care for them.

[Blakcharger440]

i love these   http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PHP%2D66036&N=700+4294886211+400251+4294908078+4294908118+115&autoview=sku   and i like the deadsoft aluminum gaskets on the collectors.  ive tried copper and didint much care for them.

Those look sorta like the gaskets that come in the felpro gasket kits.

[Runner]

LOL  ya i guess they do look like that in the pic,  but when you see them up close you notice a huge differeance.  they are multilayers or then aluminum that are all attached together.  they are pretty thick and compress down.