What are the odds that Eddy Heads will work with my Hedman Headers on 440?

[1Bad70Charger]

I just bought my 69 Roadrunner with its 70 440 Motor built close to stock specs. and the car has basic 440 Hedman Headers on for a 69 Roadrunner/Satelitte, and I prefer the Eddy Heads to the Alum. 452 Mopar Perf. Heads, probably b/c they are cheaper  ; howeever, the last thing I want to do is have the Hedman Headers not fit with the 7 degree angle that the Eddy Heads come with.

Can you knowledable Mopar Performance Nuts (that's a compliment by the way  ) give my your opinion regarding what % (odds) you think I can keep my Hedman Headers on my 440 engine in my 69 Roadrunner, when I go to Eddy Heads?

If there is no way for me to be fairly certain I will just go with the Mopar alum. 452 heads as I know they are made by Edelbrock and are essentially the exact same heads, but I prefer the Eddys, but not at the risk of having to buy new Headers! 

[Ghoste]

You just want odds? 
Probably not great.  Truth is that one disadvantage of the Eddy heads is the reduced number of headers that will fit with the angled plugs.  I believe there are different Hedman headers though because it seems like some fit well and others are more like generic one size fits all types.  Some people have been able to use more generic style headers by going to shorter plugs but a lot of poeple seem to end up with TTI headers.
I'll be watching your results though because Ihave Hedmans on my car too (although apparently I must have a set that fit well because well, because they fit well )

[Musicman]

According to Hedman, the model 75060 hedder will have trouble, but the other models should be ok maybe.

Here is a shot of a set of Hedman Elites mounted on a set of Stealth Heads (straight plugs), with really big 10.4mmm wires attached. If nothing else it should at least give you some help visualizing the clearances with the Hedman's

[Ghoste]

An aside, but is that your engine?  (cuz it sure is purty  )

[Musicman]

Yup, that's my engine

Thank You

[1Bad70Charger]

You just want odds? 
Probably not great.  Truth is that one disadvantage of the Eddy heads is the reduced number of headers that will fit with the angled plugs.  I believe there are different Hedman headers though because it seems like some fit well and others are more like generic one size fits all types.  Some people have been able to use more generic style headers by going to shorter plugs but a lot of poeple seem to end up with TTI headers.
I'll be watching your results though because Ihave Hedmans on my car too (although apparently I must have a set that fit well because well, because they fit well )

Looks like I will probably have no choice but bite the bullet and pay the extra $100-$150 for Mopar Perf. 452 Alum. heads! 

Do they ever go on sale and who has the best prices on them (Mancin Racing)?

Oh Yeah, I agree, music man sweet looking Mopar Bigblock and thanks for the info guys and any other opinions are much appreciated! 

[Ghoste]

Do you know for sure which model Hedmans you have?

[1Bad70Charger]

At this point having the car for just 3 weeks and with her in storage for the winter no clue   but I could probably find out.

That being said the 440 source heads for $900 a pair (plus the upgraded locks and retainers) have the oem angle for the plugs rights and would definitely work with my Hedmans?  

[Ghoste]

They should, yes.

[1Bad70Charger]

They should, yes.

They definitely have the same angle of the plugs as the stock iron heads, right? If yes, that may be the call for me afterall as long as i do the upgraged retainers and locks as they are $800 more affordable then the Mopar Perf. 452s. 

[1Bad70Charger]

They should, yes.

They definitely have the same angle of the plugs as the stock iron heads, right? If yes, that may be the call for me afterall as long as i do the upgraged retainers and locks as they are $800 more affordable then the Mopar Perf. 452s.  

Although I really wanted the Eddys or Mopar 452s alum heads this fitment issue and price is making this probalby to hard to pass up on and now leaning toward these heads, and just researched my last question and here is the answer that most here already know but in case there are any other new members around:  


Super thick 5/8" deck surface ensures these heads have tons of meat in the deck to withstand high compression, nitrous, or to allow for plenty of milling. Use this feature to reduce the chamber size.. (great for getting high compression ratios AND great flame travel with a flat-top piston.) The straight (100% factory) spark plug location puts an end to hassles with header tubes fitting correctly, AND ensures the spark plug relief cut in domed pistons doesn't require any modification. Exhaust bolt holes are are heli-coiled for extra strength, AND we've made them blind, so you can say goodbye to coolant leaking all over when changing headers or header gaskets.

[Ghoste]

There are several people on here who have succesfully installed the Stealth heads.  Keep on top of the retainer issue and you should be plenty happy. 

[Musicman]

Those are the 440 Source Stealth Heads in the pic's I posted... so what's the question
Yes, they fit

[1Bad70Charger]

Those are the 440 Source Stealth Heads in the pic's I posted... so what's the question
Yes, they fit

OK, how do you like your 440Source Heads and I take it you recommend them?  How do  you like the workmanship and performance on the heads?

I will be running a stock bottom end 1970 440 engine, 10:3 compression, Proform 750 Carb, edelbrock dominator intake manifold, nice aggressive street Comp flat tappet cam that Ron suggests with specs I believe of 241/247, 110 lsa and .541 lift, all at 0.050, and a dynamic street/strip converter with my 3.91 gears.

Now my 440 engine was freshly built to factor 1970 440 specs and my million dollar question is other than the upgraded retainers and locks on the fully assembled 440 source heads I am thinking of buying, to I have to upgrade to any other valve train components?  It is my understanding that I can retain the stock lifters, rockers, push rods, etc., and just put on the 440sourch heads, with the upgraded heads and retainers and I am off to the races!  

Is that accurate or not?  

[Runner]

they will work just fine ay least they worked fine for me on a lowdeck eddy head, however im now running hookers ( wanted a 1 7/8 tube) and everyone says they wont work either   but with 2 VERY SMALL dings they work like a charm!!!!!

[Ghoste]

Wouldn't the lowdeck part make it easier though?

[Runner]

wont make any differeance on the plug angles,  the  the low deck helps with is the extra 1/8th inch wider the eddy heads are. but i dont see that as a big deal.   

[komninon]

i used the stealth heads on my 440 this summer. i gained 40hp and 40tq.

[Ghoste]

Just curious if you had the retainer problems that people report?

[1Bad70Charger]

Just curious if you had the retainer problems that people report?

Or did you upgrade for less than $100 to the stronger retainers and locks which is suppose to cure the reported problems?  Nice gains by the way for bolting on a set of heads.   

Did you have to change anything else out other than bolting on the heads?

[Musicman]

My Stealth heads came from the very 1st run that was sold, so upgraded Locks & Retainers were a MUST. The newer sets are supposed to be OK, but I can't vouch for them myself since I have not personally seen them... but I have not heard of any issues with them either, so that silence alone should be telling us something. As with ALL manufactures, the heads do not actually flow as advertised. My heads were 1st run and therefore probably the worst you'll see in terms of cast quality or consistency, but they still flow in the 255 CFM range out of the box. As cast, the chambers are a little over the advertised mark, typically 85cc or better, but I consider this a plus myself, looking towards the future and any future machining. The valve work was acceptable (by most standards) right out of the box, but not exactly up to my expectations. You can run them right out of the box, but to me that's just rolling the dice... your taking a big chance, and you could loose in a very big way. Factory assembled heads, regardless of manufacture, should always be inspected and setup by a competent machinist before installation.

[1Bad70Charger]

Great info Musicman I appreciate it! 

[1Bad70Charger]

According to Hedman, the model 75060 hedder will have trouble, but the other models should be ok maybe.

Here is a shot of a set of Hedman Elites mounted on a set of Stealth Heads (straight plugs), with really big 10.4mmm wires attached. If nothing else it should at least give you some help visualizing the clearances with the Hedman's

OK,  I just found the documentation on the exact headers from the previous owner of my Roadrunner, and the Hedman Headers item # is HED-78038, so maybe I will be good to go with Eddys afterall?

[Musicman]

78038 is the Hedman Elite series hedders seen in the pictures I posted earlier.

[1Bad70Charger]

78038 is the Hedman Elite series hedders seen in the pictures I posted earlier.

So then assuming I have the same exact headers the Eddys should fit no problem, would you agree? 

[Ghoste]

According to Hedman they apparently will.  Might not hurt to fire a quickie off to the Edelbrock tech line too.

[komninon]

all i did was change the retainers and locks and use their roller rocker
my car is 100% street car so the gain was more than enough.
i did not buy the Eddy's because i had  mint jet-hot coated hooker headers that would not fit.

[1Bad70Charger]

all i did was change the retainers and locks and use their roller rocker
my car is 100% street car so the gain was more than enough.
i did not buy the Eddy's because i had  mint jet-hot coated hooker headers that would not fit.

How much more $ are the roller rockers for the 440source heads? 

[komninon]

around $300 for a complete set

[Silver R/T]

good article on what fits best/worst and with which heads
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/exhaust/17.html

[Ghoste]

That's a very interesting article  I wish he would have done some actual fitting trials though as some of those headers he lists as being compatible with angled plugs are the same ones that others are reporting issues with.