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I know this comes up often but when I try to search it doednt work. So. I have a 1950 3600 with 454 and m2 suspension. Just wondering if you guys have any budget oriented headers you've used successfully? Was looking at 55 belair fenderwell and caprice headers. But. I'm not sure what will give me the clearance needed.

Thanks
Brandon

What kind of racing are you doing? Putting headers on a street machine is a waste of time, money, and effort, particularly on a big block in a stovebolt truck. You'll seldom, if ever get the RPM high enough to benefit from using headers instead of stock exhaust manifolds.
Jerry

Unless he is going for looks. It's his money to "waste."

I've got a BBC (ZZ502) in one of my vehicles... it's too much engine for it though. Not to mention the 5 mpg it gets! It has some sort of stock exhaust pipes on it that seem to work well. I have also learned to dislike headers, since they like to leak and take up a lot of room.

Put some very top of the line headers on a BBC in a 55 that had 3/8" thick flanges but still had gasket problems about once a year. Long trips seemed to hasten the gasket demise. The 454 did not have as good a selection of contoured exhaust manifolds so went to smoothed and porcelain coated 427 425hp cast manifolds. No more gasket problems and look great. Pic is with headers.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/BtPjZgp7/30-A-55-Nomad-027.jpg[/img]

Nice looking setup. To bad can't see da headers in the pic? Well at least not very much of em...

Yah this is just gonna be a fun street wngine. May do some more upgrades later. I'm not really into the factory style manifolds. I found some cheap fenderwell headers on speedway. Looks like I'll have to remove the inner fenders to run them which is fine. Definately gives me the clearance for everything needed under the hood. I'll up date with some pictures when I get some time to install them.

Yah this is just gonna be a fun street wngine. May do some more upgrades later. I'm not really into the factory style manifolds. I found some cheap fenderwell headers on speedway. Looks like I'll have to remove the inner fenders to run them which is fine. Definately gives me the clearance for everything needed under the hood. I'll up date with some pictures when I get some time to install them.

FL,

Just passing along what I was told when building my 383 Stroker for my 46; the builder is a local race engine builder. I had him put my heads on and cam in and then break it all in. I chose the parts for low end torque since I have a 3:08 rear with a TH400. While picking up the engine, I asked if my stock GM "rams horns" would do OK with this 383 with aluminum heads. Builder told me what Hot Rod Lincoln posted above. I will never reach the RPMs needed to gain any benefit from headers. With all the heat related issues that sometimes come along with headers, he advised me AGAINST using headers for FOR using the cast rams horns. I don't have any advice in regard to cast exhaust for your BBC...but just passing along what I was told. Other tidbits I have been told; some of the cast parts flow pretty good anyway. Good luck and have fun with your project. Either way you go it should have some pep.

I just want to go on record to say that nothing sounds like a BBC with headers, just an opinion.

Or blown with headers!

Headers can show a torque increase at low rpms, there's been many dyno tests proving that for decades, I have and had headers are many many cars and have never had problems with leaks.
Here's my 41 Chevy with fenderwells

Wow that's a lot of motor in a tight spot. Looks great to me.