The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Block Hugger Headers: What is best?

I've been shopping for some block hugger headers for the small block 350 in my '37 the past while since the old cast iron exhaust manifolds have slight cracks and don't look too good anyway, but haven't bought headers yet for two reasons:

1) I don't know which brand/model hugs the block the closest or offers the most clearance... I have VERY little space to work with between the block and fenders... also, I see there are normal headers and "shorty" headers... again, which is better? Any suggestions?

2) I am uncertain which are best... chrome, polished stainless or ceramic coated headers... ideally I think I'd prefer chrome (since you can never have too much chrome under your hood!) but of the three options which is best and will stay looking good the longest?

There are some great deals on ebay, but I don't want to buy something thinking it will work, find out otherwise and waste the money so I want to be sure before I take the plunge and buy something...

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your help...

~Trev

Trev,
for longevity everywhere i read it all says the ceramic coated headers are the way to go, chrome turns blue and rusts...from what I have read.

I bought a set of blockhuggers from my local speed shop. They are ceramic coated inside and out. They are a no name header and have worked out very well for 5 years.Today they still look like new.So I would reccomend ceramic coating.

I have a set on my '46 from Jegs they work very well except that you may have to use the shorty plugs for extra clearance. I also went with the ceramic coated.

you might also conside some early chevy exhaust... mine work well,, I am not that crazy about headers.. had them on two vehicles and I cant see that much more performance... they do put out some extra heat in your cab..

here is a pix of mine but I did not get a good shot of the manifold.
see here
I thought you had a 327 in yours

It was originally thought that it was a 327... however 1958GMCNut ran some numbers found on the block and it came back as a 350... no big surprise... the "Turbo 350" tranny it was supposed to have when I bought it was discovered to be a Turbo 400 so they weren't sticklers for accuracy in their ebay listing...

I don't see myself staying with early chevy exhaust... as I said the old exhaust manifolds have hairline cracks and are dull and crappy looking (as cast iron is) and I'd like to dress it up a bit so it wilol definately be headers... which ones are the question which is why I posted this...

So it seems popular opinion is ceramic coated... I'm a bit shocked since I figured polished stainless or chrome would win out, but I have to pay attention to all the folks who have used 'em and if ceramic look best for a longer period of time I guess that's the direction I'll go...

Still a bit worried about clearances and would like to know what brand/model other guys with '37 body styles use to be sure they'll fit but at least I can narrow down the search a bit now... thanks to all who have responded!

~Trev

ceramic coated headers will outlast all others.

Definately ceramic.

As they say "the people have spoken"... ceramic it is!

Now I just have to find headers that hug the block enough and I'm set... at least this made my choice a bit simpler! Thanks everybody!

~Trev

Trev,
if ya worried abought clearance ..maybe find a set of Ol Chevy Rams horns in Nice shape and send off to be ceramic coated?..check the price of snaggin a set an havin em done against gettin headers? ...
Just somethin to chew on?
Tim

I know a guy who has a set of those for $150 but really hate 'em... I want this to look nice eventually when I look under the hood!

The bad thing is BC52 who has been over a couple of times noticed that on the driver's side the alternator mount has one bolt that goes into the front of the exhaust manifold... translation: If I go to headers I'm gonna need a new alternator mount too! Does the fun never end?

Despite that I want it to look better so I'm sure it's worth the extra effort and expense...

I know of a guy who is selling a pair he bought at a hot rod place here for $275 and is selling for $170, brand new, never used and they are ceramic coated... if I can talk him down to $150 I may do 'em... we'll see... if not it's off to ebay or a hot rod flea market to get what I need soon...

~Trev

Trev,
check these out.
http://macsradiator.com/index.asp?PaigeAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=62
$179.00 for the pair??
I might be interested in a set myself!