The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Headers on 1965 C10 small block

What headers fit on a 65 C10, like Camaro,Nova,only truck? long tube?Thanks

Hedman makes 'em, just for the truck...don't know about car models. They have to fit the motor AND the vehicle.

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Looks like Hedman is the way to go! (Part# HED69260) Long tube steel painted black are $165.95 or Ceramic Coated for $449.95 also Hooker makes them too for your truck (Part# HOK24523HKR)Seems these are only available in coated at $459.95 I don't know of any passenger car headers that would interchange. Gary

I was wanting to maybe find a good used set that is ceramic coated. On like Craigslist. I was told that some car models fit ?

Rufus, I bought a set of new ceramic coated headers from T&T Industries in Oklahoma City, Ok I bought the shorter headers for a 72 to 87 sbc pickup , they have 3/8 flanges and look great. Cost without freight $225.00. Looks like we will have to notch the frame slightly on the drivers side. The advantage to the shorter headers is one can keep the exhaust tucked level with the frame or still route them in the normal manner. Here is a link http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/pts/2060880253.html

good luck , Kieth

Here is a link that addresses this same topic:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=431608&highlight=hedman

I love my Hooker headers!

I love my Ramhorn manifolds.

Well you'll probably like this then: http://www.mre-books.com/chevy/engines/parts_interchange/exhaust.html

Sadly though talk of "manifolds" doesn't help the author of this post, which asked:

Forget the headaches of headers, go with the rams horns. Headers gain you nothing in a stock set-up but noise, leaks and heat!
Scott

I have done both and I agree, wholeheartedly, the factory cast iron exhaust manifolds, are equal or superior in every way, to the aftermarket headers. Be sure the surfaces are flat & true. If not, have them surfaced.

I gotta say I was a big header hater for many years til I bought Hookers-the flanges are very thick & haven't leaked yet. Cheap headers warp & leak-good ones don't.

yea I have a cheap set that were on the truck when I bought the truck, it had an exhaust leak. I have the original ram horn manifolds. I was wondering if a universal set or a set that was for a Camaro or something would fit. There are always used ones on Craigslist (good ones) cheaper.

I just bought another set of Hookers for a little over $200-about twice the $$ of cheap ones. One set I have had 6-7 yrs, my buddy has had a set on a 69 C10 for 10yrs-still using the original gaskets that came with the headers.

Roofus, do you know of some place where old farmers or grain farms may have a BIG truck with your size engine in it? The ones I have (283 ramhorns) supposedly came off a bigger truck. The guy I got them from shjowed me a tab that is on my right header that was on the big trucks to hold an oil cooler. So, don't over look big trucks....and yes, I love the ram horns on my small block in my panel.

I have the Hedman headers specific for our trucks, and have to say there are a couple places they are a pain to install... Had to reroute the brake, trans cooler, and power steering lines a little to keep them away from the heat. There are downsides to using full-length headers, and heat is the main one, it gets HOT in the cab. As far as leaks go, I get a leak here and there, but it's my fault for not installing the bolt keeper wires, it's always just a bolt backing out. Using the metal gaskets, no problems. There is a reason the truck full length don't work from 67-72 is because of the transmission linkage from the powerglide, it's directly where the outlet is from the newer truck headers.
On another note, those of you stating headers do no good for a vehicle, please stop. I understand if you don't like them, but don't lie to keep other people from getting them. If you do your research as to your engine setup, and get the appropriate diameter header primaries and correct diameter pipes out the back, you WILL increase performance. An engine is a glorified air pump, more air in = more air out, either/both make more power. That said, there are people who are still saying an H-pipe or X-pipe do nothing for performance, I guess that's why they are becoming OEM now. No offense, people, just give the people who want headers facts and experiences, not biased opinions.
Rams horns are the next best thing for flow, and they take far less effort to fit them in.

Tony

Good post Tony. We can all beneft from your true real world first hand experience.

One thing to add in regards to Rams Horn manifolds, they are not all created equal. The stock 2-1/2" Corvette style are said to be about 66% as good as headers on a mild SBC. The more radical the motor, the more you will benefit from headers, again, it's the flow in and flow out that Tony discussed. Some people are porting the 'vette rams horn and getting within 10% of headers, but those ported manifolds cost as much or more than a set of headers. Why? Well in certain drag racing classes stock, means running stock parts. But the classes allow modifying the stock parts, thus you end up with hhigh dollar stock manifold modifications.

Here is a link to a company that sells stock and modified Rams Horn manifolds, as well as late 60's "log" style manifolds.

http://www.castheads.com/faqs_exhaust_manifolds.php

And here is some actual data posted in regards to a '72 LT1 motor, rams horn vs. headers.:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/809890-rams-horn-manifolds-vs-headers.html
The difference between a fully ported set of 2.5" dia rams horns and Hooker Super Comp 1.75" headers was about 10% of my power on my 1972 LT-1 motor during a dyno test of the motor (394HP manifolds/426HP Hookers.) The testing was done with a set of DynoMax Ultra Flow 2.5" mufflers on a simulated exhaust system. The difference at the Drags [email protected] MPH with rams horns (I had a lot of porting labor in them and broke over $90 of carbide burrs porting them, they were better than Brezinski manifolds) and 12.28@117 MPH with the Hookers (both runs through the mufflers.)

Headers are for racing!!!!and performance. Roofus never stated if it were to be raced or daily driver or something in between. Both have their place,
Scott

In the last year I have purchased on ebay, 2 sets of corvette 2 1/2 inch ramshorn manifolds for less than 60 bucks for each set. I have had 2 pickups with the same manifolds and they are trouble free. I use the steel donuts and no gaskets at the heads. Never had a leak. They flow real well.

Did Roofus ask for opinions about manifolds? Somehow it appears our answers to his very direct question have drifted off topic.

If you do not want the generator brackets and are going to buy new specify right hand no brackets and they interchange either side. I also had mine coated which lowers the temp on the manifolds. They were have several different coat colors I put mine gray color. Once you put on the Rams Horns there is no need to ever replace them after 5 or 6 years. Like Scott said Headers are for Off Road Use and using on the street is a waste of your cash.
62Blue
Don

Well John, the reason the majority of the opinions are for the Ram's Horn is to help our fellow Stovebolter to make a decision on his exhaust system. Obviously, cost is a factor since he's emphisized "cheap" a couple of times, so pricing him $400 headers seems rediculous. And as for performance gains, true, now days it does matter on high output engines that rev to nearly 10K, but on a 150hp, 45 year old, small cube engine (presuming it's a 283 or so) the gains won't outway the cost and eventually upkeep of "cheap" headers. That's just my 2 cents (as well as several others here) and if he want to do the header thing, more power to him. It's like everything else in life, you get what you pay for and "cheap" headers are headaches.
Scott

Roofus wants a "good" set of headers and is looking for a used set. He doesn't want cheap quality headers.

He already has a set of ram horns but still wants a good set of headers.

He never asked for opinions on performance gains nor did he say he wanted "cheap" quality headers.

Isn't it more productive to just help the guy by answering his specific question, instead of trying to change his mind and direction?

...or starting a [censored] match on his post?

I have a 350 hp. fuel injected 350. I was wondering if a universal set or a camaro, nova set would fit. On craigslist there are used ceramic coated good headers fairly cheap. thanks

Hot Rod John is right. The question is not WHETHER to use headers but what the header options are. Speedway Motors has block hugger stainless steel headers. I don't know if those will fit a '65 truck or not but I would like to know because my son has one of those trucks and "stainless is forever".

As for leaks, I have a 350 SBC powered '32 Ford roadster with headers that have been on for 7 years with no leaks. I attribute that to quality headers with unwarped flanges, quality gaskets and stainless steel socket head bolts and stainless steel lockwashers tightened frequently after the first few runs as the gasket compressed.

As for noise, there is enough wind noise that the engine cannot even be heard at cruising or highway speed unless I mash down on the accelerator. Big Magnaflow stainless steel mufflers and an H-pipe in the home made exhaust system probably contribute to the quiet exhaust sound.

I have two sets of plain full-length Comp series Hooker headers on two diff 64's with 350/auto, one has 700r4 other has TH350, both OE column shift. Fit great, no mods to truck, don't leak, don't hang down too far, exhaust is pretty well tucked(not enough for the low-rider baggers who lay frame tho). I did grind an 1/8" or so radius on the frame on driver's side just in case the engine torqued enough for header tube to hit the frame, but I really doubt it ever would. The tube clears, I just wanted a little extra JIC.

Hard to beat the sound of a 350 w/headers & dual exhaust.

Good information everyone and thanks for sharing.

I bought the Flowtech 31500 headers (even though they are not listed for the '65 and earlier trucks). They are ceramic coated and are quite nice. They have a thick flange and fit my 1965 K20quite nicely. The only problem is getting them in place to bolt them up. You have to make sure the motor mounts and frame towers are out of the way, the clutch linkage has to be removed (if a manual trans), the dipstick needs to be removed, and that pretty much does it. It is a tight fit, but they do work and are really nice for the money. If I had to do it again though, manifolds, but for now, a really nice set of headers will keep me company for a while.

Roofus, I changed out my headers (the ones from OKc got them from the same place) went with 67 camaro nova headers, they fit better I did have to slightly relieve the frame on the passenger side at the rear of the engine. they really look good and they have the thick flanges. I own a tbi 350 also and the first 2 things one does to these engines is to improve air flow in, and air flow out....Kieth

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/13311086_gRF57#1135655008_TmRka