Best fitting headers for a 78 Fire Bird?
 

HI,
I have just built my first Pontiac. :D :D
Rebuilt engine, freshly painted and it's all good.
:) Except an annoying ticking noise form the engine bay.......
Sounds like a valve ticking but it isn’t. leaky headers.
Can you guys tell me ho has the best fitting headers?
Any suggestions?

Thanks
Mats
Sorry For my bad english

I've heard good things about Doug's Headers, but I am running Hooker Competition headers (not super comps). I have had no problems with installation or leaks. I'd avoid the style that have one center tube (for the 2/4 and 3/5 exhaust ports) instead of two separate tubes.

No issues and installed a set of 1 3/4" Headman header on the wifie's car in under 2 hours.
I used the Felrpo performance gaskets.

Are you sure that's what's ticking? Get a vacuum cleaner hose/tube and run it around till you find exactly where its coming from. A header will also leave carbon where its leaking from. Assume 6X heads?

Chris

78 t/a 1 3/4 headmans

I'll chime in for the Headmans as well. Recently pulled the original 400 from my 77 TA. I bought the car with 1 3/4 Headmans already on. They were way easier to remove/install than the SuperComps on my 69 GTO.

like my hedmans, too.
great ground clearance and nice fit; well made for cheapie headers.
far better ground clearance then hooker supercomps.
i crushed both lower primaries on both sides flat on my hookers; not cool.
i'd spring for ceramic coating if you can afford it.

Hi, log in problems. Tank’s guys:)
Yes it’s 6x head’s. Did what you told me Chris, it’s leaking around cyl 1 8 and 7. Some carbon residue on the gasket.
So you are all satisfied whit hedmans or comps?
Ceramic or natural?
Whitc engine setup’s do you run whit1¾ header’s?

Thanks again
Mats

Got some pictures.:rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

Ditto.
Hedman #28150....1.75" primaries, 3" collectors.

Thanks Larry:)
do they make them with ceramic coating?

paper gaskets are junk. Dont even bother with them. I like the felpro gaskets, and you gotta keep them tight.

You can get headers coated, even if they arent offered with it. I wont buy another set that isnt coated.

I use the papers, here in Houston I had a problem with the metal sandwich in the FelPros rusting , staining headers and heads, adding rust to header bolt threads. My papers don't do that.

It's too bad that Percy's don't make those seal-4-good dead soft aluminium gasket's for Pontiac's. Anybody tryed Percy's XX Carbon Exhaust Header Gaskets?

No.
Trial fit them first to make certain there are no clearance issues, the most noted is the small area arond the lower left control arm bracket on the subframe. Mine needed a small dimple there but that was it.
I then sent them to Airborn Coatings, $205 in and out.
www.airborncoatings.com

nice! wow :jaw: !!!

im using reused paper gaskets with the copper sealer...no leaks...my cheap hookers are alright except the drivers side collector triangle points up..had to modify my floor pan a bit...i cut the flanges as well...which cut install time to 1.5 hours...