[scott70]

I remember my hooker sc would blow rust dust out the headers on my drag car at the beginning of every year at the track. Eventually the headers got pin holes and I had to throw them. The Doug’s were a heavier gauge if I remember correctly

[Formulajones]

The thing to remember is, these off the shelf headers are all designed around stock parts. Meaning stock motor mounts, stock frames, stock steering mechanisms and stock ride height. That's what these headers are designed for.

If any of those things change then it's up in the air whether or not you get a good fitment. Even reproduction stock parts aren't always exact, like motor mounts as an example, and any slight change there makes even bigger changes with header fitment.

One good example I see all the time are with 1st gen camaros with BBC's. I can't even count how many times I've had to point this out to people. They have a BBC camaro and complain until they are blue in the face about how bad the headers fit and instead of the root cause, they want to bash on the header manufacture. I look at the car and tell them, "well this isn't a factory BB camaro, and you have SB motor mounts in there, so those headers will never fit like that. They get this puzzled look on their face. They don't realize just because the BBC bolts in doesn't mean it's right. Factory BB 1st gens have specific motor mounts that shift the engine towards the passenger side about an inch. So many people drop a BB in with SB mounts and then wonder why the headers are against the steering box and start bashing tubes

Besides that scenario, If you want something better you'll have to open your wallet for custom work. Coated off the shelf 2" headers are typically running around $1000-$1200 now. Custom is much more than that.

I live 20 minutes from McCabe who built headers for Nascar for decades before retiring to his own shop not far from me. One of the best in the business. But it'll cost. I haven't checked in a while but I'm probably not too far out of reach when I say he'll set ya back at least $2000 or more for a custom built from scratch header these days. And he was close to retiring completely last time I talked to him.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by scott70

I remember my hooker sc would blow rust dust out the headers on my drag car at the beginning of every year at the track. Eventually the headers got pin holes and I had to throw them. The Doug’s were a heavier gauge if I remember correctly

Yeah, I have a lot of money into my Mad Dogs. Sent them to Caps coatings to get coated "inside and out". I get rust when I pull the collectors.
Not happy, called Caps Coatings and asked them about it. They wanted to know the date of the work, I could not find my receipt at the time (since found it April 24)
They said the machine could have been plugged when mine were done. But I could not see much when I first put them on. Called Caps at the time and they said it was more of a clear coat. They are silver on the outside.
So I put them on and now have rust. And they are 18 gauge.
I paid 627$ for the coating. Even if I can get them to coat them again for free it will be 150+$ each way to ship.
Caps tried to say because I live near the coast they will do that.
Not too happy about it. I have a TON of work into these things and they are totally custom fit to my car.