Headers vs. Manifolds

A set of A body big block HP manifolds must cost a fortune these days.
The race car I bought that had this combo in it actually has a set of fender well headers on it. I just don’t know that I want to cut up my fenderwells to make them fit. The HP manifold that I’m looking at buying are $400, which is about the cost of the set of summit or jeg’s generic headers last time I looked. I definitely don’t have TTI or Schumacher Shorty headers at $900 a pop in my budget.