TTI or Dougs - both are REALLY expensive. However, years ago I had a set of Blackjack headers, which were Cyclones, I believe... Those headers hit the oil pan, the power steering box, and the steering coupler (occasionally locking the steering in the middle of a right hand turn). Plus, they got...
I can't speak for the Doug's headers, but I have TTI and they did not require any dents. They fit just fine. 340 with RPM heads, Milodon oil pan, '72 car with '73 k-member, manual steering, four speed, MP starter.
For what YOU want, 340 manifolds are the obvious answer.
Plus, show me ANY pair of headers that you can use for a few years, remove them, and sell them for more than you paid.
I had no idea that the Doug's headers were any good, so I got TTI's. The Z bar fit, but the trans arm had to be heated and bent about 1/2". Then the threaded adjuster rod got bent a little too. Now it fits and works fine.
Yeah, a guy could do that. What attracted me to the Spintech idea is ground clearance. The mufflers would mount in the factory location and tuck up to the floor. What I HAVEN'T figured out is how to get the actual outlets past my frame connectors without hanging low. One possible solution is...
The T/A exhuast is nice, but pricey. I'm considering the Spintech split case muffers for my Duster. http://www.spintechmufflers.com/spintech/products.asp?category=4&order=partno&Otype=street
Wow, the Doug's look a lot nicer than I expected. Already bought my TTI's and I'm happy with them, but if I were in the market, I would also consider the Doug's headers.
All the others - Hookers, Cyclone, etc have the same tube bends. All of them fit like crap and hang too low. About...
If it were me, I would not deviate too much from stock (body-wise), but it's your car.
Can't you take a die grinder to the headers, and sorta do a "gasket match" port job on them to match the heads? Is there not enough metal there?