Worth it to put headers on a 318?

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on my 70 duster back 12/13 yrs ago I had a 318 bored 30 with trw pistons general kinieck (speeled wrong lol) cam 454 lift stock rockers,performer intake 750 dble pumper carb. cheap flow tech headers 430 gear on street tire and would wipe the floor with a stock mustang... oh h pipe and 2.5 into flowmaster mufflers which I still have lol... the thing with cheap headers is to cut out the centers so the tubes are single and not all welded together and then I don't use gaskets either ..I use black hi temp permatec never a problem ...I buy it buy the tube like chalkin and use a chalkin gun lol...when you cut the centers out that lets each pipe move on its own and not fight against the other that may be welded wrong warped or whatever...just my 2cent lol
 
I have had my plugs in and out at least 5 different times with no issues at all. I also use 45* boots on #5 and #7 , to keep them off the header.

X2 on this, I see so many people try to squeeze those two between the valve cover & header pipe, looks terrible & cooks 'em fast.
 
Ive seen several dyno tests on mild 318's with headers, 20 hp is probably the most you will gain with headers on a mild 318 which is barely enough for the seat of the pants feel and only 2/10 in the quarter

as yy1 said is the headache, price, and frig factor worth it

a set that is a great fit on one car can be a nightmare on another even a 1/4 inch in difference can add a huge frig factor

340 manifolds give about 7-11 hp more than standard manifolds

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/exhaust/9.html

if you absolutely have to have that great crisp headers sound then go for it!!!!!!![/QUOTE
Although not a 318, I put headers on my 73 Challenger/340 and at the strip it didn't make any difference in et. I didn't rejet the carb though. I probably should have. tmm
 
X2 on cutting the flange.

An old schooler suggested that to me and it solved my leak problems.
 
I have a pair of blackjack headers you can have for 25 bucks, they have dents on the bottom but worked great on my 318 with 600 holley and a rv cam, no shipping pick up only in central pa.
 
Ive seen several dyno tests on mild 318's with headers, 20 hp is probably the most you will gain with headers on a mild 318 which is barely enough for the seat of the pants feel and only 2/10 in the quarter

as yy1 said is the headache, price, and frig factor worth it

a set that is a great fit on one car can be a nightmare on another even a 1/4 inch in difference can add a huge frig factor

340 manifolds give about 7-11 hp more than standard manifolds

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/exhaust/9.html

if you absolutely have to have that great crisp headers sound then go for it!!!!!!![/QUOTE


Although not a 318, I put headers on my 73 Challenger/340 and at the strip it didn't make any difference in et. I didn't rejet the carb though. I probably should have. tmm
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just add the headers and be done with it.. .

Therein lies the second problem, for most folks, once you install them (and deal with all the potential issues concerning the installation), you're never really "done with it".

There's possible plug changing headaches, possible leaks, and unless you spend a small fortune for full ceramic coating, inside and out, there's the rust issue.
 
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