Header Size Recommendation

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SpeedThrills

SpeedThrills

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I have a 74 Dart Sport (that I'm cloning into an early Duster). I have the following from a D150 that I bought for parts:
-360, 11.2:1 actual compression, 292,.508 Mopar cam, ported heads w/ 2.02 intakes and 1.60 exhausts (I don't remember the casting number, they're in storage right now.), Torker II and 750 Vac sec. Holley.
-727 W/unknown stall convertor. It was about 3500 if I recall, when I test drove it before I took it apart.
-4.10 gears
Car will probably weigh around 3200 w/ me in it.

I need opinions on the header diameter required. I suppose the length too, if it's possible to be picky. It'll have a dumped exhaust (street car).
 
Without doubt, 1-3/4 primary tube, 3 inch collector, 3 inch exhaust for the track, 2-1/2 for street.
(Quiter, that's all. If you care for such things of course.)
QUALITY muffler!

This leaves you with Hooker Super Comps or TTI headers. I am unsure if Hedman makes 1-3/4 headers for A bodies. But look into there "Hustler" line.

Header length will be decided for you by the manufacturer. No choice unless your nutty enough to use shorty headers.
 
You might need a car oil pan?
I personally use cheap crap Summit headers. I'm sure people will come rushing out of the woodwork to tell you how bad they are how they'll leak how they don't fit and how they scrape the ground. This has not been my experience. I've had them for over 3 years drag racing driving on the street they don't leak they fit fine and they've not scrape the ground once. I would absolutely love some tti's or Doug's headers. I'm sorry but I only given my experience with what I've used and when I get some Doug's or tti's I'll give you a comparison. I'm sure I'll like them better and in all sorts of ways. here comes the Carnage.....
 
If you do NOT have power steering the best header choice is Hooker 5303. A member on here had a set for sale at a great price. Being the girly man I am, I never pulled the trigger on them. I should have. Good luck finding a set.

The other option is Hooker 5204. I've used probably 50 sets over the years. They are a bit too long but they get the job done and fit as well as can be expected.

If you have power steering you are on your own.
 
Re-read your post. If you actually have a 3500 converter and 4.10 gears you could use the 5303's and make more power. That is a 1.875 tube, 28-30 inches long. The early headers had 3.5 inch collectors. The later ones had 3.0 inch headers. The current set I have came with a 3.0 inch collector. I bought some 3.5 inch collectors and use those.

The 5204 is 1.750 tubes.
 
I am leaning towards the 1 3/4 myself. I kinda figured I don't have a length choice.
That Hooker 5303 doesn't come up anywhere. But if it's a 1 7/8, I think that's a bit much; I'd rather err to the small side.
I should've checked the stall more carefully. When I took the truck apart (2008), I was going to use a 4spd in the Duster. It's been sitting untouched in the garage until now and I've decided to use what I have to keep the cost down a bit.
No power steering.
I have no problem with Summit headers. I've used them before. I think the 1 5/8 tube size is a bit small, though.
I do need a pan. That's on another thread.
I'm not ready to put the motor in yet, so I'll keep my eyes open to see what's available. I don't mind used, if they're in good shape and are for the right application. ("Oh yeah, they're for A-bodies".)
Thanks fellers!
 
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1 7/8 tubes are not too big. I use them on my 340.

Hooker stopped making the 5303 because too many guys use too small a header and...I'll leave it there.

Most guys in Stock eliminator are running 1.875 tubes (some I know when to 1.75-1.875 stepped headers but no one I know personally went any faster with stepped headers) so they are not too big.

You have a 4.10 gear. That's light years ahead of the 3.23-3.55 guys.
I *THINK* it was member crackedback who had the 5303 headers. Maybe PM and see if he still has them. Worth the effort.
 
I ran Stock Eliminator in the 90's, and yes, the tubes were getting bigger then. Our 440 6 pack had 1 7/8 tubes because we got them super cheap, but other 440's had 2" on them.
Step headers were just coming around. They were a lot of money and my partner and I didn't know any one that picked up from them. Maybe other changes were needed to see an improvement.
My Duster's going to be a garage queen that sees limited street use and the occasional trip to the track. I'm just having a hard time getting my head wrapped around the idea that 1 7/8 aren't too big! Of course the mantra over the years is not to go too big. I'm thinking that it would have to rev higher to benefit from them? Stockers rev higher than my street 360, for sure. Plus they use 5-6 K convertors.
I definitely appreciate your views, yellow rose. You're making me think! (ouch) I'll probably start with the 1 3/4.
My plan was to build a 408 and use a 4 spd. However, my money tree has not been growing fast enough. I was thinking 1 7/8 for a 408. Maybe 2" for it?
 
For limited street & no track, I myself would yeild at 1-7/8. Probably wouldn't pick it by choice. Due to the intended purpose. Racing it, sure! Even more so at 400+ cubes.
 
Back from the dead...

I just bought these:
Dodge 318 360 5.2 5.9 NEW Stainless Steel Racing Headers Magnum 5.2L 5.9L Dakota | eBay (Link reads wrong, but goes to Hooker 5204's that I bought.)
I've had searches saved on CL and eBay; not much has popped up, till now. I almost went with TTI's (1 5/8 to 1 7/8 step), but that's like $800 w/ shipping!

Yellow Rose, if you happen to see this, I appreciate your thoughts on 1 7/8, but here I am.

Now, I just need rings, bearings and a starter to install the engine and trans.

Yeah, things take me a while sometimes, lol. But I've been working on the body while I save money. Also working on my body, lol, I've been down for 5 months because of torn rotator cuff.
 
Tubular Automotive in MA might also make them.
I know they make killer W2 headers.
 
people are running more rpm , looser converters, and better valve springs and camgrinds than back in the day
if you are going to spin it up 1 7/8 will be fine
did you use Pipemax?
 
If you bought 5204's those are good headers that you have to drive carefully because of a tube or two hanging low.

Those shorties will choke the crap out of an engine making any power.

That engine with a good tune should run high 11 in a great chassis. Make it HOOK! Maybe better. Get the tune up right! If you ran Stock class stuff, you should know what it takes to make it hook. :)
 
mbaird said:
Tubular Automotive in MA might also make them.
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Thanks, bought the 5204's. No big money for this project.
Wyrmrider said:
Did you use Pipemax?
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No Pipemax. This is just a low dollar toy.
crackedback said:
If you bought 5204's those are good headers that you have to drive carefully because of a tube or two hanging low.
Those shorties will choke the crap out of an engine making any power.
That engine with a good tune should run high 11 in a great chassis. Make it HOOK! Maybe better. Get the tune up right! If you ran Stock class stuff, you should know what it takes to make it hook. :)
Click to expand...
-I read about the low tubes. I'll watch for it.
-I agree, no shorties for this one!
-The rear I got out of the D150 is a 9" w/ welded ladder bars and coil overs. It's about 2" narrower than an A body axle. I'm going to try that first, because I already have it, and, it'll be lighter than leafs and a Calvert setup that I'll use if I don't like the ladder bars.
Thanks, everyone!
 
Nice build! Iyself am building a similiar set up for dart sport 360. However, only have lowly 1 5/8 headers.:( eventually hope to afford a better header set.
 
QuickDart360 said:
Nice build! Iyself am building a similiar set up for dart sport 360. However, only have lowly 1 5/8 headers.:( eventually hope to afford a better header set.
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I hear ya. I was tempted to go w/ 1 5/8. Soooo much cheaper. But I'd rather have this run better than it looks, so the money (what there is) is going to the power, as opposed to the looks, at least for now.
I weighed the stock bumpers and brackets, etc. on mine. 160lbs!!! Now that it's an early Duster, I used 'glass bumpers and alum brackets (brackets from a member on here, can't recall his name just now).
Good luck w/your project.

Yikes, I went and hijacked my own thread!
 
Got them yesterday. It'll be a while before I put them in. I want to finish the engine and lay the headers in before the motor goes in.
 
Aside from the performance benefits, I think headers are the sexiest looking performance part there is. I even like drawing them. :)
 
Also, what is cool about these headers, is that they're vintage, and never been used.
The directions sheet tells how to send away for spare gaskets. No internet, no website mentioned, whenever they were made.
I wonder if they were made better then? They have the "HOoker" stamp around the collectors. I don't know if they still do that.
 
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