It is crazy, I don't like headers at all. Way more engine bay heat, noise in the engine compartment transferring to the interior of the car. Not to mention what a pain they are to put on and work around, always in the way for everything.
We are doing the street cars here. Back when I was a kid a guy put headers on his Roadrunner, it slowed his car down so he put the stock manifolds back on and he was good to go again.
I am sure there are plenty of people that love the headers for various reasons. My thinking to avoid the headers is to let the hot compressed exhaust gasses come out of the heads and through the manifolds, (where they are still compressed yet). Then dump those hot exhaust gasses into a 2 1/2 inch exhaust system all the way to the back of the car. The hot gasses are expanding the full length of the exhaust system creating a suction to help pull spent gasses out of the engine.
Just my thinking here, others will differ for sure. We have an exhaust system here on the 318 302 Heads with stock manifolds, that what can I say, just flat out performs. You can make up you own mind on how you would like to do things.
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Just like the flame of this rocket expanding it's exhaust gasses after they leave the main rocket engine. The expanding flame pretty much dwarfs the size of the rocket it'self.
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However you want to build your projects is fine with me. It's all pretty specific for your desired outcome and how the car is going to be used in the end.
Happy Motoring . . .
