I have used Hedman, Summit and Dougs headers in a small block. The cheaper headers I always had to use good copper gaskets to get them to seal. If I didn't they wouldn't seal or would eventually blow part of the gasket out and needed to be replaced. I also prefer how the spark plug wires can be routed with the style of dougs headers. Cheaper style headers have the steering linkage going between tubes and hang lower. Not that huge of a deal, but it's nice when you have a little more ground clearance especially if the car is street drivein. Did the cheap headers work, yep, but if I could do over I'd buy a better set to start with and end up with more $ in my pocket in the end.
