Hooker vs. Hedman

[LEB Ben]

Yeah yeah...I know they're both cheapies and you get what you pay for, but I figured anything is a better replacement for the stock manifolds. Anyway, I figured while I had the 400 apart in the Bronco, I may as well throw some headers on there...even though I wasn't planning on it...another reason I'm going cheap. So let me know what you think...


Should I go with these from Hooker:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-6902HKR/


...or these from Hedman:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-89210/


...or does anyone have any other suggestions under the $250 thresh hold?


Personally, I prefer Hooker products, and I just feel there's a difference in quality. The flange and steel is thicker with Hooker, and I've had luck with Hooker in the past.

So lemme know which you'd go with.

 

[5.0Flareside]

I've had luck with Hookers in the past.

come on ben, this is a family forum... you shouldnt be talking bout that on the internet...

but on a serious note, i have no idea for the 351M/400's. for small blocks, the pacesetters are the best fit...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

I had headers from Summit. Two sets actually. I like my manifolds better. I know it sounds a little backwards, but the only change I saw with the headers was keeping a wrench on my seat to tighten the bolts just about every week. I had the hedman headers like you have a link to because the price was appealing to me, but they are junk. Save your money.

 

[LEB Ben]

Dang Chris...I didn't even catch that one...and I usually try to be so careful cuz I know how things get distorted here. As for header availability for the 351M/400, there seems to be a good bit of super cheapies available in the $89-$120 range, but you'll be lucky 18 months out of those. Then you've got the next level that I'm currently shopping in...seems to be about 10 or so brands, Hooker and Hedman seem to lead that class...then the next price bracket are basically those same header but coated. Then you jump up in to the premiums at $400+, which is not what I'm looking for currently.

 

[gsxr1238]

The Hooker header is a tuned header,which means equal length tubes.They also have a better flange at the manifold and at the collector.Put them on with some GOOD gaskets,retorque them after a few heat cycles,and no problems with gaskets again.

 

[F 150Cobra]

i never never had trouble with the flowtech headers i even cheked if they came loose but nothing since install i havent touched them

 

[73F100Shortbed]

The Hooker header is a tuned header,which means equal length tubes.They also have a better flange at the manifold and at the collector.Put them on with some GOOD gaskets,retorque them after a few heat cycles,and no problems with gaskets again.

I tried "good" gaskets on mine. Still didn't work. But they didn't have thick flanges which I ultimately think was my issue.

 

[Truckin4life]

Thick flanges are mandatory.

Ben, I vote hooker supercomps, long tube flavor...

Dunno what you linked too, but its my suggestion.

 

[Austin]

Ben, I have heard good about Hooker from these parts. Family has used them in the past.

I can, however, offer this to you: You purchase me a set of headers for me to test use. When I determine that the headers are good for your application, you go out and purchase another set. I would, of course, hold on to the first set as payment for being the tester.

 

[73F100Shortbed]

Ben, I have heard good about Hookers from these parts. Family has used them in the past.

Yeah and since it Georgia some of the hookers wound up being cousins weren't they?

 

[Austin]

Yeah and since it Georgia some of the hookers wound up being cousins weren't they?

Something like that...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

Something like that...

 

[Austin]

 

[m78]

Never seems to be any problems with my stock manifolds.

 

[LEB Ben]

The Hooker header is a tuned header,which means equal length tubes.They also have a better flange at the manifold and at the collector.Put them on with some GOOD gaskets,retorque them after a few heat cycles,and no problems with gaskets again.

My thoughts exactly...thanks.

Thick flanges are mandatory.

Ben, I vote hooker supercomps, long tube flavor...

Dunno what you linked too, but its my suggestion.

Regular comps...Super comps are $300 more, and if I'm gonna drop $500 on headers, I'm gonna get them coated, which will be another $150...and I just don't have cash like that to drop right now. And if I did, I still have the service number to get Doug Thorley to make 3 custom sets of Tri-Y's for the 400.

Ben, I have heard good about Hooker from these parts. Family has used them in the past..

You make it too easy. Yeah, I've used Hooker headers before as well, the best I've used before you start getting in to premium prices. I just know alot of folks throw on the Hedman, and I didn't know if I was missing something, because the Hookers appear to be a superior product with a negligible $4 cost difference.

I can, however, offer this to you: You purchase me a set of headers for me to test use. When I determine that the headers are good for your application, you go out and purchase another set. I would, of course, hold on to the first set as payment for being the tester.

Correction...you're a testee.

Yeah and since it Georgia some of the hookers wound up being cousins weren't they?

No question about it.

Never seems to be any problems with my stock manifolds.

Agreed...but I figure why not just do it all now, I'd hate for the manifolds to continue being the bottle neck. And I tell ya, I just unbolted the exhaust pipes from the manifolds and horsed the head and manifold out on each side, and it was no fun. When I separated them later, I'm not sure which one was heavier (semi-sarcastic).

 

[gsxr1238]

Ben,what is the plan for the new exhaust system when you go to the headers?Are you going to run an X or H pipe?

 

[LEB Ben]

Ben,what is the plan for the new exhaust system when you go to the headers?Are you going to run an X or H pipe?

Well I was hoping to cut and splice in to what I currently had, and I thought an H pipe would be easiest because the Bronco exhaust comes out in front of the tires. Not much room to throw an X pipe in there.

 

[m78]

Well I was hoping to cut and splice in to what I currently had, and I thought an H pipe would be easiest because the Bronco exhaust comes out in front of the tires. Not much room to throw an X pipe in there.

Coming out in front of the tires when its under an enclosed vehicle is illegal here.

 

[LEB Ben]

Coming out in front of the tires when its under an enclosed vehicle is illegal here.

Might be here too...but it's been that way for 2+ years and haven't been hasseled yet. Although I understand the law, when the old 351 was in there, the exhaust leaks made it impossible to drive more than 30 minutes with the windows rolled up, and even with the windows down, after about hour 3, you got a good buzz going on. Needless to say, trips home from UT during the winter were more than extended for fresh air.

 

[gsxr1238]

I was just curious about what design you were going with.I have an X pipe on the '79,and an H pipe on the '78.Both are 400 engines with headers,and I can't tell that one has any advantage over the other.