Who has experience with them? I have read a little about them and it sounds like the big problem is actually getting them hooked up to the exhaust. The 1/4" flange and 18 gauge tube wall sounds a little thin for both. I like the thought of more clearance. For my street engine HP is not an issue.

Not speaking from experience, but I think the general consensus is that these have all the expense and headaches associated with long tube headers, without the performance gains. They're not a good compromise.

If clearance is a concern, and the application permits, stick with HP manifolds. Otherwise quality long tubes are the way to go.

Happy with the set in my 72. They don't trap the starter or drag on speed bumps like long tubes do.

I have them on my 66 C-body and they fit like they were made for it even tho Hedman doesn't even list that application for them. To hook them up to my existing exhaust system all I had to do was have new head pipes fabbed.

Kevin

i have the summit shortys on the 318 in my 47 desoto w/dakota front clip. they fit great w/ lots of clearence every where. i got them when they were on sale for $225(ceramic coated) mock up pic-

I just purchased a set and so far they seem very good, though I'm still in the process of building the motor and have yet to hook them up. But I mocked them up on the heads and block to check plug and starter clearances. No problem with the plugs, but the headers require a mini starter which I have. I held it up there and it seems that there will be plenty of room. My main concern is the power steering box, but the headers really seem to hug the block so I'm thinking it won't be a problem. It looks like access for maintenance around the headers after installation will be better than long tubes or even stock manifolds. We'll see.

So no horror stories on installation? No leaking flanges? The BB ones look like they point back toward the firewall and the SB point straight down.

..from what i have read, the other style where #3 kicks up over #5 may fit the best,but i have no personal experience.(78500?)

Mine aren't installed either...but the mock up looks great so far. I have the mini-starter already on the car. As for the flanges...I left the stock one on the Hedman but on the the rest of the exhaust I have 1/2" thick stainless flanges. Ran me $15 a pair. Using RemFlex gaskets

I had them on a daily driven C body 400 for a few years. Driven about 15,000 miles a year, winter included.

I would have put HP manifolds on it, but after asking the few people I trust if they had any decent, known
non-cracked/non-leaking ones for a C body, nobody would sell me anything. One friend said he knew he had some but it was too much trouble to find them and sell them Of course, there were plenty of them on Ebay for $450 a pair So that's how it came to be.

Before installing I spent some time grinding the flanges straight since they were warped out of the box like most headers including the TTI and Hooker products I've worked with.
In spite of that I did have one minor flange leak in that time period (not bad, considering), the other flange never leaked at all. After a few years the 'X' inside both collectors rusted out, and had that lovely ghetto exhaust leak sound. Repaired that one side, and about 2 weeks later the other side started leaking. All done.

So that's my experience. 18 gauge metal is just too thin for the way I was using them. Don't drive every day and don't drive in winter, rain, and so on and they'll probably be fine.

[quote Don't drive every day and don't drive in winter, rain, and so on and they'll probably be fine.

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Most guys only drive these cars once or twice a week in nice weather. Even if you had to change them every 4-5 years or so, they look easy enough to swap out...and they're cheap enough.

I have a set i scored off a friend's 73 Satellite 440 and have been saving them for a rainy day (big block A-body swap or a C-body). The fit on my friend's Satellite was brutal. He had a shop install them and they butchered the whole deal... ending up with a 1 1/2" (and necked down at that) headpipe to snake through the mess ov steering and engine compartment crap. They said that was necessary, but i'd have to disagree. Still... not an easy install. Because ov that shops ineptitude the car actually lost power.

Beyond the usual cheap header issues, the one thing i dont like is the collectors. Though this is common with all shorty headers, those collectors look like a serious restriction. If i ever do get around to using them i'll be hacking that crap off and fabbing up something considerably less restrictive.