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1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? #2412939
12/04/17 03:30 AM
12/04/17 03:30 AM
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Canada
CrAzYMoPaRGuY Offline OP
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CrAzYMoPaRGuY  Offline OP
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I'm picking up another 1980 Cordoba LS. J body, 1980-1983. I'll be pulling the rather anemic 318 and I have a healthy 360 to toss in.
The last J body I built I ran headers that fit pretty good, only problem is I have nooooo idea what brand they were.
Has anybody found a realllllly good fitting header for a performance J body small block?? Thanks!


CrAzYMoPaRGuY
Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2412960
12/04/17 06:16 AM
12/04/17 06:16 AM
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rory73 Offline
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If you can live with the ground clearance tti would probably be your best choice. At least that’s what I put in my F-body. There’s also a considerably cheaper alternative from Hooker Headers but obviously they’re not as well made.

Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2412980
12/04/17 10:35 AM
12/04/17 10:35 AM
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Windsor, ON, Canada
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Diplomat360 Offline
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I've used both of these in my previous M-body builds:

1) 78050, Headman Headers
2) 5901, Hooker Competition headers

I would recommend the Hooker pipes, overall they just seem better made. Before installing in the car I had them thermal barrier coated by a local MI shop. They've lasted about 5 yrs of summer only driving, no complaints.

The big difference between the TTI and the others would be that the TTIs do not require you to disassemble your steering setup for installation, the pipe runs around it.

Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2413016
12/04/17 12:36 PM
12/04/17 12:36 PM
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MarkZ Offline
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With the cheaper headers where three of the pipes on the driver's side go under the steering link be prepared to crawl over every bump you encounter. It's not a matter of if, but when you smack the header on the ground. F/J/M cars only had one spring rate from the factory (even the cop cars) - something pitiful like 140 lbs or close to it.

I destroyed a set of Hooker's on my car daily driving them over seven years in Michigan summers. What finally cured it was a set of torsion bars from Firm Feel. I went with their 300# bars and never bottomed the car again.

Honestly, you might want to think about going cheap on the headers and tossing the money into the bars. Aside from not bottoming, the increased spring rate up front makes it a blast to drive.


1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2413302
12/04/17 10:53 PM
12/04/17 10:53 PM
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CrAzYMoPaRGuY Offline OP
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CrAzYMoPaRGuY  Offline OP
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oh I don't mind spending more money on the best headers I can find AND new torsion bars.... I just want to find the best fitting headers I can. Just hoping to get good input so I don't buy several sets..... smile


CrAzYMoPaRGuY
Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2413316
12/04/17 11:27 PM
12/04/17 11:27 PM
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Michigan
MarkZ Offline
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Originally Posted By CrAzYMoPaRGuY
oh I don't mind spending more money on the best headers I can find AND new torsion bars.... I just want to find the best fitting headers I can. Just hoping to get good input so I don't buy several sets..... smile


Well, the only small block headers I've used on this body style are Hooker Competitions. The 1 5/8" primary model. They fit really well and didn't require any clearance of any sort. Flanges were also pretty thick and never had any issues with leaks as long as I stayed on top of keeping the bolts torqued on the Eddie heads.

I bought them ceramic coated and that didn't last for crap though. Got one season out of it and all the car saw was fair weather summers.

While they fit really well, they are a complete pain to work around.

Think I paid $350 for the coated version. This was almost 15 years ago.

I think another M guy here has TTI on his Dippy cop car though. Maybe Larry will chime in.


1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: Diplomat360] #2414567
12/07/17 03:24 AM
12/07/17 03:24 AM
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Posts: 16,453
Canada
CrAzYMoPaRGuY Offline OP
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CrAzYMoPaRGuY  Offline OP
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Originally Posted By Diplomat360
I've used both of these in my previous M-body builds:

1) 78050, Headman Headers
2) 5901, Hooker Competition headers

I would recommend the Hooker pipes, overall they just seem better made. Before installing in the car I had them thermal barrier coated by a local MI shop. They've lasted about 5 yrs of summer only driving, no complaints.

The big difference between the TTI and the others would be that the TTIs do not require you to disassemble your steering setup for installation, the pipe runs around it.


Did the Hedman 78050 fit well? I think I had Hedmans lst time but can't remember for the life of me!


CrAzYMoPaRGuY
Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2414893
12/07/17 08:19 PM
12/07/17 08:19 PM
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Windsor, ON, Canada
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Diplomat360 Offline
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Originally Posted By CrAzYMoPaRGuY
...Did the Hedman 78050 fit well? I think I had Hedmans lst time but can't remember for the life of me!

Yeah, they fit. Heck, I actually still have a brand new set in the box somewhere in storage, I think.

I originally ran the Hedman tubes in my old coupe, as I planned to build my current ride I gathered some parts here and there...LOL, reason for the 15 yrs project duration I suppose. Eventually I bought the Hooker set because they just seemed to be built better (thicker flanged?), as best as I can remember anyways.

Re: 1980 Cordoba 360 J body- Best headers??? [Re: CrAzYMoPaRGuY] #2422997
12/24/17 03:40 AM
12/24/17 03:40 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 16,453
Canada
CrAzYMoPaRGuY Offline OP
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CrAzYMoPaRGuY  Offline OP
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Well I bought Hooker SuperComp 5115 headers. I didnt want header tubes running BELOW the steering linkage, and the Hooker 5115s are 1 3/4" primaries so I can put some healthy small block under the hood down the road I'm hoping....
Anybody got the 5115s? You like or?


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