Which size headers for a 318 Magnum

I am going to have some light work done to the factory heads, a mild cam, a carburetor and transmission work done. I want to put shorty headers (due to clearance) on and I saw some are 1.5 dia. and some are 1.625. The 1.5 dia. are JBA's and the 1.625 dia. are Pacesetter. Does the diameter help or hurt for a slightly modified motor? Does either company offer a good piece?

Thank you, Chris

Is it a Dakota?

Run long tube if possible (I have them on mine and they clear everything by a lot), the shortys are almost no gain over manifolds.

I have 1.75 long tubes in my R/T but it is going to be a 410 stroked 360 before long and is curently a 392 stroker 318. If no one buys my 392 I will put it in my 4x4 dakota and use 92 manifolds instead of the eddelbrock shorties I already own, that is how much I dis-like shorties

Thanks HotRodDave. Yes it is a Dakota. It is a 1993. I was under it one day (too cold currently) and it did not look like long tubes would work. Which ones do you have? Were they hard to put on?

Thank you, Chris

Hooker super comps. They are made for the 93 style trucks but fit fine on my 99. Tried them on a 93 here for fun and they fit it fine also. The eddy shorty headers will NOT fit your truck, the pass side one wants to hit the frame.

agree on the supercomps.

no experience on the Gen 2 trucks, but the gen 3 (97-04) has mopar "PPH" mid length tri-Y headers that work well, and then theres the spintech mid lengths that's a 4 into 1 collector that is a little better, but a lot more expensive.

spintech also makes long tubes for the gen 3 trucks.


I'll have to research the hooker long tubes though...they're made for a 93 but fit in the 98? no mods done to the headers to fit? (spintech and PPH drop in without hitting anything)

no experience on a '98, so i won't say either way. you might find a used set, for cheap, and give them a shot. worse case scenario, you paint them nice, and have some new garage art.

I ran 1 5/8" Hedman shorty's on my old 318 magnum 93 Dakota 2wd short box 518 auto, with some mild head work
MP Computer, M1 intake small .460 lift cam and some other tricks, mild MP converter, 4.10 gears with stock short block.

in good air it would run low thirteens @102-107 all day.