TTI headers v. el cheapo

TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 06:59 AM

does TTI's small block headers have a different bend to them than the cheapos? I know they have a lot better flanges and are a lot better....do they hang down the same hieght as the cheapos?

I have a 318 with summit headers and they scrape the ground when you hit a dip in the road sometimes if its a wierd dip......did not want to fork out dough to scrape up nice headers...

Posted By: RobX4406

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 07:33 AM

Dougs and tti fit up tight.

The most all the cheap ones are copies of hookers. they almost all hang below the steering gear on the drivers side.

Posted By: cogen80

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 08:10 AM

Quote:

Dougs and tti fit up tight.

The most all the cheap ones are copies of hookers. they almost all hang below the steering gear on the drivers side.

Posted By: Gavin

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 10:42 AM

Yup, to be honest ground clearance was the reason I went with TTI's over cheapo's.

I had enough of scraping my bottom

over every bump!

Posted By: 71dusta

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 11:09 AM

I have a 71 duster and I used to have coated hooker headers and scraped them everywhere even my own driveway. I just installed tti step headers on my car a few weeks ago and they installed like a dream with lots of clearance on everything, even my mini-starter slid in afterwards! My car is lowered quite a bit so I had to get them, I am so happy, I would never buy another header again.

Attached picture 4559123-viperfront.jpg

Posted By: imfixinmopars426

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 11:52 AM

i had a 68 dart w/ a 340 and some coated cheap headers and they sucked.hit the ground,even locked the steering up under full throttle,nice. oil filter hassles ect ect ect. went w/ tti steps and its possible! someone made a quality header for a a body wow. they fit perfect,no hassles,no stupid 90 deg adapter ect.best money i ever spent,period on headers.

Posted By: Mr.Yuck

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 12:13 PM

I'd personally never buy a anything from TTi it's way to expensive. The dart I had came with a set of TTi "step headers" and complete 3" exhaust. It fit nice but I have a freind w/ a BB dart w/ the Summit 3" kit and it fits nice too. My swingr had the nickel plated headers but after a few years they started getting a little rusty. I have used Summit brand or, Heddmans on big and small block cars. Mostly b-bodys and have never had a clearance issue or had to "ding" them. I strip them and paint them w/ high temp paint and put them on. The set I had on my 67 coronet looked nice after 3 years. The trick to any header is to take your time. Get the motor up and steering out of the way and they should go on nice. Especially on a small block. Performance wise you not going to lose much if anything. Good luck.

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 02:04 PM

I put el cheapos on my 70 Barracuda 318. Kinda tough and they dragged on stuff (car was low).
I also put el cheapos on the 340 Demon. MAJOR pain, dragged, leaked (probably due to all the bumps from below) and generally were a hassle.
I have no personal experience with TTIs, but have seen them in person and have heard good things about them.

Posted By: Moonraker

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 02:55 PM

Go cheap in an A-body and you'll regret it most cheapo's fit like crap in A bodies, and require heavy mods in some cases, atleast on the drivers side, and hang way to low to boot. The passenger side is cavernous compared to the drivers and cheapos work there fine in most cases. To bad you couldnt buy headers individually and go TTI for the drivers and cheap on the passenger side

. I bought TTI's for the Duster and was very pleased with the fit, just a few minor mods since all cars are not built exactly the same. But if you like a challenge and want to save some dough go cheap, but whats your time worth to you. Your working with a B or E-body it looks like from your sig so cheapos fit quit a bit better in those body styles.

Posted By: BossRide

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 03:47 PM

I asked this same question a year or two ago and one guy told me he would pick up cans on the side of the road to raise money for TTIs before he bought another set of cheapies... that always stuck in my head as being funny and probably true.

So I turned down a free pair of Hooker headers and saved and bought a set of TTIs and they are awesome. They were worth the wait and price. They went right in, have some huge flanges, I didn't have to jack up the motor or ding anything to get them in, and I'm running my stock starter. The only thing that ever scrapes are the collector flanges but my car sits pretty low.

Save, purchase, and be happy.

Posted By: JF_Moparts

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 05:14 PM

I've had very good luck with Hedman block hugger headers. I have the longer pitman and idler arms in my steering linkage and therefore the TTI's won't fit. In fact, it was a pain finding headers that would fit, so I went with the Hedman. Since they are shorter pipes than most other headers, maybe I'm not breathing as well as I could, but I think the performance is great.

Jim

Posted By: PlumCrazy73Dodge

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 05:17 PM

yeah, i have thew summits modeled after the hooker on there and the one driver's side pipe is basically crushed in half already from hitting the ground so I am rebuilding my engine anyway so i am going with the tti's....thanks for the info......I finally have a real job now and some extra $

Posted By: LimelightCuda

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 06:14 PM

I have Hedmanns with a BB/e body. They hit the steering box. I had to put in manual steering. I'm having arm problems so I'm going back to PS. I'm either going to have to smash up the headers or save up for TTIs. Thanks for the info.

Posted By: lewtot184

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 06:37 PM

i have 2" tti's on my 440-6 engine in my 65 coronet. after the engine is raised up the headers just fall on. i'm amazed at how well those big pipes fit,

. putting the mini-starter in took some patience,

Posted By: RobX4406

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 06:48 PM

Dougs cost about 539 for ceramic coated ones and 389 for uncoated.

Less than tti and fit just as nice.

I have cars with both tti and Dougs. I like the Dougs better,

Posted By: cogen80

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 07:10 PM

Quote:

I asked this same question a year or two ago and one guy told me he would pick up cans on the side of the road to raise money for TTIs before he bought another set of cheapies... that always stuck in my head as being funny and probably true.

i know i always thought they were too much money until i finally broke down and bought a set. and like that guy that will pick up cans from the side of the road my car will sit until i save the money for a set . will not use that hooker,headman junk again.

Posted By: CHRYCOFAN

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 08:07 PM

Listen to Rob above.....Check out the Dougs.

We put a set of Dougs on a Duster back in the 70's & I remember how the tubes ran.....exactly like the TTI's I have on my Dart. The one tube on the driver side was a slip tube & went around the T-bar just like the TTI's & they didn't run under the steering linkage.

If they're the same now (and I think they are )they're cheaper, still have thick flanges & 16 ga tubing. A buddy just put a set of Dougs on a B motor 66 B-body& they fell in.

TTI basically copied the Dougs as far as I'm concerned. If I'd looked more back when I bought my TTI's I'd have Dougs there instead.

Check them out.

Butch

Posted By: RobX4406

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 08:56 PM

Quote:

Listen to Rob above.....Check out the Dougs.

We put a set of Dougs on a Duster back in the 70's & I remember how the tubes ran.....exactly like the TTI's I have on my Dart. The one tube on the driver side was a slip tube & went around the T-bar just like the TTI's & they didn't run under the steering linkage.

If they're the same now (and I think they are )they're cheaper, still have thick flanges & 16 ga tubing. A buddy just put a set of Dougs on a B motor 66 B-body& they fell in.

TTI basically copied the Dougs as far as I'm concerned. If I'd looked more back when I bought my TTI's I'd have Dougs there instead.

Check them out.

Butch

No slip tubes on the Dougs SB A's anymore. No trouble for me getting a mini-starter without messing with the header flange bolts.

Hard to beat Dougs for fit AND price.

IMO, tti are overpriced for what they are. I've really never found the step tube to 1 3/4" to be a significant advantage from a performance standpoint. If tti's were the same price as Dougs... I'd buy Dougs!

Posted By: PlumCrazy73Dodge

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/18/08 10:22 PM

Will do thanks...info was good

Posted By: 68Bullit

Re: TTI headers v. el cheapo - 07/19/08 02:58 AM

Are the Dougs available in a thermal barrier ceramic header?