• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Warning Hedman headers don't

ga66mopar

ga66mopar

Well-Known Member
Local time
9:49 PM
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
1,432
Reaction score
855
Location
North Ga
I bought a set of headman headers for my 66 belv that has a 440. This is the elite header which is a nice looking header but to bad it doesn't fit well. First one tube hit the steering box so I had to slot the box holes a little and move the box over then I still had to dent the headers. There was no way the oem starter was going to work so I had to buy a mini starter and one tube is touching it. So I had to take the header back off and put a dent where it is toughing.
Back in the old days when you bought a set of headers for $69 at you local auto parts you knew you had to beat the hell out of the headers but in 2010 when you pay $300 or more you expect better then this.
You would think as long as headman has been making headers they could engineer a header that would fit a car without beating it up.
Next time I'm going with factory manifolds.
 
I have installed TTI headers and they fit well on my 73RR. they specialize on mopars - call them on your application.
ralph
 
That early '60's mentality don't get it today. They want you to buy they're product, then sell you a piece of crap that don't fit. (probably fits 16 zillion other apps). Call them and let them know your very displeased with they're product. Let them know. I installed a set of TTI headers on my '62 and they fit perfect!! They're a little pricey but they fit...I even used my stock starter. I highly recommend these headers.
 
I had great luck just recently with some headmans on my 64, but that's definitely not the norm with this brand.

Just makes you wonder how they can say it fits you application. I mean as far as I know your car was equipped with a starter and steering box from the factory.

I have a set of TTI tailpipes on my car. When I brought my car in to get the exhaust done, the guy at the shope was miffed about having to fit the tailpipes and warned me that they weren't going to fit, and he's never seen one that did. They went right it and he ate his words big time.
 
It would take just a few changes to the headman elite header pipes to get them to fit. All of the B-bodies from 66-70 with 440's all have the same steering box and they all have starters. I guess they just don't care.
I understand the TTI are good headers but I really didn't want to spend that much but for $300 the headers should fit the car they were built for.
My last headmans I will ever buy.
 
I hear ya. Granted I've never installed headers on a 66, but them hitting the steering box is something I haven't heard yet.

Are you pretty sure your car has the correct motor mounts and brackets, and all is in good shape? Collapsed rubber or something bent can cause all kinds of problems no matter how good the header is. Just a thought.
 
I got a set of Hedman headers. They came defective - they never ground down the welds where the flanges attached to the tubes so the exhaust ports were tiny. I called, they said no way, I sent pics, they sent me a new set. That set - the driver's side hit the torsion bar. I sent them back to Summit and got Hookers. They fit, but not with a power steering box which I found out when I tried to upgrade from manual. I checked the clearances all around the bellhousing and fire wall and can guarantee my motor is level and straight. Had I known then what I know now I would have stayed with the factory manifolds or spend the $$$ for TTI headers.
 
I removed my engine and trans to get it ready for paint and body, Since I bought the my 68 Coronet, the previous owner had a set of hedman on it.
Talk about a pain to remove, (had studds in the heads to keep them from leaking and had to remove them all of them to remove them) and they were also dented up to fit the steering box, and when they hit the torq bars when you start it up and vibrated against them at idle. Needless to say, a usual couple hour job to remove an engine and trans turned into 6.

Needless to say, they will not be going back on the car. I will either go back with stock manifolds or TTI myself.

Finding out really quick on parts like Headers and fiberglass you get what you pay for.
 
I have used Headman 1 5/8 tube headers on all my 66-70 B bodies and never once had a fit issue.Are you guys using bigger tube headers?
 
I've used them all over the years, TTI "IS" the best header you can buy for a Mopar, if you want cheap,get a Camaro with a smallblock,you could get headers for $99.00!,

I have 2" TTI's on my Coronet,w/their 3" mandrel bent exhaust w/Magnaflow's,
absolutely perfect fit,no clearance issues anywhere.
 
My TTI headers needed a lot of denting to fit... Told them and they didn't care... I called them on it and they appologized... $800 for headers you have to dent up to fit ? please...

On another note their other headers i have used are awesome.
 
I have Hedman 1-3/4 tube headers on my 63's 440 and they fit great. :yes: Ron



100_1088.gif
 
Looks like they fit with manual steering but I noticed you have a mini starter.
Good looking engine.
383man said:
I have Hedman 1-3/4 tube headers on my 63's 440 and they fit great. :yes: Ron



100_1088.gif
Click to expand...
 
I paid $350 plus shipping for my headman elite headers. The way I see it when you buy a item for your car it should fit. Now it may not look as petty or last as long as a more expensive part but it still should fit no matter if it's for a camaro or cuda.
dodge41969 said:
I've used them all over the years, TTI "IS" the best header you can buy for a Mopar, if you want cheap,get a Camaro with a smallblock,you could get headers for $99.00!,

I have 2" TTI's on my Coronet,w/their 3" mandrel bent exhaust w/Magnaflow's,
absolutely perfect fit,no clearance issues anywhere.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I have TTI's on my 68 383 Dart and they did not fit well at all and they cost $800.00.I also have a set of headmans that cost me $400.00 and they fit great on my B Body.There is no need being an AHOLE about it dodge41969.
 
68383GTS said:
I have TTI's on my 68 383 Dart and they did not fit well at all and they cost $800.00.I also have a set of headmans that cost me $400.00 and they fit great on my B Body.There is no need being an AHOLE about it dodge41969.
Click to expand...

I just re-read my post, and you're right I did sound like an AHOLE, Sorry,
I just haven't had good luck with the Hooker or Hedman headers in the past.


What tube size are you running on your Dart?
 
No problem I am running TTI's 1 3/4 I could not even use the factory zbar for my tranny and you can forget the recommened Mopar starter.........I have read the TTI,s fit better on the taller 440's
 
68383GTS said:
No problem I am running TTI's 1 3/4 I could not even use the factory zbar for my tranny and you can forget the recommened Mopar starter.........I have read the TTI,s fit better on the taller 440's
Click to expand...

I think you're right,I have a couple of friends w/440 powered A-Bodies w/TTI headers and they did fit, but it's an extremely tight fit,and they're all running automatics, (no Z-bar) coupled with the taller 440, that must be the difference.
 
Have tti's on BB 64 dodge. Fit perfect. They are coated. Had one rust thru at flange. Sent pics to them, they sent me new set for free. Had them for 5 yrs. More than happy with fit and customer service. Have had hookers and Heddman's also. tti's are my recommendation, especially for street car.
 
This has been a problem with big tube heads since they were first produced back in the early 60s. It was always just understood that you may have to "massage" the tubes in certain areas or if you were concerned about denting them you would have to cut out an area, re-bend tubing to go around the trouble spot. Hell, I have the Hooker big tube headers on my 1966 Hemi car and it has a dip stick tube welded THROUGH one of the header tubes in order to get it in.

Some of the younger guys seem to think that everything fit perfectly when these cars were new and think that the new parts made today will. This is what prompted companies Like TTI to make the headers they make and from what I have heard they fit perfectly. However, you are going to PAY for it. Don't expect that headers made from patterns from 40+ years ago to fit any better then what you are encountering.

You guys should have seen what some of the sheet metal looked like that was ordered through the dealers for repair shops for 2 year old cars back in the day. And don't even get me started on what the quality of the cars were like when delivered new. Poor pre work on the metal, runs in the paint, poor door and window fitment, air and water leaks, etc. If cars were restored to truely OEM specs people would walk by them at a car show saying "boy, that guy did a lousy job restoring that car."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Encswsm
B body small block headers.
Replies
5
Views
419
71Beeper
71Beeper
R
TTI headers
Replies
17
Views
2K
rww124
R
B
exhaust stud removal when installing headers?
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
flyingfeathers
flyingfeathers
vsj100
Get rid of the headers, right?
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
3K
flyingfeathers
flyingfeathers
D
Collector flange hitting edge of trans pan
Replies
3
Views
304
68-500
68-500
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top