Headers vs Stock Manifolds

[The Rebel]

My 68 Charger has an unknown set of headers on it but am wondering if I should find a set of OEM manifolds.

I like the way my car sounds but would switching over to make it sound different, would I also loose horsepower?

 

[33 IMP]

Yes, and yes.

 

[R413]

How are you using/driving the car?

Something is wrong with the headers, what is it? You wouldn't ask about changing if all was fine right now.

 

[68BabyBlue]

I owned Baby Blue twice. First time, the car had headers in place, stock manifolds were in the trunk. Car was strong and sounded nice, but I had constant trouble with burnt spark plug wires. The second time I owned the car, the stock manifolds were back in place. The stock mufflers had been replaced with flowmasters and a Holley Street Avenger had replaced the original Carter AVS.

The performance level of the car seemed the same or better the second time around, and it sounded great. It was nice not having to deal with the spark plug wire issue. During the eight years I owned the car the first time, I felt it was easier to change the plug wires than to remove the headers. Once the manifolds were in place, I was happy to keep them there.

 

[Kern Dog]

Good, expensive headers fit right and do not leak. They also allow the engine to make more power that YES, you can feel.
No offense to others but if you think that headers are poor fitting and that they make no difference, you are not well informed.
My TTI headers never blow out gaskets. They don't leak. Spark plug wires can rest against a manifold and burn so the argument that headers burn wires is also moot.
The power increase that headers allow is directly dependent on the power level the engine has on it's own. An engine with aggressive camshaft timing will see the biggest gains. A stock engine will see the least but even a stock 440 4 barrel will see approximately 20 hp increase.
Headers do change how the engine sounds. I've found that manifolds often make the engine more throaty with more drone, more bass tones as well. Headers allow one to hear more of the snap/crackle of the aggressive camshaft and the tone has more highs/midrange to it.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

 

[WileE]

Besides the "which is better" debate ( headers ), what exactly is the issue ? You like the way it sounds.

 

[The Rebel]

Thanks guys for your input, much appreciated!

All is in perfect working order, engine and headers as well as mufflers (Flo-Pro, Performance Mufflers).

My engine has the purple cam in it that was installed probably by the original owner as the 2 POs that l talked to did not install it and based on my research I'm the 4th owner. Wish l could find the original owner to get info as to what purple cam was installed.

I was just thinking about going back to OEM but wasn't sure what the difference is.

Thanks to your help, l'm just going to leave things as they are and save some money.

 

[3sloppydogs]

I have headers on my charger I have manifolds on the coronet. The manifolds are attached to a TTI manifold back system which fits perfectly, an excellent product. I will say manifolds are so much easier to work around

 

[33 IMP]

If you are happy with the condition of the headers, and exhaust (and sound) , there's no need to spend several hundred dollars for manifolds and headpipes, and get less power and more work for your money.

 

[FitzyB5]

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/how-hot-the-hemi/
This article was written by Steve Magnante. I bought this motor in the article from Don Wood. It is in my 67 Coronet. At the end of the article it shows the difference between stock manifolds and headers.