Hey guys the engine 468 (550 HP) for my Bel Air is almost done. I have a little problem trying to pick out my headers. The engine builder told me to buy 2" primary with 3 1/2" collectors atleast 31" long. Well I found a set that will work, but they are $900 coated. I can get a set of 1 7/8 with 3" collectors made by patriot for $329. They are full length headers, but not equal length and they appear to be a lot shorter than what the engine builder recommended. I believe my engine builder and trust him, but from everything I read on here that 2" is to big.

My question is will I make more usuable power with a bigger, but longer primaries or smaller and shoter primaries.

BTW the engine will be in a full weight Bel Air with a 4 speed and 4.10 gears. I will be used on the street and strip and will make its power up to 6200-6500 RPM.

thanks
Tom

Check Patriot headers. I believe they make a 2" primaries/3.5" collector ceramic coated header. This is what I'm running on my 468 right now. Good fit and not too expensive.

BTW the motor makes 468 HP. Let that big block breath.

Make that 568HP SORRY!

Try this JEGS part #520-2455-1 It is Hooker CERAMIC COMP BB-CHEVY 2''. They are listed for 349.99

Ok guys these headers have to fit a 56 bel air. The ones that you guys posted will probably fit a chevelle, but not my car. Clearence is very tight and the headers have to be made to fit my car. But thanks anyways for trying.

So does everyone think that I should buy the 2" headers or 1 7/8?

thanks
Tom

Tom. Try here click (http://www.rjays.com/Exhaust/exhst-tri5-01.htm) They have 2" # H8035-1

Thanks for looking those up, but I guess I should have been more specific which is my fault. This headers exit in the fender wells. I want headers that exit under the car like a normal header.

thanks again for the help.
Tom

Sorry about that. I didn't even notice that. If you cant find any 2" at a price you like, The 1/8" will make very little difference with your combo.

Tom,,,

The only headers that I know of that may be 2" and will fit a stick shift 56 Chevy will be here
http://williamsclassicchassisworks.com/pages/products.htm
get out your checkbook, but I have a set on my 383 and they fit like a glove.

Tom,,,

The only headers that I know of that may be 2" and will fit a stick shift big block 56 Chevy will be here
http://williamsclassicchassisworks.com/pages/products.htm
get out your checkbook, but I have a set on my 383 and they fit like a glove.

HEADERS-full length ground clearance
Small Block bare 689.00
With coating 899.00
Big Block bare 689.00
With coating 899.00OUTCH!!!

From my past experience in my chevelle at 3850# when it was running 12.0's. I went from 1 3/4" to 2" primary's i slowed down 1.0-1.5 tenths seems to have lost the torque where the big heavy car needed it. That was with a 454 with a 294 comp cam shifting at 6200. Just my .02

From my past experience in my chevelle at 3850# when it was running 12.0's. I went from 1 3/4" to 2" primary's i slowed down 1.0-1.5 tenths seems to have lost the torque where the big heavy car needed it. That was with a 454 with a 294 comp cam shifting at 6200. Just my .02


Ditto to what he said ^

Havent you seen pics of the red '68 Chevelle of Eds doing those big wheelies? 1.75" Dynomax headers with scavenger collectors. It runs mid/low 10's at 3800lbs. His 468 is probably making 600-650HP and its very efficient. Having said that, I am using 2" x 3" Hedman headers on my 505. You sure dont need 3.5" collectors.

I agree with Bob.....do not sweat 1/8 in. with your combo

I think you're better off with the 1-7/8" at your power level, cubes and weight.


JIM

The patriot part # is H8035-1. $379 from Summit. Ceramic Coated for 55-57 chevy. 2" primary 3.5" collector. I was well aware you were looking for headers for a 56 chevy and not a chevelle. Hope this helps.

Thanks for looking those up, but I guess I should have been more specific which is my fault. This headers exit in the fender wells. I want headers that exit under the car like a normal header.

thanks again for the help.
Tom The set of headers right above that set with the part # H8023-1 were under the car exit and ceramic coated but were 1 7/8" primaries. I don't think they will be much different in the way they perform. A guy here with an old six pack Dodge Super Bee used to run 1 1/2" or 1 5/8" headers and it ran real good.

The patriot part # is H8035-1. $379 from Summit. Ceramic Coated for 55-57 chevy. 2" primary 3.5" collector. I was well aware you were looking for headers for a 56 chevy and not a chevelle. Hope this helps.


I believe this are fenderwell exit pieces,,,,Tom,,, like I posted eariler call Earle at http://williamsclassicchassisworks.com/pages/aboutus.htm tell him what you have for motor mounts, heads , steering and save yourself a lot of sleepless nights and no extra UPS fees for shipping back parts that don't fit,,,,Trust me you will be money ahead in the long run that is IF he even has a pair in stock now...

One of the largest errors street enthusiasts make is in running too large of a primary pipe, and too large of a collector. For example, NHRA and IHRA Stock teams using Burns' headers in H/SA in traditional small-block powered musclecars are running 1.5-inch diameter primary pipes- much smaller than many street machines are trying to use.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0310phr_burns/

I use $149 2" Hooker 2455's myself...

I think I am making some decent power with them. I need to get a coated pair one of these days..

Thanks everyone for help. Tweet55 those are the $900 headers that I was talking about. I was going to buy them from him, but it seems that I do not need 2" headers. I am going to see if I can find something else. Patriot has a set of 1 7/8 but they say they won't work with a manual trans and I am running a 4 speed. I am going to be using earl williams motor mounts and possibly the headers. Again thanks for all the help.

Tom

This is one of the problems with the tri-5 cars, lack of headers for bigblocks. I had a 56 at one time and was going to run a bigblock and ran into your problem. I found hooker super comps with 2 1/8" tubes that were way too big or a set of 1 3/4" that I felt were too small. I saw the Williams headers and passed because of the cost. There is a guy out here is N CA that has a set of headers that fit nice but I don`t know if they fit a 4spd car. I think it`s called Dougs or something like that. They are in El Sobrante(Spelling?) in the San Francisco area. I`m pretty sure they are 1 7/8" tubes which as peole have said will be just fine. I don`t think you`ll notice any difference with 1/8" smaller tube. Good luck.