I am in the market for a set of ceramic coated headers for my '80. I need to find one with an O2 sensor bung welded on before the headers are coated.

For those of you running headers, which manufacturers do you like/dislike, and what are your recommendations?

How tough were they to get in place?

Thanks in advance...

I just dropped a brand new 330Hp 350 Vortec crate motor into my 79. I used Dynomax Ceramacoat headers. They are polished and guaranteed not to rust, corrode, or turn Blue. A couple of issues were the loops on top of the headers did not line up with the holes used for wire looms in the side of the engine and had to be cut off. Also the gasket just barely interfered with the O2 sensor and had to be trimmed. Trimming out the gasket was not fun but not terrible. These are probably only issues because of the new crate motor. They look great and sound good too. Getting them in was a little tricky. We actually put them in when we dropped the new engine. It took 2 of us to hold the headers in place and my buddy’s 11 year old daughter to run the cherry picker. The headers ran about $250 from Jegs.

Good luck,
Andy Milligan

The headers for my 454 are sitting on the garage floor. The guy who did the heads sold them to me. Said they were OLD Hookers and showed me they will work with the factory Vette side pipes. I had him "braise" the bung on them. He convinced me to have it braised because he claims that welding on the headers will eventually crack from heat expansion and contraction on street driven cars. Who am I to argue? Anyhow, I am going to send them to Jet-Hot Coating. They are going to do the shinny coating, sterling I think they called it. They want $229.00 to do them inside and outside. I think it is a fair price. Some places charge that much to do just the outside.