+ WHAT ARE HEADERS?
Headers are specially designed tubular manifolds that replace the inefficient heavy factory cast iron manifolds. They improve exhaust flow, allowing your engine to breathe out easier.
A good set of headers lays the foundation to produce maximum horsepower and torque from the engine. You can install all the power parts on your engine you want to. If it can not remove the exhaust gasses quickly enough between combustion strokes, you are losing horsepower. Allow the combustion chambers to fully clear out before the next air/fuel charge, and you can produce maximum power.
+ WHAT DO HEDMAN HEDDERS DO?
Hedman Hedders increase performance and economy by improving the efficiency of a car's engine. They accomplish this by removing the exhaust gases faster and more efficiently than stock manifolds. Stock manifolds are designed for low cost. They have a short, cramped design which causes some exhaust gas to get bottled up in the cylinder. Because of these residual exhaust gases in the cylinder, the size of the new fuel charge is limited and engine temperature is increased.
Hedman Hedders have smooth, contoured individual pipes for each cylinder. These primary pipes create a suction effect, called scavenging, which sucks the exhaust gases out. This creates additional velocity in the cylinder and actually helps to pull in the fresh air fuel charge.
+ DO HEDMAN HEDDERS PROVIDE MORE HORSEPOWER & TORQUE
You betcha! Headers were originally developed for racing applications and Hedman Hedders are carefully designed to provide maximum increased horsepower and torque for passing, hauling loads, towing, etc. In some cases, this extra power contributes directly to improved economy because the engine does not have to work or labor as hard to pull a heavy load or conquer steep grades.
+ WHY SHOULD HEADERS BE THE FIRST PERFORMANCE UPGRADE ON YOUR VEHICLE?
In today's economy, cost is of great concern. Why not get the most performance for your dollar? The highest gains in performance can be acheived, simply by installing a quality set of headers, like those manufactured by Hedman Hedders. Why? Hedman Hedders allow an engine to breathe more efficiently, letting it work easier to produce more horsepower and torque.
If your engine can't expel spent exhaust gasses efficiently, your headers and exhaust turn into a bottleneck that restricts the performance potential of all the other power-adders upstream (i.e. supercharger, cam, heads, intake, etc). So, in short, starting with a good set of headers will maximize the effectiveness of your other performace upgrades, as wel as, maintain cooler engine temperatures and better drivability.
+ ARE ALL HEDMAN HEDDERS THE SAME?
No, definitely not. Each set of Hedman Hedder is designed for a specific application. The length and diameter of the primary tubes, and the collector size vary according to the size, weight, transmission type, gear ratio and intended usage of the vehicle. Headers for an RV camper will have relatively long, small diameter primary tubes and a modest sized collector. On the other hand, race car headers will often have larger primaries and a much larger collector. The applications and usage are different so the headers must be designed differently to provide maximum efficiency and performance gains.
+ WHAT ABOUT USING HEDMAN HEDDERS WITH AFTERMARKET HEADS?
If you are planning on using aftermarket or newer heads, you ALWAYS want to start by finding a set of Hedders that are designed to fit the chassis as well as the heads you plan on using first. Most aftermarket racing heads have raised exhaust ports, slightly different sparkplug angles and/or a modified exhaust port exit angle. Even if a head manufacturer refers to their product as "same as stock", and the bolt holes may line up, even the slightest deviation from the factory head's specs will change the position of the header tubes and collector, causing interference.
The animation on this page is a very simplified demonstration of what happens when even the SLIGHTEST differences are present. Although the diagram only references a starter and mounts, other items that can interfere include the bell housing, power steering box, steering shaft, frame rails, wheel well, etc.
Most Hedman Hedders are designed around the stock heads (unless specified), and are not compatible with many aftermarket heads.
If you have aftermarket heads, we recommend you contact our tech department by EMAIL or by phone, to see if the headers you are interested are compatible with the heads you want to use. When contacting the tech department, please have as much information about the heads you can gather, including manufacturer name, part number port size and shape, whether the heads have raised ports or non-factory plug position and angle. Sometimes, the head manufacturer will inform buyers if custom headers may be required with thier heads. We recommend contacting the head manufacturer before contacting Hedman Tech, as many of your questions and concerns can be answered through the head manufacturer's spec sheets.
+ WILL HEDMAN'S FORD HEADERS FIT GT40P HEADS?
No. The spark plug orientation on Ford's GT40P heads differ greatly from standard GT40 heads, or other factory style heads. This causes primary tube interference with the plugs, preventing proper installation of the headers and spark plugs.
+ HOW DO HEADERS LOWER TEMPERATURES?
Headers reduce engine temperatures in two ways. By increasing the speed with which super heated exhaust gasses are drawn out of the cylinder, the headers reduces heat buildup. In addition, the increased volume of the fresh fuel charge due to scavenging acts as a further cooling agent. A cooler combustion chamber and cylinder provide for a denser fuel charge which in turn creates more power. The lower temperature also acts to reduce the chance of pre-ignition or "knock".
+ HEAT WRAP PRODUCTS
If product durability and longevity is important to you, Hedman does not recommend the installation of thermal wrap material on any headers. The reason? These products are designed to hold the extreme engine temperature inside the header tubes. By doing so, cool air is not allowed to circulate around the external surface of the tubular construction. As a result, the internal temperatures reach extremely high, near molten metal temperatures, causing the headers to become highly fatigued and brittle, which causes premature header deterioration, and eventual failure. Additionally, header wrap retains moisture, further degrading the metal structure of the headers.
Due to these reasons, wrapping your headers with any form of thermal wrap will void your Lifetime Hedman Hedders warranty!
+ ARE ANY SPECIAL COATINGS AVAILABLE?
Absolutely! Back in 1984, Hedman Hedders introduced the most significant improvement to headers since they started building headers way back in 1954. Adopted from the Aerospace industry, Hedman Hedders began applying a ceramic-metallic thermal coating to protect their headers against rust. Known as HTC (Hi-Tech Coating). Hedman's, literal, "space-age" coating is sprayed on the header surface, then baked at a high-temperature to cure the material, bonding it to the header surface. In addition to keeping your headers looking good, the finish retains more exhaust heat inside the primary tubes. The coating can lower header surface temperatures, as much as, 200º F, compared to uncoated headers. The result is lower underhood temperatures, and a slight bump in engine performance, due to increased exhaust speeds.
Initially only available as a polished silver finish, Hedman began offering a Satin Black version about a decade ago, and is now known as, Hedman's Black-Maxx finish. Hedman's ELITE Heavy-Duty models ship from our Whittier, California factory with either a Matte Silver or stealthy Satin Black ceramic finish. Regardless of the color, this ceramic finish can withstand temperatures up to 1400º F. The finish does not peel off, nor does the silver finish "Blue" like chrome. This revolutionary finish is guaranteed to protect your Hedman Hedders from external rust-through for 5 Full Years (in addition to the lifetime warranty on construction).
Hedman's HTC Coating withstands heat up to 1400ºF, and helps to lower the header's external surface as much as 200ºF, compared to uncoated headers. This means lower underhood temperatures.
+ WHAT ABOUT INSTALLATION?
Hedman Hedders are designed for the easiest possible installation. Almost any muffler shop can do the job, or you can do it yourself using only a few simple hand tools, a jack, and some jackstands. To make it easy, Hedman includes detailed, easy to follow, step-by-step installation instructions with each set of headers.
WHAT ABOUT DURABILITY?
Hedman Hedders are built to last using the finest materials and manufacturing procedures. That's why each new set of Hedman Hedders is covered by a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in workmanship or materials. In addition to this lifetime warranty on construction, Hedman's factory applied ceramic finished are covered for a full five years.