I just ordered a set of 1 5/8" TA performance headers to replace my beat down rusted out hooker supercomps. I can't believe the deal and I wasn't expecting it as their site doesn't say much about it. For $395 you get uncoated headers with gaskets, bolts, collectors and reducers. That is almost a Chevy price right there. With Hooker its hard to find their headers for any less than $520 and that doesn't include shipping or any extra parts I have heard good things about Ta headers compared to Hooker but what is your guys opinions? Anyone have pictures of TA headers? I can't wait to order my Magnaflow exhaust next and really make this car sound the way it should instead of sounding like an old beat up caprice with all the exhaust leaks I have:moonu:
and to top it off, it wont hang rediculously low like my Poston headers lol get some pics when installed :-D
If these TA Headers sit higher than the Hooker headers then I will be one happy Buick guy. It seems whoever owned this car before me had a hard time with ground clearance because the primaries are almost dented shut. I never had a problem but I suppose that is just me and my common sense kicking ino No: Anyways I hope for an improvement both because I will have a set of full flowing headers and a little bit of an increase down low since I am going from 1 3/4" to 1 5/8". This together with the 4bbl intake swap next week and posi I just installed last week should make me happy for a while while I save up to do a 455 (or maybe a stout 350 who knows:laugh Pictures of before and after are sure to follow but I would still love to see any pictures of Buick 350 header and exhaust set ups!
i'll try and snap a pic up my poston headers/2.5 strait pipes and flow master 40s.. it wont look pretty though...til i manage to by a pypes 304 ss xpype setup lol
Trust me, it can't be worse than my current setup.:laugh: The pypes kit is very nice, a little spendy for me but it looks and sounds worth every penny Here is the current setup
If you guys are on the fence about headers BUY BUY BUY:dollar: :TU: I am amazed at everything about these TA Performance headers. The quality, the fit, the pricing and the kit contents. Nice 12 point bolts (great where you can fit them, some areas will require shorter hex head bolts which I will go into detail about in another post), collecter gaskets, reducers (3" to 2.5") Header gaskets and collecter nuts, bolts and lock washers. I used 1 can each of high heat grill paint which finished to a nice matte black (although it teases you when you are spraying it, I wish it came out glossy). Paint has held up well so far and when installing the headers I didnt dent scratch or nick any section of the headers what so ever. It litterally took all of 30 seconds each to slide them into place. Bolting them in is a different story but I will update with that and pictures this afternoon.
Some tips for the install: Make sure when you do this that if you plan on doing a new header back exhaust do not weld anything untill you have the headers bolted up. I got lucky and my original exhaust length worked out but the bolt position between the hooker and TA headers was different. I had to twist my exhaust to get things to line up. Luckily TA provides new reducers but I managed to avoid using them and stuck with my old setup. When doing the headers I did all of this on jackstands and the wheels were barely off the ground. I still had enough clearance to get the headers in from the bottom but two people is a necessity. I removed the powersteering pump for easy acess to the bottom bolts on the driver side. Disconnecting the battery is also a requirement. The passenger side header bolts in without breaking a sweat. Be prepared to curse out the driver side though. I had the hardest time with the bottom front bolt and the center bolt. To tighten the center bolt you need a short hex head bolt and a stubby combination wrench. Best angle of attack is to try and wrap your arms around the motor mount. It is a slow painful process and the only way around it is to jack up the motor and remove the motor mount. Use best judgement on when to use the nice 12 point bolts and when to just use 6 points. Some places like the ends of the headers require shorter bolts so you can install them without denting the primaries. I installed these headers without any modifications from the way TA designed them. I would like to personally thank the guys who designed these headers because it was above and beyond my expectations. Here are some pictures The old headers New TA Performance 1 5/8" 2 Coats of high heat paint Painless install Headers in my dirty engine compartment
had mine hot coated [DONT WASTE YOUR $$ ] it looks nice but then 2/3 years later [ with very light miles 3/4 k ] they were peeling/flaking,after sending pics to t/a along with A REQUEST THAT THEY REPLACE OF REPAIR THEM,THEY WANTED ME TO REMOVE THEM, SHIP THEM BACK FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WITH NO GUARANTEE OF REPLACING THEM?? SAY WHAT?? LETS DO SOME THINKING,TIE MY CAR UP FOR WEEKS,ORDER AND PAY FOR NEW GASKETS AND SHIPPING BOTH WAYS,UMM YOU SEE HOW THEY GET AWAY WITHOUT REPLACING BAD COATED HEADERS.THINK ABOUT IT,WISH I DID. CHRIS
... so you were expecting a business to just ship you out a new set of headers with a warranty claim sight unseen on a moderately valued product ... based on less than a physical inspection and involving a potential third-party subcontractor's work? This is 2011. Good luck with that! I have every confidence that T/A will be fair. You might consider getting your own independent analysis by some qualified disinterested third-party (with some level of credibility & expertise) before sending them back ... but if/when they are replaced, etc., the old (or defective) parts should go to the party replacing them absent some other credit or arrangement. You can also check to verify if a header coating claim can be directed through the selling retailer of the coating mfg'r directly. I am intending this to be a fair response to your comment, though. I do not know you or Mike at T/A, but T/A has a reputation that has been built and simply could not exist if they did not stand behind their products and I am pretty sure that the vast, vast majority or Board members would back me up on that statement.
If it's a jethot coating then alot of people over the last 5-6 years have been having problems with the coating burning off really quickly. Not sure who TA uses to do their coating but I know some other manufacturers have been sending their customers directly to the coater to get the warantee work done.
In the end the way I see it headers get hot and its difficult to expect any coating used to last the life of the car. Things have to be touched up ocasionally and kept in check. I used cheap paint, I expect cheap results and I plan on inspecting the headers frequently and touching them up yearly.
A nice touchup around the areas that drag or the areas that get excessive amounts of heat could be part of a yearly tune-up. May as well touch them up when you have the car in the air for new brakes.
So how well to they work once installed? Is there a reasonably notable power increase and over what range? I'm thinking about 'em for my mildly built 350 (SP motor with 260H cam)
I have never driven a Buick 350 with manifolds to compare the headers with but it all comes down to preference and application. Headers sit low, are harder to install and are more expensive than manifolds but at the same time they are great for built motors, sound amazing and allow more versatility as far as aftermarket exhaust setups go. I do believe the increase is about 20hp on a properly set up engine
I figured about as much on the HP - Gonna install the Magnaflows I just got first and see how I like their output, then give the TA's more thought.
Well Hawkin; since i have the paper work that proves i purchased the headers from T/A and the fact that i did minimal driving [as i stated ] those headers were not old i shouldnt have to touch up anything,and i also have a reputation its called a loyal customer who has spent thousands at T/A performance, that alone should be enough, along with the pictures i sent. So feel free to come inspect the headers if your up to it.thanks for your feed back. Chris
Just an update on the headers, it seems the second coat I put on is peeling a little, I probably should have waited longer between coats but other than that things are holding up well! No leaks and no clearance issues. I am curious to see if my MPG's go up but at the same time I can't be sure of that yet with all the "spirited" driving I have been doing:TU:
I had been considering headders, but after reading this thread I think for no I will pass. They are costly and the performance is not worth the money. The info on them sounding better might be my undoing tho. I have my first v8 in 30 years and I really want it to sound like I have some power. Thanks for the thread
I bought mine from TA 15 years ago. I sent them to Jet Hot coatings and they coated them inside and out. I have some rust now in between the pipes but they still look decent. Better than what paint will do. Having them coated will let the engine run cooler. The power gain was about 20-25 horse or so, you will be able to feel it. I had Hooker Headers the first time before I had any motor work done and you could feel the difference in power. If you guys don't want them to get dented on the bottom get new springs up front. After 40 years they are shot. Those old springs were made for a cushy old mans ride that drives 30 mph. A good pair of adjustable shocks would help also. To the person that is mad at TA about the Jet Hot they did. Why don't you post some pictures here so we can see for ourselves. Did they coat them inside and out? I had sent mine to Jet Hot I did not have TA do them. I don't think they were doing this service when I bought mine. I spent 5 grand there when I had my motor rebuilt. I don't expect them to just kiss my butt because I think that they did something wrong. We are talking about Racing parts here not something that you can just go to Autozone to buy. I don't even think that Summit Racing would just hand you a new set of headers just like that. I am sure they would be pro rated.
Headers are a pain in the ass to install on the Buick, but I feel its worth it, besides, it gives us another thing to tinker with:beer
