Wild horses vs bc Broncos headers

[Labbster]

Think I'm gonna bite the bullet and get the ceramic coated headers. Wh headers are at least $100 less. Bc headers are 1 5/8 tubes vs 1 1/2 Wh tubes

Question is will I notice and difference in power for the extra $100?

351. Gt40 heads. Rv cam.

 

[bronconut73]

I always thought the 1 5/8 primaries were for stroker motors and or heads that move "alot" of air.

 

[Stockbroker5]

I bought the BC headers and exhaust kit and love it. 351W EFI.
You can feel the power in the accelerator over the old factory cast iron junk.

 

[Green '70]

Unless you are running a big stroker type motor I have always found that 289/302 engines loose a lot of torque with the big primaries or big exhaust pipes. HP at higher rpm will go up but torque will come down. Torque is our friend. My .02

 

[WheelHorse]

You could get away with the 1_1/2" primaries.

IF you ever plan to upgrade to AFR185 heads and make over 300hp, go for the 1_5/8 primaries.

 

[vintage bronco]

You could get away with the 1_1/2" primaries.

IF you ever plan to upgrade to AFR185 heads and make over 300hp, go for the 1_5/8 primaries.

Very sound advice !

 

[rguest3]

Labbster - With your current engine set up (fairly Mild 351w) I would either do the WH headers, Hedmann Elite or the Hooker 3909 in ceramic coat.

 

[nvrstuk]

You can do fine with the 1 1/2" but you won't lose any torque that is noticeable by stepping up, especially with shorties, but it depends how you drive. Are you ever going to hit 5500 rpm? If so, go 1 5/8", if not, don't worry.

I'd like 1 3/4" but I'm pushing some major HP and won't lose any torque under 2500 if I bumped up. I'm currently running the 1 5/8" primary headers from BC. Great build and fit.

 

[dirwin]

I can't speak for the WH headers, I'm sure they'd work just fine. 1 1/2 to 1 5/8 will make very little difference to stock GT40 heads. What I do know though, the BC headers are sure well built and fit my 351 perfectly.

More than header tube size, torque is lost on these small blocks when people go 3" collectors and 3" pipes all the way back, unless it's a real fire breather, it'll kill your torque.

 

[muskrat]

I love my BC shorty's. The ceramic coating is nice also. It cut down on the amount heat coming up from the floor. Fit was awesome and I was able to put the whole exhaust system together in the driveway.

 

[nvrstuk]

product feedback on coatings

The ceramic coating on my JBA made headers sold by BC Broncos (which fit great and perform fine) is NOT good looking. Discolored and looks like rust after about 6 months. The coating isn't peeling or falling off, just looks terrible. I've had mine for years now.

My last set of headers that I had "Jet Hot" coated looked brand new for about 5 years then slowly discolored down by the collectors.

If you have a "fire breather", then Bronco Hut makes a shorty 3" collector header with 1 5/8" primaries that I would highly recommend. I already had Chuck's headers for years before Bronco Hut came out with them or I'd be running them as I think my strrroker would benefit from them.

 

[DirtDonk]

If your headers are the polished silver type, try some aluminum polish or Simichrome polish on a hidden but easy to access (yeah, right) area and see how it works.
Since a major component of the coating is aluminum, you may be able to get a lot of it's old luster back by polishing.

Not going to work though, if you have the black or titanium look coatings.
They're better from a heat barrier standpoint, but often look like pooh when you try to polish them up.

Paul

 

[nvrstuk]

Thanks Paul...I'll give that a try...after I get rid of the sand that's still all over my rig from last years Unevent!!

 

[Cactus killer]

product feedback on coatings

The ceramic coating on my JBA made headers sold by BC Broncos (which fit great and perform fine) is NOT good looking. Discolored and looks like rust after about 6 months. The coating isn't peeling or falling off, just looks terrible. I've had mine for years now.

My last set of headers that I had "Jet Hot" coated looked brand new for about 5 years then slowly discolored down by the collectors.

If you have a "fire breather", then Bronco Hut makes a shorty 3" collector header with 1 5/8" primaries that I would highly recommend. I already had Chuck's headers for years before Bronco Hut came out with them or I'd be running them as I think my strrroker would benefit from them.

When did you get your Headers?
The first Gen set were regular steel coated then that company (s&s went out of business) we moved our design to JBA, (then were bought by Pretronix)
they make them now and they are made of stainless steel and coated inside and out then polished. That can't be rust unless they are the older version,
We have noticed that if they get dirty that stuff bakes on and makes them look bad. after we install them we wipe them down. We assumed that the coating would be maintenance free but we have discovered that isn't case.

Part of the reason for a 29 horse power gain is the 1-5/8 tubes, that can't hurt a stock 289/302. With no modification to install them in your Bronco with auto and manual applications, makes them a great option. Being able to install them without removing parts and installing them from the top makes them an awesome choice.

 

[nvrstuk]

I got my JBA's from Chuck in the spring of 2011.

Mine were from some of the first batches from JBA I was told. They are/were silver colored. I'll try a little silver polish just for fun. My old titanium long tube ceramic coated headers hardly showed any discoloration in 12 years but the ceramic coated SS by JBA definitely do. I'm not worried, it's not coming off, but I was surprised how they discolored compared to the others.

Jason is right on in saying you won't lose any pwr by bumping up to these in 1 5/8" tube.

These things fit fantastic, no issues what-so-ever. Only thing I didn't like was I couldn't use my Stage 8 fasteners because the header tube size didn't allow enough room for them to fit. Chuck told me the funky looking lock washers supplied would work...I didn't believe him but I should have. I have never re-torqued even one bolt. On previous headers w/o Stage 8 fasteners I would literally have to re-torque every 100-125 miles...every time till I installed Stage 8 and then never since.

Good luck, buy the best and do it once!