Hello, I'm just wondering if anybody could offer some advice on which headers fit best on a 428 and fit into a 68 coupe with manual tranny. I have read lots about Dougs both good and bad. Headman? or Hooker Super comp.

No matter which ones you get you will probably have hammer the hell out of the pipe that get's in the way of the starter & steering box. And they always end up leaking.

I would recommend the repop stock long branch manifolds for < $300.

I have Doug Thorley headers on my 428 coupe, manual tranny, power steering. Fit well, don't leak, look good, no hammer.

Doug's are the ones to get then....

Are those the 3 tube or 4 tube design. I have read tat 4 tube is better. Is there any truth to that?

Yes, MUCH "truth" to it. In fact, 3-tube headers are strictly for "bragging rights" and don't "make power" as headers are supposed to. Isoloation of the exhaust pulses and vacuum "signal" is the "purpose".

Hooker headers are the "best" for power productoin, at least as far as "out of the box" headers are concerned. The consideration there is ground clearance. Hooker "Comps" are fine, but 1 5/8" in diameter. If not trying to make more than 500 HP, that's enough.

Doug's Headers are also very good. They offer some "special" part numbers Hooker doesn't (not your application, as Hooker has that one "covered").

Mad Dog is a relatively new brand that is excellent.

Which ever brand you buy, get them "uncoated", as the ceramic coating applied by the header companies won't "live" for more than a year or two. Have them shipped to a coating company and have a "thermal barrier" applied. We use Thermal Tech in Hopewell, Virginia. They're also a Doug's "dealer", so "one stop shopping' is available there. Jet Hot and Swain are two other coating companies that come to mind for high quality.

Jim

Thanks Jim, very useful information.

The ones on my 68 are three tube. A friend just bought some Doug's headers four tube for his 68, they sit slightly lower.

I don't know all the history of Doug Thorley headers but I believe "Doug's Headers" and "Doug Thorley Headers" are not the same.
Dougs headers is part of Pertonix and they call them 'the Original Dougs Headers' Doug Thorley Headers teamed up with Jardine Performance Exhaust and was bought by Summit racing. I don't know about the headers with the "Thorley" only badge and I don't know if the Doug Thorley three tubes are even made anymore.

As far as fit my Doug Thorley three tube fit better than my friends Dougs four tube. I don't know which would perform better at different rpm levels I've never seen any back to back comparison testing. I've read [can't remember where] the four tubes perform better at high rpm. More high rpm horsepower and the three tube will give better bottom end and mid range torque, but like I said I can't remember where I read it and have not seen any comparison testing so that could all be crap.

I've had Heddman 4 tube headers on my '68 MT car, fit was good, ground clearance decent.

Steve

Here are Dougs, They fit perfect.

Another vote for Doug's. My car had crappy 3 tubes on it when I bought it and they were totally crushed from the car bottoming out. The Doug's fit very neatly under the car.

Another factor is that only Doug's featured a 3.5 inch collector from what I could find. All the others were 3.0 inch.

Thanks for the pic. great shot by the way. Thanks for all the input guys, with the reasearch I have done and some positive remarks from actual users. I guess Doug's or Doug Thorley it is. I will check with the shop before I purchase.

Which ones work without having to remove the lockout rod on a 4sp car?

I don't know what a lockout rod is but Doug's headers states: D569 requires removal or modification of locking steering if equipped. Do 68s have a locking steering? Mine doesn't.

I believe that is referring to '69's where there is a locking lever from the steering column to lock the transmission in Park.

The "Doug" of "Doug's Headers" IS Doug Thorley. He had "Headers by Doug" in the '60s and through the mid '70s. A "divorce" happened, and "Doug Thorley" headers came next. They weren't very good, and the company folded. He "came back" about 10 years ago, making a higher level header. Good stuff, alright.

Four-tube headers outperform three-tube "across the board", provided the correct tubing diameters are chosen. Three-tube headers are strictly for bragging rights ("I have headers!"). The Ram Air and HO manufolds "make" more power than three-tube headers.

For clarity.

Jim

I've been reading all these post, great info guys!! I'm currently installing Heddman 4 tube headers in my 68 MT 455 with E heads. I have the pass side done and gonna install the drivers side next. My Question is their a tork spec in these aluminum heads? AND Has anyone have header leak problems at the gasket? Are the header bolt loosen up after driven the car?
Thanks Steve

With E heads you need RA IV exhaust, round port style means expensive.

Steve

Tw68, did you get the Dougs, and if so how was the install?

Al.

I installed Doug's headers on my car with a 428. They fit very nicely and clearance was great. My biggest beaf with them is the clearance for the oil filter and housing. I still haven't got the oil filter fit that makes me happy. No clearance at all between the filter and header. I tryed the straight housing and 45 degree housing still no luck without touching headers. I tryed a couple different style filters and still no luck. Any imput would be nice.

Actually I went with 1 3/4 Hooker Super Comp. Fit very nicely with good clearance all around. I ordered the Dougs through a supplier in Langley,BC but after 10 weeks still nothing and wanted to get on with my install. I did go with the Gate style Doug's exhaust cut out, they fit nicely as well. It sounds awesome.

I was happy with the Super Comps I used in my 68 428 coupe, which was a 4-speed. My only complaint to this day when I see the car, sold it 8 years ago, ceramic coating did not hold up well at all.

I was told that as well, my engine is a fresh build so I went with the high temp black as opposed to ceramic coat, I have also read that a higher quality ceramic coating can be put on after market but I have not looked into that. For me the black is fine (won't last long either)

I wish I would have went with the black coating, would have saved a least a few hundred dollars. I have heard the same thing about the quality of aftermarket ceramic coating.

I was told the doug's headers you buy now that the issue had been addressed and fixed. I think if I was to buy another set of headers it would be hooker super comps. But I think my exhaust on my white bird will be long branches.

I am done with headers, have a set of ceramic coated long branch ready to put on my current project.

I will 2nd that. My long branch manifolds look better and have much more room to spare for your starter and steering box.

I will never go back to headers.

Isn't nice to know that all you really need is an oil filter adapter and the exhaust manifolds are ready to go? Plus, I think they flow better than 99% better than the headers on the market. Not to mention they look sweet mounted to any Pontiac block!

Any difference in headers for AT and MT? My 3 tube headmans interfere with the arm coming off the Z bar.

My Z bar worked without modification with my headers. I had to pummel the [censored] out of the headers for the steering box though...lol

LBM's the way to go.

My hooked super comps clear everything
Friend has Hedman 4 tube in 67 and he has to take off the oil filter adapter to change the oil filter.

I went with Hooker Headers Competition Header (4902HKR), fit the 428 just fine and have been very happy with them.