Header questions

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

DustyDog99

Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Posts
65
Reaction score
20
Location
US
Ram Year
1985 D250, 1986 W150
Engine
1985:318-2bbl 1986:318-4bbl
I am looking to purchase a set of headers for my truck (86 W150 318 4speed) and I need your opinion. The summit racing long tube or the flow tech long tube? Anybody have experience with these? The reviews are kinda 50/50on quality and fit. Thanks everyone!

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk
 

reek

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Posts
1,592
Reaction score
733
Location
Sacramento
Ram Year
2015 RAM 2500 CC 4x4, 72 D100, 73 D100, 01 RAM 2500 field truck
Engine
6.4 Hemi
not sure who makes Summit's headers, I'd go Flowtech. I've had hit or miss with a lot of brands. My last JBAs were crap with poor fit/clearance, while in the past JBAs were fine. as a generic statement, I've always had the best luck with just plain old cheap Hookers.
 
OP
OP
D

DustyDog99

Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Posts
65
Reaction score
20
Location
US
Ram Year
1985 D250, 1986 W150
Engine
1985:318-2bbl 1986:318-4bbl
From the reviews, it looks like flow tech builds the summit headers. Same issues on both. I will look into the ****** headers. I know they have been around forever.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk
 

nikwho

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Posts
65
Reaction score
4
Location
Flagstaff, AZ
Ram Year
2008
Engine
Hemi 5.7
My son and I just installed a set of the Summit headers on his 1988 W100 w/ 318.

These headers are great! There is not AMY fitment issues with the headers! The problem is with people not understanding that certain things need to happen to install them!

They do NOT slide right into place. My son needed to remove his starter, unbolt both of his engine mounts, lift his engine up as far as it would go until the distributor was close to conflicting with the firewall. With that said, it sounds much worse than it was! My son is 17 and a fairly inexperienced wrench (though, he's in his third year of high school auto shop and it's helping him a ton!), and he did this nearly without any help, as I was working on my old '59 pickup and would pop over to his truck as he needed advice. My son installed his headers and reinstalled his engine mounts and starter in approximately 4-5 hours! One regret was not buying new engine mounts prior to starting. They weren't trashed, but obviously original and not in amazing condition. It would have been incredibly convenient to swap in new engine mounts while the engine was raised. I would highly recommend the Summit headers! Great quality and they fit GREAT! they route through some tight real estate nicely! Be prepared to extend the three wires for your o2 sensor about 30", or so, as the factory driver side exhaust manifold holds the o2 sensor. We ran into NAPA and bought an 18mm nut for the new o2 sensor. Before installing the header collector, we used a step drill bit ($8 for a set of them at Harbor Freight) to drill a hole about 5/8", IIRC, then welded the nut to the collector as the new mounting position for the o2 sensor. Worked great! If you don't have the capability to weld a bing in, I know that Summit Racing also sells header collectors that have o2 sensors in them, as I bought a set for my '68 GMC.

ANYHOW, if you realize going into the job that you will need to remove the starter and engine mounts and raise the engine up, you'll realize that the work on the front end saves a TON of time on the total job. Good luck! We installed them on my sons W100 and it sounds great now with the dual 2.5" exhaust and thrush two chamber mufflers. It gets tight behind the headers. We had to jog the drivers side exhaust tubing around the transfer case and to the passenger side of the truck. Looks tough with both mufflers next to each other on passenger side, though. I don't think that you will regret the Summit Racing headers. They're probably made by Flotek, by the sound of it! Summit Racing rebrands some pretty quality parts! I bought a set of Summit Racing SBC Aluminum cylinder heads that turned out to be rebranded Brodix heads! That 383 runs like a ***** ape with those heads, as they came right out of the box!

Good luck!
Nik
 
OP
OP
D

DustyDog99

Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
Posts
65
Reaction score
20
Location
US
Ram Year
1985 D250, 1986 W150
Engine
1985:318-2bbl 1986:318-4bbl
I chose hedman headers in the end due to cost and better reviews. Haven't had a chance to work on it in a while as the weather and lack of garage has slowed my progress. I have also decided since I don't need the truck asap to do a thorough job on it. Paint, body, interior, limited slip, etc. Will post more as I can about the old girl. Then again there's a sweet 88? Long bed down the road for 4700. Hmmmmm.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk
 
Top