I would definitely use ball and socket if I had the choice.

 

Space limitations.... Already think im gonna have to shorten my collectors to make room for the cats.... And i found stainless vbands with stainless flanges for $18, need find $$ for my cats before i can do anything... And i' ve found vband "gaskets" for $6 a piece..... Wish i had bought sone kooks when i was putting the exhaust together to begin with, but i hada set of shortys i was planning to use with a set of gutted escalade/denali/silverado ss cat pipes.... At this point ive had to buy manifolds, cats and now headers... One day ill learn

 

I owned several different sets of headers/pipes and the cheap stuff was nothing but endless frustration. And in the end, the truck is still **** *** slow as 25 rwhp gain is still not significant in the grand scheme of things.

 

Im only tryin to break the 400rwhp mark maybe 450, but im not expecting to break any land speed records, so 25 rwhp is only 25hp away from my goal the other 25 will hopefully come with the proper cam for my setup!!

 

I don't know about ball and socket collectors so much. I've had 2 sets of them and they constantly work loose over time. You get tired of constantly re tightening them. But then again, I did slip fit on my Camaro and the band clamps wouldn't seal so I just welded the collectors solid, bam no leaks!

 

Thought about welding everything.... But would be a raeal pain if or should i say when i need to pull trans again....

 

I hope my aluminum foil, muffler sealant, and band clamp combo works after hearing its that hard for it not to leak with these headers...

 

Not just "these" headers...

 

I've got a friend that used to race funny cars and he told me headers won't really do much at all until you get up into the higher RPM/600+HP motors.

 

Its not a huge gain but basically they do flow better, put it this way factory manifolds are designed to work with the amount of air etc the engine pulls in, you start pulling more air in keeping valves open longer and valves opening further, now you have twice as much coming in trying to escape through the same route, headers open the exhust to flow better.... Not that oe mnifilds dont do their job, even with the excess, just leave some on the table with them!!!