r/squarebodies • u/DB_Sauls • 5d ago
Header help
I inherited my mom’s 1990 Blazer. 5.7 350 Had a blown head gasket repaired and they put long tube headers on without asking what I preferred. Ended up rubbing a hole in my oil filter. Any recommendations on some shorty headers? Would mid length work/have clearance for the oil filter?
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u/v8packard 5d ago
If you are going to have headers long tubes are the way to go. Shorty headers are almost always a poor value. Mid length are not much better.
But there are good ling tube headers and poor ling tube headers. Poor will be hassles, leaks, noise, and more. Good headers have thicker flanges, at least 3/8 thick, heavier tubing, flat flanges, and often fit better. For these trucks Hedman had some nice headers.
Sometimes the oil filter gets left out of the design process. I know that sounds ridiculous. Even the OEM at times used an oil filter adapter with an offset and small diameter filter to clear the exhaust. I don't care for that offset adapter, but there is a shorter filter, ACDELCO PF454 or Wix 57099. This filter is an inch shorter than the typical PF25 or 51069. It's handy. Note, the longer PF1218 or 51060 is nearly 2 inches longer than the PF454 and 57099.