Sanderson Headers

The questions "Are your headers direct-fit?" or "Do I need to modify my down pipes to connect to your headers?" are asked regularly, and the answers are simple.

This is simply a misunderstanding of terminology. We often own newer vehicles that we drive daily. We like the warranty, reliability, power, and fuel efficiency that go with all the creature comforts in a modern vehicle. We may decide to upgrade these newer vehicles. One of the most common upgrades is to replace the exhaust system with a cat-back kit featuring different mufflers or to install headers. All vehicles since 1995 (1996 in the USA) use an OBD (on-board diagnostic) system that integrates with the vehicle's computer-controlled systems. To maintain the integrity of these systems, laws were enacted to ensure that system components received accurate information to ensure proper engine performance and efficiency. This is a GOOD thing!

On these late-model vehicles (same as vehicles of the past), upgrading the exhaust is usually the most cost-effective step to improve performance. Still, you do NOT want to go backwards by affecting engine efficiency. Using aftermarket performance components designed for these late-model vehicles is essential. This includes maintaining the location of components such as the catalytic converter and any sensors within or near the factory exhaust. No one wants to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on an exhaust upgrade that causes the engine to run suboptimally due to the issues mentioned above. Additionally, with the adoption of OBD systems, car manufacturers are using more standardized designs for these new vehicles. It is too costly to make mid-year changes that redesign for example---an exhaust system.

However, on our classic cars, trucks, and street rods, this is not the case. A vehicle manufacturer may maintain the same design for an entire model year (or longer), or make numerous changes throughout a production cycle. What if a vehicle manufacturer, prior to the 1990s, used "X" sourced exhaust manifolds for assemblies between August and October, but that supplier could not keep up with production (or had a problem), forcing the vehicle manufacturer to change. Then, a "Y" sourced manifold was used for the rest of the model year? And, what if these two manifolds changed the collector exit location? If a header manufacturer such as Sanderson wanted to build direct-fit headers for this classic vehicle, we would need to create two variations of a header set (for that ONE vehicle) if it were to be a direct-fit item. Imagine for a moment the number of vehicles built since the 1920's, and how many likely variations there could be. For example, some Ford applications have been known to have three or more variations of components in a single year. This is costly and a considerable waste of time and essential resources for any header manufacturer.

Headers manufactured for classic cars or street rods are designed for a more universal fit. We are not constrained by OBD requirements and design our headers to provide the best fit for a variety of vehicle applications. Instead of building a specific header for each and every possible configuration, we at Sanderson will often redesign a popular header slightly to provide a proper fit on an even wider range of vehicle applications.

This means you will need to replace the downpipes on your classic car, truck, or street rod to connect the under-chassis exhaust piping to your new headers. This is one of the primary activities at most muffler shops and should not deter you from adding headers to your classic Mustang, Thunderbird, Camaro, Buick Skylark, Dodge Dart, or any of the other numerous vehicle applications our headers are designed to fit.

In a way, we (as consumers and vehicle enthusiasts) have become accustomed to direct-fit terminology because it is the current standard for newer model vehicles. The osmosis of hearing or seeing terms like "direct-fit," "smog-legal," or "cat-back" in regular advertisements is understandable, as it can create confusion with the requirements of our classic vehicles. Just remember, it is not the case. Headers for classic cars will require some changes to your under-chassis exhaust piping during installation.