Mild steel is the most popular material in header manufacturing as it is very pliable and very easy to bend and weld. 304 stainless steel is a higher end material that has excellent corrosion resistance capabilities. It is a little more difficult to bend and weld but is much more durable than mild steel.

Describes the outside diameter of the header primary tubes. Headers are commonly available with multipe tubing diameter options in order to accommodate different levels of performance from a common engine type. For example, small block Chevy applications can benefit from using 1-1/2" to 2" primary tubes depending on the displacement, compression ratio and power band of the engine and the weight, gearing, tire size and usage scenario of the application vehicle. Hooker headers are produced in multiple tube diameter ranges known to be effective and popular for the intended engine/vehicle application. For stock to mild performance engines intstalled in a truck or heavy vehicle, choose a header tube diameter on the smaller end of the available offerings. For higher HP and max-effort engines in the same vehicle, choose a mid or large size tube diamater as available. Typically street driven V8 car applications from 250-400hp use a 1-5/8", 400-500hp use 1-3/4", 500-700hp use 1-7/8" and 700+hp use 2".