So I've talked to an engine builder who mentioned Hedman headers he's tried did not fit and he had to beat the crap out of them to work in a 440 cuda with power steering, stock starter.  He said the TTI's fit great but they hang low.  He was going to try Hooker Super Comp next but has no experience with them.  I talked to the mopar performance guys who mentioned that a 1 7/8 or 2" size would be good.  I'm leaning towards the TTI's as they were recommended as some of the best to get.
Then the next question would be ceramic coated or not...
I will be upgrading the cam to a MP 272/272 soon and I heard somewhere that this may ruin the ceramic headers during break in.  (true or false?)
Are there any suggestions out there by anyone who's done this in a 440 cuda?  (has a 727 tranny if this matters for fit and 2 1/2" exhaust from the stock manifold with high flo mufflers...already sounds a little bad-ass)  

Wow, headmans did not fit? That is hard to believe.
I would bet there is something not right with his set up, possibly wrong motor mounts.
Anyway ceramic headers will work with any cam, they just need a break-in period. Just follow the recommended procedure with the headers you choose.  

I used TTIs 1-7/8" headers on a 70 440 Cuda and they were by far the best fitting headers I tried. The car has headmans first then a set of flowtech that hit everything.

The TTIs didnt hang low at all.  

I have heard nothing but nightmares about the flowtechs, and nothing but praise about the TTI's, & headmans.  

Yea, I agree with the Doc, Headmans are fine, probably something wrong with his setup. I run headman and are totally fine. Just a good value header. If I switched to another brand, given that they fit right, aside from ceramic, would I notice a difference in my street driving? Probably not.  

Agreed fully on the difference in performance.  My only care is that I don't have to take a sledgehammer to them to get them to fit in the car.  It seems logical that they would fit in the car...but...the same guy that I talked to who had the problems with a 440 cuda was the same guy who did my car!  I'm not sure what different he could have done in the setup...the mounts look in the right place and there seems to be nothing unique here in the engine compartment that I can see that would lead me to believe the correct set for an e body 440 would not work.  Looks like I have one guy out there that has done this for the tti-440 combination.  Any others with headman in this 440 barracuda combination?  

I think that anytime you have to use more than a wrench to install the headers, there is something wrong. I can see a little massaging here and there but beating the crap out of it, something is not right and its not the header. Your car is a stock 'Cuda. At least the body is.From a marketing view point, I think Hedman would be out of the header business if thats what people had to do to get them on. Is this the same guy that never uses thread sealant on water jacket bolts,or the guy that never checked the differential fluid prior to delivery or installed that crappy carb? . Yea, and your car does sound bad ass.  

You been getting bad info on TTI. They are what will fit without any cutting or beating or any other rigging. Called Hooker and they told me they havent made changes to their MOPAR headers for 25 years and they would not fit a 65 B body with a 440 without some mods. TTI fit and I have Edelbrock heads, did'nt have to even touch anything and took 1 back off to install new steering box and just jacked up the engine. TTI best no question.  

Well folks, I went with the Hedmans and put'em in this weekend.  One helluva job for sure.  I won't know if the TTI's would have been easier but the Hedmans, even ceramic, were a boatload less expensive.  They sure look and work sweet...

To all that replied...thanks for all the advice!

PS Thanks to Bob70Challenger for helping a few times this weekend; especially helping me jack the engine up to get them worked in and picking up the mini starter for me at a local rebuild shop!  

Hey thanks, no problem though, I wish I could have helped more. I'm sure most guys on this site would agree,a fun weekend would be, a great friend, couple of beers, ( blue moon) and working on the cars all day. See you just had to go and get that sweet 70 'cuda. Thanks again though.