engine install questions
 

As I get ready to install my 350 rebuild I have a few questions. First, my tranny is still installed can I get the motor in with the exhaust manifolds on. I disconnected them for engine removal but they will come out for rework. Second question, I have not decided yet if I will get headers for this setup, the same question here, will the engine go in with headers installed. Last item, I have not dealt with headers much, will a set of headers bolt up to stock exhaust? Thanks for any help.

You will need to leave manifolds or headers off of the engine when you install the engine, but you can leave the manifolds or headers attached to the exhaust system and tied back out of the way in the engine compartment when you install the engine.

Unless the existing pipes are really nice will probably be better off just replacing the pipes when going from manifolds to headers.

also depends on whether running shorties or long headers
shorties I believe will hook up like manifolds but long headers you have to either go duals or rework the Y pipe
Doc

That was my thought, will the shorties bolt up to the stock exhaust.

Quality shorties are usually made to the same specs as a stock system, BUT any time you change something out PLAN on a modification to get it to fit. Even stuff from the dealer is not a direct bolt in fit at all times. IMAGINE THAT....

If you have made any upgrades to your 350 and you still have the stock exhuast piping on your truck, you will want to go to duals, x-pipe, and 2.5" exhaust to get the most out of your headers and engine. Your stock tubes will make too much back pressure on a built 350, of course that is if you are not dealing with a stock engine.
I had headers on my 350 with a good cam, intake, edelbrock carb, and 305 heads to go to 9.2:1 compression and it really didn't come to life until I got rid of the stock exhaust and went with the larger duals.

Thanks for the info, the 350 is stock at this time. The block is at the machine shop as of this morning. What they find will determine how I build it. The most I will do is .30 over and a new mild cam(RV cam) still researching that. Uprdrage the distributor and stick with the stock heads, intake and carb.

My truck presently has a 350 bored and stroked out to a 385 Cubic inch motor, Dart II heads with a comp cams roller cam system. The headers are long tube ceramic coated with a 2 1/2 inch dual exhaust and flowmaster mufflers. The distributor is an HEI billet from "The Carb Shop", and it is set up by them to advance early. This works well for my use. I have a 700 R4 tranny and a 2400 stall convertor running to 3.73 gears. That bolted into this truck EXACTLY the same as a stock 350 engine because my son's 86 is setup the same, but with a 350 and a different stall convertor. Your truck should fit together rather well---I like the long tube headers and am not sure that you will get much from the shorties, definitely look at a true dual exhaust.