Headers question

[775stepside]

Which headers are good quality for A 350 tbi motor is there any that don't need any modification that will bolt right up to the heads? Don't want to purchase headers that won't bolt up

[b454rat]

I had a 90 GMC 1/2 RCSB that I put a set of Flowtechs on. I bought the Y-pipe, and installed it in my parents driveway while home for the weekend. Biggest issue I had was from the NY rust snapping bolts and other parts not wanting to come off. But they bolted up with no issues, Y-pipe as well, while there got rid of the cat with a 3" pipe. Already had a cat back on, so everything bolted up and lined up. Torque improvement was crazy, couldn't believe the low end it had. Was louder too, which wasn't bad, sounded bad ass, got comments all the time with it.....

[775stepside]

Sweet man thanks for the info

[likaroc13]

I had Gibson stainless shorty headers on my old '93 C-1500. No fitment issues, & I never had any other problems with them.

[mountie]

Unless you are modifying your engine, then requiring more breathing, the add-on headers are a waste of money & time.

... I considered headers on my stock '88 350 TBI, and my friend ( NHRA hall of Fame Top Fuel funnycar tuner)......

Told me that.

So,..... If you want them for show, ....go for it.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by mountie

Unless you are modifying your engine, then requiring more breathing, the add-on headers are a waste of money & time.

... I considered headers on my stock '88 350 TBI, and my friend ( NHRA hall of Fame Top Fuel funnycar tuner)......

Told me that.

So,..... If you want them for show, ....go for it.

Yeah, good point. I had an Edelbrock Performer intake & Gibson cat-back exhaust with mine. I had a few other bolt-on mods & Hypertech chip, but nothing internal.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by mountie

Unless you are modifying your engine, then requiring more breathing, the add-on headers are a waste of money & time.

... I considered headers on my stock '88 350 TBI, and my friend ( NHRA hall of Fame Top Fuel funnycar tuner)......

Told me that.

So,..... If you want them for show, ....go for it.

I can safely state, that I upgrade my 91 5.7 TBI engine with a K&N 14" X 4" tall air filter assembly, I used Edelbrock shorty headers, MSD 6AL spark control with 8 MM plug wires and with all of that, I got a very responsive standard cab SWB truck with a low compression ratio and it averaged 20 to 21 MPG daily for all of the time I had it. I took that factory fan off and put in an electric fan, which netted me a fair 1 MPG gain. YES headers do help.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

I can safely state, that I upgrade my 91 5.7 TBI engine with a K&N 14" X 4" tall air filter assembly, I used Edelbrock shorty headers, MSD 6AL spark control with 8 MM plug wires and with all of that, I got a very responsive standard cab SWB truck with a low compression ratio and it averaged 20 to 21 MPG daily for all of the time I had it. I took that factory fan off and put in an electric fan, which netted me a fair 1 MPG gain. YES headers do help.

I agree: I can't comment on the small block trucks of this body style but the 454 trucks ABSOLUTLY benefit from headers. I do realize that headers work best as part of a "package" if you will but any time you can get rid of exhaust more efficiently you will help make more power. To me you don't really get far by dropping headers in and leaving the rest of the exhaust factory. If your gonna do it be prepared to do the system.

[b454rat]

Originally Posted by mountie

Unless you are modifying your engine, then requiring more breathing, the add-on headers are a waste of money & time.

... I considered headers on my stock '88 350 TBI, and my friend ( NHRA hall of Fame Top Fuel funnycar tuner)......

Told me that.

So,..... If you want them for show, ....go for it.

Sorry but I say total BS on this. The truck I did it to was a bone stock 165k TBI 350, and woke it right up. This was a 2 into 1, which might actually pull the exhaust better than a true dual system.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by b454rat

Sorry but I say total BS on this. The truck I did it to was a bone stock 165k TBI 350, and woke it right up. This was a 2 into 1, which might actually pull the exhaust better than a true dual system.

I agree with this one.

So much that I have put headers on many of my cars and trucks, and to this day, they all responded to the increased flow.

[b454rat]

I know not the same, but I've had many ATVs that I put headers and mufflers on, and turns them into monsters. Just put full system on mine and gained roughly 10 horse. Other than that it's 110% stock.

[rickpilgrim]

Look up header dyno tests and you will find street header usually give you close to 20ftbs with decent exhaust over cast manifolds with decent exhaust.
They do require more maintainence than stock manifolds and never seen a rusted out manifold but plenty of headers do.

[iluvmy72]

I did some on my burb 3 years ago.....They were nice magnaflow units and very expensive due to street smog crap. I used penetration spray lube for the rusted bolts. FYI......these suckers heated up a ton. It might cause issues with slight overheating when compared to the normal manifolds. But hey.....lots of fun!!!

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by rickpilgrim

Look up header dyno tests and you will find street header usually give you close to 20ftbs with decent exhaust over cast manifolds with decent exhaust.
They do require more maintainence than stock manifolds and never seen a rusted out manifold but plenty of headers do.

The headers in my truck and my son's truck are coated and we have not had any rusting issues in may years with them.