Turbo-Jet

this winter i am going to install either headers or a new camshaft. what would be the best choice to install? if i go for headers, i'll splurge and get the supercomps coated by jet-hot. if i go for the camshaft, i'll upgrade/replace all valvetrain components while i'm at it. the final cost of each mod will be about the same, so that is not a factor. but i'd likely see more hp gains with a cam, but headers would be a simpler project. hmmm.

gearheadz

If you have to pick one, I would go with the headers. The main reason being that the headers need a cam less than the cam needs headers. For induction (i.e. carb, intake, heads, cam) to work best, it needs an unrestrictive, free flowing exhaust. Most factory exhaust manifolds were designed without performance in mind and typically are highly restrictive limiting the benefit of any induction mod. Headers alone probably have a more favorable cost/benefit than a cam alone.

Good Luck!

Chris O'

my philosophy- do the most expensive or hardest first. If you're happy with the power you have, get the headers. If you had a 350, I'd say get the cam.


[Modified by Chris O', 4:36 PM 8/3/2001]

fauxrs

mdsmith I think is right on with this one. Depending on the cam....Too much cam and the built in restriction that is the exhaust system will limit gains, too litle cam and the gain will be insignificant for the work involved.

Get the exhaust as free flowing as you can, then induction, then cam to make it all come together

rob75383

I would recommend you get some uncoated headers first... maybe some wrap to go along with 'em.
Chances are, with all your future work, you're gonna be pulling your headers on and off. They are a pain to fit, and you'll be mad at yourself for dinging up your nice $$exspensive coating.
Instead, get them plain, and once you've got the whole engine decked out and ready, you can ship your headers to Jet-Hot, and have them coated.

tictocdok

find a few extra dollars and do both. either choice is gonna bring some improvement, but doing the whole job will bring a lot of improvement. go with uncoated headers if necessary to stay within budget, then later get them coated.
another issue is transmission, if you have an automatic you may wanna get a higher stall torque converter to get allow the engine to turn a few more rpm when you take off, the engine's power curve will start to climb at a higher rpm than it would with a stock cam. the more radical the cam, the less torque you will have at low rpm

Ganey

CAM. You can easily go up 3 steps & still appear stock. Night & day power increase.
Would go w/ your great name as well. Your stock Corvette manifolds are not that restrictive for manifolds.

:cheers:

427V8

Cam Cam and cam

The cam will make more power than you will EVER get out of the headers. Unless you have 1" exhaust or something...
Besides Supercomps are too much header for a stock engine anyway ( hence the name 'Comp' )

:cheers:

Turbo-Jet

three steps???
-headers
-cam
-?
(or are you refering to levels of 'cam') what would you reccomend? XE268?

appearing stock is appealing to me

what kind of night and day increase will i see?

btw, car is rebuilt stock 270hp 454 bored +.030 with close-ratio 4-speed and 3.55's


[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 4:30 PM 8/3/2001]

Turbo-Jet

oh ya, because i live in canada, i'll get raped by customs fees and shipping if i have to send my headers back and forth for coating. how about just leaving them uncoated?
FYI, by the time i order a pair from jet-hot, add shipping, taxes, border fees, and convert to our crappy dollar, these headers will cost me about $1000! and i'm a starving student (with a fast car).

silver79

I'LL TELL YOU I GOT 79 L-82 BOUGHT 1985 CORVETTE EXHUST MANIFOLDS FROM A JUNK YARD IN MONTREAL FOR 100$ THEN INSTALLED 2/12 DUELS. THE CAR RUNS 14.1 IN THE 1/4 MILLE AND 6.1 0-60.

Ganey

Yes, up several steps on cam. XE268 is a very good choice. About 400 HP.

Expect in Canada you have less need for coated. Many have run uncoated in hot climates, not a necessity, you would be fine.

Turbo-Jet

what about for appearance sake? how long before uncoated get yucky looking? won't coated headers last forever?