can anyone suggest a good header for '78 with standard trans.
are there any clearance problems on the drivers side. Does the cross shaft of the clutch linkage need to removed for installation.
thanks for the help.

 

I nice set of blockhugger headers would fit the bill nicely, and they are designed with limited space in mind. Plus, they are pretty cheap. Look on eBay, and they have scads of them...$100. I put a set on the 78 that I had, and they were great. I have a set of Hooker competition headers, and they are a tight fit on my 80...but they don't rub.

 

Installed a set of Flowtech ceramic coated headers with the exhaust upgrade in our '78 with standard trans. Yes, you have to remove the z-bar for the install and most also require a small dimple in on of the down pipes.

Here's the the thread with some picts.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...haust-mod.html

 

The Dynomax Corvette SB Cerama-Coat full length headers fit & flow great, much better than is commonly known. I have been rec. them & many have them now.

Both SB Hooker Super Comps & Dynomax Cerama-Coat Headers are excellent for performance.

 

If you choose block hugger headers (which I don't recommend), I HIGHLY recommend ceramic coated headers. I had a pair of stainless steel block huggers from eBay on my GM 350 HO crate in my '80 for a 2 years. Yes, they are designed with limited space in mind, but that means they fit close in several places with consequences.
1) I had to remove the headers to install or remove spark plugs 1,7,2 and 8.
2) They burned through 3 sets of spark plug wires in 2 years, even with fiberglass sleeves on the boots.
3) They melted the poly out of my motor EnerG motor mounts.

Study the bends and routing of the tubes carefully, get under your car, and image where they will be located.

I did this when I switched to full-length ceramic headers. The ceramic coated Dynomax headers for your year (from Summit) don't have any of the problems I had with block huggers, they don't cost as much as other c-coated headers, and they fit quite well. Those guys at Dynomax measured a real car very carefully and got the bends right. I have no clearance problems anywhere.

My only criticism about the Dynomax headers I have is that the ceramic coating isn't show-quality. They still look good after several years of use, but IMO, they didn't look that great to begin with. Maybe they fixed that problem, but maybe that's one of the reason they cost less than others.

 

Is THAT all!!! I suppose everything has a price!

 

if you dont mind spending the extra money and want HIGH quality headers then you can get a really nice set from Mcjacks. I have the shorty headers from them and they dump in the same location as the original ram horns. I had to have a custom front Y pipe made because i got the headers with the 2.5" collector and wont bolt up the the stock front Y pipe BUT i was told that the headers with the 2" collector does bolt up to the stock Y pipe

http://www.vetteheaders.com/servlet/...rvette+Headers

 

I have McJacks shorty headers on my 78 L-82 4 speed and waited 25 years for someone to make a shorty (not block huggers) that would fit perfectly which they do. No issues whatsoever with clearance in the engine, no burnt wires, ground clearance issues, issues changing plugs, etc-McJacks Shorty headers are an EXACT duplicate dimensionally as the the OEM ramhorn exhaust manifolds in a shorty header and hook right up to a stock type pipes (y or true duals which I have). They are ceramic coated, hand made, fit perfectly and are pricey for headers. Do they offer the performance of full length headers? Probably not but they are a work of art, do improve performance on a street engine, and are hassle free.

 

you could work this question/problem from a different angle and go to Speed directs website and see what headers are compatible with the steeroids set up so if you chose to go down that path you have that angle already covered. www.speeddirect.com

 

used flowtech headers and mufflers on my 81, look good fit great with no mods of headers or car. Plugs tight, but did not even need wire covers. date on pic wrong, these went on last Nov. Check sound at youtube link below pic





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GmVfvBoIKQ

 

I was told that block huggers do not flow any better than the stock rams horns.

I use Dynomax ceramic long tubes on my '76 383. Great fit and, I believe, better performance than shorty and block huggers. They have been on for 7 years without problems.