I just bought a 1978 corvette its all orginal with 50K on L48 motor, one exhaust madifold leaks, exhaust pipe have some holes in and mufflers need work

I am going to install headers and and get rid of the y pipe to catalytic converter and run dual straight pipes to back with flow master mufflers, is there any thing I need to be aware of

 

hi tom, i have a '78 L-82!

I am doing this same thing. There are 2 routes, cheap or expensive. keep in mind you get what you pay for.

For headers, I would recommend a ceramic coated one (will help reduce heat in the engine bay). I personally am getting the Hooker Competition Headers that are ceramic coating. Yes it is double the cost of black coated (but it will last longer and make you happier, and reduce all that heat). You also have to make sure you get the right brackets if you need to move your A/C or something in the way. Hooker's website lists everything specifically for your car on their product pages.

For exhaust, I would recommend stainless steel. Stainless will last much longer, will not corrode or rust for a very very long time (longer than your car most likely, especially if you never drive in snow). Also you want to make sure to get 2.5" tubing, that way if you ever decide to be looking for more HP (new cams, dist, heads, air intake, etc) you will have the room in the exhaust to use it. The pre-made kits are hard to find for stainless 2.5" that are exact fits for our cars. You could go to a muffler shop and get one made, but make sure it is mandrel bent (helps optimize airflow if bent correctly) and again, try to pay extra for stainless. I personally found a pre-made perfect kit through Stainless Works. I am debating about getting their mufflers built-in with it, or having them remove the mufflers for a discount.

For mufflers, the big names are Flow Master and MagnaFlow. A lot of other companies are out there, it all depends on price and sound. If I don't get the Stainless Works mufflers, I will most likely get the Flow Master Super 44s (to keep the old low toned muscle car sound).


So in summary, you could get basic headers, cheap aluminum exhaust, and basic mufflers for about 500ish for everything (if you are doing the install). Who knows how long the stuff will last before it corrodes and rusts and you end up replacing stuff yet again.

Or you could go high end and plan on never having to replace anything. That's what I decided to do in the end. Probably will cost 1100 for the ceramic headers, stainless steel exhaust, and flowmaster super 44 mufflers.

let me know if you have any other questions or what you decide to do!

 

Auto or 4spd? I needed to buy this hanger because I have a 78 4spd and recently went with true dual exhaust:



Jacked up the trans to install it. You will need to determine how you are going to secure the pipes.

When you remove your exhaust manifold for headers, remember you are losing the heat riser, pollution stuff. Are they strict in your state when it comes to emission equipment?

Do a search here "search this forum" on flowmasters.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...master-vs.html
Some like them, some not, and others dont hear any drone Your choice. I went with Magnaflows and glad I did.

If you are doing the job yourself it's pretty easy. Get a sawzall, makes it easier cutting the pipes off. Hardest part will be removing the 33 year old exhaust manifolds.

Good luck.

Did you check the engine suffix to verify what engine is in there?

 

Karol, I have 4 speed also. Thanks for that bit of info.

What setup did you go with for headers and exhaust. Which magnaflow did you pick out?

thx

 

For some reason I cant access CC's site for a link but the system was #323737-mag

The bracket is #322186 for a 2 1/2inch exhaust.

Magnaflows were the hideaway #323066

I didnt do headers because my engine is pretty stock and dont intend on making any changes. The $, and hassle of taking off the manifolds, vs extra hp to drive to a car show or cruise nite wasnt worth it. OP needs manifolds so probably a good decision at this time for him. He didnt say if he was getting shorty headers.

4spd is fun enough for me.

 

You didn't care about getting stainless? I am debating this now, just such a huge price increase from aluminum to steel

 

Karol's suggestion about the hanger is a good one, otherwise the pipes will rattle where they pass thru the crossmember.
One other thing - if you go with long tube headers, you will need to get the new front pipes either cut or custom made and have the reducers from the headers welded to the new pipes.
My exhaust is aluminized steel, not stainless. I drive about 1,500 miles per year in dry weather. No rust yet after 6 years. I have heard that stainless is difficult to bend as you clamp pieces together which could cause some leaks. Just food for thought.

 

I purchased this exhaust system for my 1980 'vette about 3 years ago, and I have been very happy with it so far. It is a complete exhaust system from the header gasket all the way back to the tail pipes. Not a long tube header, but for $629.00 you get ceramic coated block-hugger headers, which are very easy to install, aluminized true dual 2 1/2" exhaust system, and stainless steel Magnaflow mufflers. It's a pretty good deal.

http://www.corvettecentralexhaust.co...mance_dual.php

Scott

 

I don't believe those headers are ceramic coated. They don't say so anywhere in the description. It just says aluminized (which is a down grade from stainless steel)

I'd get this kit if it had a different brand of headers.

 

I just put mcjacks headers in my 79L82 and Jack fixed me up with dual exhaust and everything I needed and had no issues at all. shipped everything to me, none of those hidden costs either,all fit nice. Id give him a try.

 

Thanks for all the info, I did purchase a stainless set of long tube headers, I will be having a custom exhaust shop in my town doing the install,

does anyone have any idea on how to get rid of the heat coming out of the vent system?

my air does not work at this time, I will wait till winter to get that project done, I want to spend a little time driving her the rest of the summer

 

There are small vacuum lines that control the valve that controls the coolant going to the heater core, and open and close the vents. If they are missing, broken, not working properly for whatever reason, a quick fix is to install a shutoff valve in the heater hose going to the heater core. It stops the hot coolant from circulating thru the heater core, and you won't get so much heat coming out of the vents. It's a quick fix, you should really repair the system properly when you get a chance.


Scott

 

Must be a typo, my headers are definitely ceramic coated, and they still look great after 3 years/9,000 miles. I suppose they may have changed the product in the last 3 years, but I doubt it. The headers in the picture look exactly like the ones I have.

It's definitely a cheap exhaust system, if you want a really nice exhaust, go another route, but if you need a new exhaust, cheap and quick, well, here ya go. See ya,


Scott