Would headers be a waste of money?
11-01-2017, 09:10 AM
#21
Race Director
Do the headers.
I've lived this with less engine than you have and it was a significant gain - both from the butt dyno and measured performance.
I already had dual exhaust at the time and did a best 0-60 of 7.1 seconds. With LTHs, the car felt faster everywhere, particularly midrange, and did 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.
This was with a Goodwrench 350 running an edelbrock 3701 intake, stock Q-Jet and HEI dist. California car, so 3.55 gears and already had a 700R4 for all the tests. FWIW that engine is pretty much identical in build to a late 70s L-48, including head casting and cam spec.
With more engine the headers will help more.
I've lived this with less engine than you have and it was a significant gain - both from the butt dyno and measured performance.
I already had dual exhaust at the time and did a best 0-60 of 7.1 seconds. With LTHs, the car felt faster everywhere, particularly midrange, and did 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.
This was with a Goodwrench 350 running an edelbrock 3701 intake, stock Q-Jet and HEI dist. California car, so 3.55 gears and already had a 700R4 for all the tests. FWIW that engine is pretty much identical in build to a late 70s L-48, including head casting and cam spec.
With more engine the headers will help more.
The following 2 users liked this post by Shark Racer:
AirBusPilot (11-01-2017),
StDomingos (11-03-2017)
11-03-2017, 02:07 AM
#22
Instructor
Thread Starter
Do the headers.
I've lived this with less engine than you have and it was a significant gain - both from the butt dyno and measured performance.
I already had dual exhaust at the time and did a best 0-60 of 7.1 seconds. With LTHs, the car felt faster everywhere, particularly midrange, and did 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.
This was with a Goodwrench 350 running an edelbrock 3701 intake, stock Q-Jet and HEI dist. California car, so 3.55 gears and already had a 700R4 for all the tests. FWIW that engine is pretty much identical in build to a late 70s L-48, including head casting and cam spec.
With more engine the headers will help more.
I've lived this with less engine than you have and it was a significant gain - both from the butt dyno and measured performance.
I already had dual exhaust at the time and did a best 0-60 of 7.1 seconds. With LTHs, the car felt faster everywhere, particularly midrange, and did 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.
This was with a Goodwrench 350 running an edelbrock 3701 intake, stock Q-Jet and HEI dist. California car, so 3.55 gears and already had a 700R4 for all the tests. FWIW that engine is pretty much identical in build to a late 70s L-48, including head casting and cam spec.
With more engine the headers will help more.
The majority seem to suggest going for the headers so I have decided to give it a try. What the hell, it's only money.
Thanks for to everyone for all the advice and I'll make sure to report back in the spring with the outcome.
11-03-2017, 06:35 AM
#23
Le Mans Master
Thanks a lot for that Shark Racer. The details you provided from your experience are very interesting. While I'm well aware that 0-60 times are a limited measure of performance I am even glad to see that my times are close to yours (you have the better drivetrain for it, but I seem to have a bit more under the hood so it sort of evens out I guess)
The majority seem to suggest going for the headers so I have decided to give it a try. What the hell, it's only money.
Thanks for to everyone for all the advice and I'll make sure to report back in the spring with the outcome.
The majority seem to suggest going for the headers so I have decided to give it a try. What the hell, it's only money.
Thanks for to everyone for all the advice and I'll make sure to report back in the spring with the outcome.
Last edited by jb78L-82; 11-03-2017 at 06:36 AM.
11-03-2017, 06:51 AM
#24
Pro
Earlier in this thread, I suggested you will have minimal gains with your current combination. While I stick to that, I do believe that you will see some gain - just not sure how much with a smallish cam/powerband. .
If you have any plans to go with any upgrades, you will most likely end up needing them anyway.
Plus, if you go for the headers now - It'll probably sound better too.
If you have any plans to go with any upgrades, you will most likely end up needing them anyway.
Plus, if you go for the headers now - It'll probably sound better too.
11-03-2017, 10:24 AM
#25
Would headers be a waste of money? That's like asking if you would look good in a beret? The answer to both is NO !
A quality header will always provide some gain and is a gate way drug to more gains down the line. Put them on now to save the time and trouble of putting them on later.
A quality header will always provide some gain and is a gate way drug to more gains down the line. Put them on now to save the time and trouble of putting them on later.
11-03-2017, 11:18 AM
#26
Race Director
I'm always researching new parts for my build. I've heard that hookers quality has gone down over the years, hedmans are better but doug's seem to be the best quality for the $$$$ these days. I'm not stating fact but just what I've been hearing.
Last edited by OldCarBum; 11-05-2017 at 11:36 AM.
11-05-2017, 11:04 AM
#27
Melting Slicks
As I getting ready to put my '81 away for the season I've been thinking about a few winter projects. One of those was the possibility of squeezing some more power out of the engine with a set of long lube headers, but I'm on the fence about whether the money spent would show any noticeable improvement.
Here is what I'm running at the moment;
Goodwrench 350 engine with Brodix IK180 heads, Comp XE256 cam, stock 1981 aluminum intake and quadrajet (from a '78). The transmission and rear end are stock (TH350c and 2.87 gears). The exhaust runs from the stock tubular manifolds into true duals with no cats.
The computer was removed long ago along with any smog gear. There is no emissions testing where I live. I figure my compression is about 8.5 to 1 (or a little bit more). The car is strictly street driven also.
So, with that setup do you think I'd notice any power improvement by switching to long tube headers?
Here is what I'm running at the moment;
Goodwrench 350 engine with Brodix IK180 heads, Comp XE256 cam, stock 1981 aluminum intake and quadrajet (from a '78). The transmission and rear end are stock (TH350c and 2.87 gears). The exhaust runs from the stock tubular manifolds into true duals with no cats.
The computer was removed long ago along with any smog gear. There is no emissions testing where I live. I figure my compression is about 8.5 to 1 (or a little bit more). The car is strictly street driven also.
So, with that setup do you think I'd notice any power improvement by switching to long tube headers?
11-05-2017, 01:44 PM
#28
Race Director
are headers a waste of money? hell, corvettes are a waste of money, but we are addicts...
11-06-2017, 02:24 AM
#29
Instructor
Thread Starter
Would headers be a waste of money? That's like asking if you would look good in a beret? The answer to both is NO !
A quality header will always provide some gain and is a gate way drug to more gains down the line. Put them on now to save the time and trouble of putting them on later.
A quality header will always provide some gain and is a gate way drug to more gains down the line. Put them on now to save the time and trouble of putting them on later.
How do you know I don't look good in a beret?
11-06-2017, 02:26 AM
#30
Instructor
Thread Starter
02-25-2018, 02:40 AM
#31
Instructor
Ignition switch wiring
Im currently installing a Sniper EFI and I need to connect the ignition wire from the sniper to the ignition switch wiring from the steering column. Does any one know what color that wiring on the column is??
Or have you guys done it in other ways?
Or have you guys done it in other ways?
02-25-2018, 07:59 AM
#32
Melting Slicks
I did headers, looks better, sounds better, maybe a small increase in HP, but its a cruiser, not a go fast car like most here have. You must be sure to keep,the mounting bolts tight all the time or else you have leaks, and then have to change out gaskets all the time. SOOOOOOOOO, which gaskets to use? that is another big debate to have here, I would get some thicker ones, so you can of sqeeze them when mounting them. also make sure your headers are flat at the head area, or else you will never get the leaks to stop. JMO!! I like my headers!!
02-25-2018, 01:57 PM
#33
Le Mans Master
I buy 2 sets of gaskets for all my headers and double up the gaskets for a much thicker gasket...I use red permatex between the two gaskets. Never have any leaks using the 2 gasket per side method AND on another car with severely warped shorty headers that would not seal using every single gasket I could try including Percy's and other more exotic gaskets, the Standard double gasket technique completely eliminated the leaks...GONE!
I use Blue Felpro gaskets doubled up for a totally leak free permanently sealed header!
I use Blue Felpro gaskets doubled up for a totally leak free permanently sealed header!
Last edited by jb78L-82; 02-25-2018 at 01:58 PM.
02-25-2018, 03:08 PM
#34
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
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St. Jude Donor '05
As long as the flange is straight a simple blue felpro gasket will last a long time;todays gaskets and headers are superior to what was around in the 70s and 80s.
Slotting the holes in the gasket makes replacement much easier
Headers sucked in the 70s and 80s the flanges were so thin they would bend real easy creating endless leaks
Slotting the holes in the gasket makes replacement much easier
Headers sucked in the 70s and 80s the flanges were so thin they would bend real easy creating endless leaks
03-12-2018, 01:39 PM
#35
1st Gear
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Header for 72 with 350& AC
Just curious if anyone has installed headers on a 72/350 auto with ac? If so did the header have mount points for the Ac compressor and or brackets? Manfacturer info too please
Thanks!
Thanks!
