C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Which Headers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 17, 2022 | 03:23 PM
  #1  
Black76's Avatar
Black76
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 156
Likes: 2
From: collingswood nj
Default Which Headers

I have a 76 there was a bbc in it i replaced with sbc 305
the bbc had short tube headers what headers will work and bolt up to exhaust flanges
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 05:37 AM
  #2  
4-vettes's Avatar
4-vettes
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 7,765
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

The 305 SB will accept any headers that fit your car. Your car came with a 350 SB. fitment will be the same.
As per fitting up to pipes that were on a BB. good luck.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 06:46 AM
  #3  
ctmccloskey's Avatar
ctmccloskey
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Liked
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 1,639
From: Fairfax Virginia
Default

I have been using a set of Hedman Hedders and found that their quality is great and the best part is that they fit perfectly without any modifications with a hammer. They slid right in and bolted up and have been on the car for over 25 years now. The silver ceramic coatings never last despite what people say and Jet Hot promises. But as for the best fit and finish I would rate the Hedman Headers near the top.

With their thick flanges and good hardware they were put on and torqued and have never come loose after decades of driving. I was nervous about having to replace the exhaust gaskets and such after hearing the horror stories but I have never had to replace the gaskets either. I did use the soft copper header gaskets and they have been great as well. My engine is pretty abusive on it's exhaust system as I run high compression and the extra heat is substantial.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 07:19 AM
  #4  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 4,480
From: Virginia
Default

Get long tube headers, and have a shop make up the difference with a cut and a few bends. There is lots of evidence that shows lhat shorty headers leave a lot of power on the table.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 07:21 AM
  #5  
derekderek's Avatar
derekderek
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
Default

just make sure they are CORVETTE headers! our cars are lower to the ground and our engines are lower to the car than anything else with a chebby engine in it. you can fit pick up truck headers in a Nova or Camaro. but they will nearly drag on the ground in a corvette. and i got you a free flywheel yesterday. PM me your number.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 08:35 AM
  #6  
gkull's Avatar
gkull
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,444
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Default

Why are you worried about headers with POS 305 motor anyway?
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:12 AM
  #7  
HeadsU.P.'s Avatar
HeadsU.P.
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Default

There are some YouTube videos showing some respectable H.P. numbers out of those old 305s.
I kind of get it, something different. But I don't get it either.
Eye shadow on a hog or lip stick on a pig. See the difference? Nor do I.

Reading the O.P.s original post BACKWARDS makes more sense to me:
I have a 76 there was a SBC 305 in it, I replaced with a BBC 454.

Your car, your money.
Too each their own, good luck.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:26 AM
  #8  
Corvette-ZL1's Avatar
Corvette-ZL1
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
Default

Weird. A Big block wasn't even available as an option in '76, so someone must have swapped it out some point in time. That said...

I'm assuming the thread starter made a typo, accidentally typing '305' instead of '350'. That's got to be the explanation, because why on earth would anyone use a 305 SBC, when the 350 SBC is reasonably priced, better in just about every way, and readily available? You'll save a little weight with a 305 over a 350, but who really cares? It's not enough to justify the advantages of just going with a 350 SBC if you really HAVE to replace the big block.

Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Jun 18, 2022 at 10:02 AM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:53 AM
  #9  
Heus's Avatar
Heus
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 34
From: Ohio
Default

My Hooker headers from Summit fit perfectly in my 77.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 10:16 AM
  #10  
HeadsU.P.'s Avatar
HeadsU.P.
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Default

I believe the 305 was maybe a California thing back then? A mandate to that state only? IDK
Beuller?
Beuller?
Anybody?
Beuller?
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 05:11 PM
  #11  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 4,480
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by HeadsU.P.
I believe the 305 was maybe a California thing back then? A mandate to that state only? IDK
LG4 option, 1980, California only.

Since the BBC wasn't original either, I'm assuming what the OP is correct, and he has a C3 that isn't hung up on matching numbers.

Perhaps some photos would help!


Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 10:39 PM
  #12  
Arg0413's Avatar
Arg0413
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 1,031
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Default

My step dad bought a nice restored '78 with a great sounding cammed SBC... later he ran the block numbers and found out it was an '85 305 block! No idea why someone built and cammed a 305, but it sounds great and is a cruiser, so oh well!

Anyway, I just pulled a set of long tubes off my '71 to put side pipes on it. They have some rust, but if you want them $50 plus shipping. I'd blast and paint them before install, but in good shape.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 06:22 AM
  #13  
4-vettes's Avatar
4-vettes
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 7,765
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Default

Could be a lot of reasons he dropped in a 305. Like maybe he had one laying around.
Point is headers will fit. But lining up with pipes from a big block not so much.
None the less. with some fabrication, he should be able to use his current pipes. Bolt straight up. Not a chance.
And yes. Why would you pull a big block and drop in a turd?
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 04:53 PM
  #14  
Black76's Avatar
Black76
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 156
Likes: 2
From: collingswood nj
Default

The reason i took out the bbc was im getting older i just want a nice quiet smooth running engine
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 08:05 PM
  #15  
Corvette-ZL1's Avatar
Corvette-ZL1
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
Default

Originally Posted by Black76
The reason i took out the bbc was im getting older i just want a nice quiet smooth running engine
Huh? That's an exhaust issue and a tune, and has nothing to do with displacement. A mild and well tuned 454 with the proper exhaust can be very quiet, and very smooth. Maybe not as good on gas mileage, which is the only place that 305 will fare better. there is a reason why Chevrolet only put the 305 in one year, and only for CA.

Ever rode in an early 70's Cadillac? Those were expensive Chevy's with 472 CI motors, and are about the smoothest and quietest cars you'll ever drive or ride in.

Well anyway, hope the 305 works well for you. Let us know how it works out.

Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Jun 22, 2022 at 10:09 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2022 | 10:27 AM
  #16  
scottyp99's Avatar
scottyp99
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Default

1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Summit Racing SUM-G9003 Summit Racing™ Headers | Summit Racing

163 bucks, and free shipping, that's a pretty tough deal to beat right there. There's over 50 reviews, and they mostly all seem pretty positive. I'm pretty sure they are just re-branded Flowtech headers. They should fit your 305 just fine. If all you want is a nice, quiet, smooth-running engine, consider just using the stock cast-iron exhaust manifolds, they'll be a whole lot easier to install.

Scotty
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Which Headers





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:18 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE