TIMSPEED

I'm debating whether or not to put any motor work on my 87, without headers. Because there's NO smog legal headers for the 87 Corvette PERIOD, and the fact that I have pre-cats doesn't help. I was thinking about putting a brand new 388 stroker motor (350 block/400 crank) with the TPiS AfterMarket TPI intake, LPE 211/219 cam, and TFS 23º heads. I'm also going to put a 150hp NOS plate kit on it. Would it even be worth all those things without the headers? I MAY be able to swing a set of the Hooker Super Comp's, and have them cut up to put my Pre-Cats on and stuff. Any ideas?

scorp508

How about.... get it inspected, change exhaust, change back for next inspection?

65Z01

First check with your local CARB to see how much hassle it is to get a good setup inspection and an exception done.

Barring that, have an exhaust shop cut off the pre-cats, gut em and weld em onto some mandrel bent 2 1/2" tubing. Then put a 3-stage hi-flow cat (49-states legal) behind it to pass emissions. In this case just do intake, exhaust, heads, cam and the 150-shot.

You can get well into the 12s on the 350 and the 150-shot should put you close to 10s.

GRX

My words exactly! I do this every 2 years, although not with headers, but with the cat. I've ported/port matched my stock headers, and they dump into a custom 2.50"dia. true dual exhaust pipes into open PowerEffects. Around smog time, I un-bolt the "center section" (2 2.50dia. pipes) for the "Catalytic section". After I pass smog, the "center section" (containing the 2.50"dia. pipes) is reinstalled. I end up with very efficient, free-flow exhaust system without the hassle/heat/harmonics/expense of full length headers. Don't get me wrong; headers are good, BUT on a C4 in CA, one big hassle, IMO.