Do I really need Headers ?
Do I really need Headers ? Ok I'm at a point where I find I'm up-grading myself into the Poor House, something has got to go! So my question is can it be the Headers.
My swap is an 07 TB SS LS2 into a 68 Chevelle convertible, plain Jane no options 3200 lb car. Shouldn't I be able to live with a 400 hp car with slight modifications ?
Cam, Headers,FAST, Stall, Ported, Underdrive ect. ect. my head is spinning.
This is what I would like to settle with, a small Cam for Hotrod Night bling, Port Match Intake & Exhaust manifold and some low end CAI setup.
I set my engine in the frame this week and the stock exhaust manifolds fit perfect with 1" drivers side and a 1/2" passenger side at the Flange. Can I do any Porting to the stock exhaust manifolds that will improve their Flow and what type of Coating can I use on them that will hold up & improve their looks.
Thanks, Tony
My swap is an 07 TB SS LS2 into a 68 Chevelle convertible, plain Jane no options 3200 lb car. Shouldn't I be able to live with a 400 hp car with slight modifications ?
Cam, Headers,FAST, Stall, Ported, Underdrive ect. ect. my head is spinning.
This is what I would like to settle with, a small Cam for Hotrod Night bling, Port Match Intake & Exhaust manifold and some low end CAI setup.
I set my engine in the frame this week and the stock exhaust manifolds fit perfect with 1" drivers side and a 1/2" passenger side at the Flange. Can I do any Porting to the stock exhaust manifolds that will improve their Flow and what type of Coating can I use on them that will hold up & improve their looks.
Thanks, Tony
Last edited by tmcmillan5; Jun 16, 2011 at 09:13 PM.
Hey Tony... ebay headers are cheap. around 150.00 - 200.00 plus shipping.
There is a company in Los Angeles that is called extrude hone & they can port your exhaust manifolds ( with hydraulic press & abrasive putty)...but i think its kinda expensive. check into both options
There is a company in Los Angeles that is called extrude hone & they can port your exhaust manifolds ( with hydraulic press & abrasive putty)...but i think its kinda expensive. check into both options
Stock cast exhaust manifolds are pretty good anymore. Some guys actually prefer cast manifolds to headers, especially shorty headers. The cast ones are cheap, wont rust out and cut both noise and underhood exhaust temps.
If they fit, go ahead and quit!
If they fit, go ahead and quit!
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
I'm having the same thoughts as you. I'm putting a LS2 into a 67 Chevelle. Some say F body manifolds will work. If I could get the clearance that you have, I'd go with manifolds. Anybody tried TBSS manifolds in a 67 A body?
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TECH Resident
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
I have LS6 Vette headers on my swap (because they fit the chassis) and intend on keeping them. They'll support 400HP, won't leak, and have real nice heat shields. If you put on a nice exhaust system, you should be just fine......I say keep 'em.
Andy1
Andy1
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Loaded question that is really a "Depends" answer ! LOL...
No = Engine will run fine with factory equipement, and run as the engine was designed for.
Yes = if you want to be cool, have all of the bolt ones and just hang with the cool kids
Maybe = If your intention is to increase power for a specific reason and would have a valid reason to have them, Yes..
It's the ....
"Do I need them ?" .. NO or not really...!.
"Do I want them".. YES !
No = Engine will run fine with factory equipement, and run as the engine was designed for.
Yes = if you want to be cool, have all of the bolt ones and just hang with the cool kids
Maybe = If your intention is to increase power for a specific reason and would have a valid reason to have them, Yes..
It's the ....
"Do I need them ?" .. NO or not really...!.
"Do I want them".. YES !
if you want more power, go with headers. dont spend ANY money on manifolds, its a waste. "porting" them will get you .04hp, coating them is dumb because when you do wanna swap em out, you're going to have a set of $300 manifolds you cant get rid of...
headers are one of the most basic performance modifications you can do to this engine. dont waste money on shorties, either. long tubes will net you roughly 30hp/30ftlbs at the crank. a dyno tune will net you roughly the same, and a well thought out air intake will net you 10hp or so.
if you plan on doing a cam, do headers too. and dont install some bullshit "thumper" cam or something from a comp or crane cams catalog either, install a cam designed by an ls1 vendor, something thats been tested and proven.
an underdrive pulley is also something to think about, as is an aftermarket intake manifold. both are worth power, it just gets to a point of deminishing hp/dollar return. an intake is gonna be worth a solid 15hp, maybe more. also, despite what people say, a single plane intake like the victor JR is NOT going to make a fuel injected engine soft down low. its only going to make it more responsive. the more you do to this engine, the more power you're going to make, the better throttle response you're going to get, the more torque you're going to make, all while remaining very docile and drivable (so long as you have a good tune).
cam, headers, cold air intake, and a tune is worth 80-110hp.
headers are one of the most basic performance modifications you can do to this engine. dont waste money on shorties, either. long tubes will net you roughly 30hp/30ftlbs at the crank. a dyno tune will net you roughly the same, and a well thought out air intake will net you 10hp or so.
if you plan on doing a cam, do headers too. and dont install some bullshit "thumper" cam or something from a comp or crane cams catalog either, install a cam designed by an ls1 vendor, something thats been tested and proven.
an underdrive pulley is also something to think about, as is an aftermarket intake manifold. both are worth power, it just gets to a point of deminishing hp/dollar return. an intake is gonna be worth a solid 15hp, maybe more. also, despite what people say, a single plane intake like the victor JR is NOT going to make a fuel injected engine soft down low. its only going to make it more responsive. the more you do to this engine, the more power you're going to make, the better throttle response you're going to get, the more torque you're going to make, all while remaining very docile and drivable (so long as you have a good tune).
cam, headers, cold air intake, and a tune is worth 80-110hp.
Last edited by kmracer; Jun 17, 2011 at 07:02 PM.
Hey man i had the same issue as you, I just kept the manifolds and got the car running/driving. Later i found a set of used headers and threw em on. Just change em later if you want em. I filled my "needs" list before my "wants" list cuz i lose interest when im just staring at an unuseable car, once it ran it sparked my interest again, if only for a while lol ha!!
