Suggestions/opinions (Should I get headers or not) - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

galletti · 10-30-2009, 01:35 PM

I have a 1988 IROC Convertible with a factory 305 TPI. The car is really a weekend cruiser mostly but in the near future I plan to go to the solo track for a few laughs. Almost all my mods have to do brakes and suspension/handling. I do have throttle body coolant bypass (not really a power mod), K & N filters and a Stage II hypertech chip. I've bought stuff to burn my own chip but haven't gotten around to it. In the future I plan to modify my stock intake as much as possible as well as port and polish on the factory heads maybe with a valve job. I have three inch high flow Magnaflow catalytic converter and three inch Flowmaster catback. By my seat of the pants dyno I feel I gained a little top end but lost some low end torque when I went with the three inch all the way from the y-pipe. I'm now contemplating whether to get some headers and y-pipe (for looks mostly) but I'm wondering how that will affect the power band. I've also read that our factory exhaust manifolds can handle upwards of 300hp at the wheels which I am nowhere close to. What are your thoughts?

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kkingsrulee · 10-30-2009, 01:51 PM

Yes.

IROCThe5.7L · 10-31-2009, 12:29 AM

Can't go wrong with headers. Better sound and performance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by galletti

I've also read that our factory exhaust manifolds can handle upwards of 300hp at the wheels which I am nowhere close to. What are your thoughts?

I was stock, and no where CLOSE to 300rwhp. After headers, I got .4 faster in the 1/4 mile, and gained 2mph.

galletti · 10-31-2009, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I'm worried that the power loss I mentioned above has to do with loss of backpressure And that freeing the exhaust up more will make it worse. Is that just crazy talk?

kkingsrulee · 10-31-2009, 10:46 AM

Maybe on a motorcycle or a huge 454 motor, on something small like a 305 it won't make a difference.

AutoPartsCorp · 11-02-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galletti

I have a 1988 IROC Convertible with a factory 305 TPI. The car is really a weekend cruiser mostly but in the near future I plan to go to the solo track for a few laughs. Almost all my mods have to do brakes and suspension/handling. I do have throttle body coolant bypass (not really a power mod), K & N filters and a Stage II hypertech chip. I've bought stuff to burn my own chip but haven't gotten around to it. In the future I plan to modify my stock intake as much as possible as well as port and polish on the factory heads maybe with a valve job. I have three inch high flow Magnaflow catalytic converter and three inch Flowmaster catback. By my seat of the pants dyno I feel I gained a little top end but lost some low end torque when I went with the three inch all the way from the y-pipe. I'm now contemplating whether to get some headers and y-pipe (for looks mostly) but I'm wondering how that will affect the power band. I've also read that our factory exhaust manifolds can handle upwards of 300hp at the wheels which I am nowhere close to. What are your thoughts?

any time you can un restrict exhaust flow is a good thing for speed