well i just got rich, so i bought a 350 to replace my 305 which shxt the bed, i also bought some headers at the same time, now when im building up the 350 to put it back in, should i put the headers on before or after i put the engine back in, everyone is telling me different opinions about this, keeping in mind i have pretty much all the space and tools i need to do this, just not time. thanks

 

put them in the engine bay before dropping the motor. if u put them on before the motor is in, the motor wont fit, most likely. if u bolt the motor in then u cant drop the headers in and put them on. put them in the correct postion then drop the engine and bolt the headers on

 

The only thing hard about that is getting them to stay where you put them. You just need a couple of extra hands.

 

and that wont get in the way of anything? sounds kinda risky to drop the motor right onto the headers if their just stickin up like that, but it does sound a bit easier than trying to line up the headers to the flanges and also trying to get the flywheel where its supposed to be. also, since the engines already out, what other cheap stuff should i replace eg water pump starter...

 

Change the tranny fluid and filter while the engine is out. Make sure you dump out the converter and let it drain overnight to get the most fluid out of it that you can. I don't really know of any other "cheap" thinkgs to replace with the engine out. Since all of the internals, oil pump, timing chain, etc are new.... I can't think of anything else that requires removing the engine.

 

What headers do you have or are planning on using?

I put my headers on the engine while it was on the stand, installed the engine with the headers on it. Put the y-pipe and rest of the exhaust on after the engine was in.

 

i have hooker shorties coming, but i didnt get a different y pipe or cat back, im waiting till i get paid again, so i can also put insurance on it, do you think they will bolt up? or will i have to pull off the ypipe and take it to a muffler shop?

 

Drop engine then put headers on. If it’s hard try going from underneath the car to mount the headers. You may have to tilt the engine. You are going to want to get a new Y-Pipe. Your best bet would be to see if Hooker makes a corresponding Y-Pipe that will perfectly match. I was mislead when I bought my Headman’s and was told that my stock (or new one same as stock) Y-Pipe would work. WRONG. I had to have one custom made. Good Luck

 

The Hooker shorty headers that do not come with a y-pipe (2460) do not hook to the stock y-pipe without modification, and no y-pipe is available pre-fab'd for them. You might want to consider getting the 2055's, which do have the y-pipe.

Put the headers on the engine before you put the engine in the car (assuming shorties). No-brainer.