My '83 305 T/A currently has the stock exhaust setup. I'd like to replace all of it and switch to headers. What would everyone recommend for a good cruising setup? Where would everyone recommend going to shop for new parts? I've checked Summit, but there's so much to choose from....Obviously, i'm kinda new to this Thanks for your help!

P.S. Here in Michigan, we have no emissions laws.

 

Shops will overcharge you.

Summit or Jegs would be the best to order from.

There's Edelbrock, Hooker or Hedman that you might want to go with.

 

Thanks for the reply, Mark. If I order one of those from Summit or Jegs, where should I go for installation? Do exhaust places do that kind of work, or should I look for a specialty shop? Thanks again.

 

To be honest, I doubt you'll find an exhaust shop to do it. The one I've went to are lazy bastards and some of the ones people on here say too. I was talking about getting a 3" cat-back and the guy told me it would be a pain in the butt and not worth it. First of all took he like only 1 hr to do and I noticed definate power increase.

Headers aren't that hard to do. Took my brother and I 6hrs in the driveway. It helps to have some ramps. Longest part was movin all the crap out the way to get the old manifolds off.

 

definately get the emissions pulled and cat pulled run 3'' pipe all the way to wahtever catback you may you choose i however had a dynomax not by choice but let me say DAMN but definately no cat or emissions trust me you'll love the sound once you replace it its like night and day difference my friend it honost to *** sometimes scares me when i really get on it it soo nice and so mean, i could talk all day about how great sounding my car is now but i have to cut it short but the hooker aerochamber exhaust sounds sweet and what i originally intended to get but its all about flavor. but if you want the meanest sounded car ditch the cats get headers run 3'' pipe into your catback you'll love yourself for doing it i know i have!

 

Hooker cat back is a good start. Do it your self it is very easy to install plus you will build confidence in you how to modify your car yourself. That's what I did, now I just ordered Edelbrock TES and I have no plans of bringing it to a shop. It saves me the cash to buy for other goodies

 

you said something about "cruising" I like my edelbrock on the high way because it isn't crazy loud like some are, with out a cat it is plenty loud for around the town

 

Really depends on what exhaust shop you go to. I got a nice deal on my custom made exhaust and it was installed. I paid $400 for everything including stainless tips so I got a good deal. That was with the hi-flo cat, intermediate pipe, 80s Flow, and the two stainless tips.

 

Here is pics of my exhaust setup......

 

Da muffla.. Flowmaster 80 series....
this is the hear of the rumble......

 

I would reccomend hooker supercomp shorty headers (coated), the corresponding y-pipe, and the hooker catback. You can install this all yourself if you have a jack and some jackstands. It's pretty easy, just make sure to get some clamps (unless you have a mig welder) and some extra pipe to put in place where the cat would go. This setup isn't too loud at cruising (70), but when you get on it, it screams.

 

Thanks for all the responses, guys. :hail: This gives me a really good idea of where to start. For those who installed the exhaust themselves, do you have welders? Are they needed to install the new parts?

 

You don't have to have a welder for it, but it does help. You can use the clamps on it, but they can leak if they're not put on just right, where as if you weld it up, you're guaranteed no leaks (as long as you're a decent welder).

 

Do the clamps come with the parts, or do you have to buy them separately?

 

Hey Bluebird,

What Y-pipe is that you have in your picture... it looks like SLP but I can't tell for sure.

 

reply about y-pipe.....


the y-pipe came with the edelbrock
tes headers... However..... a little
lesson learned and my advice to anyone buying this exhaust setup.. the flowmasters come with stainless steel parts.. but the headers did not.. make sure you use all stainless steel bolts and powder coat the y-pipe....

 

Hooker.........

 

headers

 

I like my edelbrock headers, they were easy to install, fit good and came with everything needed for the install. good price too.

After that everyone has there own opinion on which cat back sounds best. I like hooker or flowmaster there.

 

I believe that you have to buy them seperately because they usually count on it being welded together.

 

I might go ahead and buy edelbrock TES headers and the hooker catback...sucks wasting all that money on what i have now but oh well maybe i can find somebody with an fbody to buy it off me. Ill tell you hooker headers are pretty rough on the install. dont fit past the AC heater box very well at all.