Ok guys, I've got 2 choices here. I can either get edelbrock catback now, and fabricate my own custom intake, or I can get headers and use just about every last penny I have right now. It's going on an '87 305 TPI Z28. What are those bolts everyone says never come lose? ARP stage 8 locking bolts or something like that. What are the best gaskets to use? I'm trying to get a general idea of how much this would run me total for just headers. If I get headers, I won't have money for catback, I'll have to throw a glasspack or a dynomax magnum bullet race muffler on it. What would be the best way to go for performance? I have another car I can drive, so I guess I'm thinking about installing the headers myself(my dad will more than likely be against it though, I'll have to get a friend to help me with it). Is there anything else I'm missing? :

The headers
gaskets
locking bolts
new plug wires as soon as $ permits

Any help/opinions/suggestions would be great.

Also, I don't need to hear about how bad edelbrock headers are, they are still better than the stock manifolds and I'm a poor high school teenager. I don't plan on building massive power here, if anything, all I'll get is SLP runners and either a hypertech/jet chip or start burning my own.

 

I'd go for headers.... And aluminum or copper header gaskets =$40. Stage 8 bolts are about another $35. If you get the TES headers be sure to order the one for the 350TPI, so you get a 3" y pipe.

 

The headers will yield the biggest power gain. Get all the stuff Mark said, and you'll definitely have to get the plug wires now, they can't wait. Make sure to get them all 90* plug boots, and you will need wire looms too so that they don't get fried.

 

For power first, go with the headers. I'd pass on the glasspack idea. Just use the exhaust you have now, and wait till you have money for a catback.
If you get the TES headers, which I think will be fine for your plans, you won't need anything else but maybe a reducer pipe from autozone to get it connected to the stock exhaust. They come with gaskets and bolts with lock washers. I can't remember anything special I needed. So what is that, like $330 or so?

Oh, and like mentioned above, 90* plug boots are a nececity. The straight boots won't fit.
As far as the gaskets go, I never had a leak with the ones that came with the headers.
good luck

 

If you are poor.........save the money on the stage 8 header bolts. When the normal bolts loosen, just tighten them back up and eventually they will stop backing out.

 

I'd vote with the headers route, too. The rest of the TPI exhaust isn't as much of a restriction as the cast iron manifolds are.

I used the normal header bolts that came with the headers. I haven't had to tighten anything up in the 9 months I've been driving the Camaro(7k miles). I haven't had to tighten the header bolts on the '57 since I put the 396 in it in 1998. I've put a wrench on them a couple of times, they didn't move.

 

Yeah, i thought about that... i could just keep tightening them. It's worth it to get those aluminum or copper gaskets though isn't it? What's the best gasket?

 

Check prices on aluminum and copper gaskets and get what ever is cheaper, if they are the same price, get copper.