I have an 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 WS6......i have done Several mods to this car and now feel its time for headers........I have done them on my 89 350 truck.....but there was alot of room. I was wanting to know what type of headers are the best or easiest to install, and what all it concerns to install them......I do have a Dual Cat exhuast.

 

There are a lot of brand of headers to choose from, it all depends on how fast you are planning to make your car. I had Dynamax emissions legal shorties on my firebird, and they were just fine up until I installed a 450+HP aluminum headed solid cam motor, then I went hooker LTs. They are around $300 and come with a ****ty Y pipe. I have Hedman shorties on my girlfirends T/a and they are by FAR better than the dynamaxs. Very similar to the Hookers from what I hear. 3inch collectors, 1/ 58inch pipes, but NO air tubes, you can weld air tubes on though. Hedmans are cheap, but also come with a ****ty y pipe. About the only headers that come with a decent y pipe in fact are the SLP's, but those are over $450, so you want good parts you pay good money, just like anything else. I'd say Edlebrock TESs if you want a COMPLETE bolt in installation with no mods neccesary. They have decent Y pipes and fit reasonably well. Go SLP if you have the money.

 

LOL I just read my own post, I think I recommended every brand. HAHAHAHAH

 

Thanks for your help. But i was still wondering how hard the installation of headers are in my car. Do i have to relocate anything, do i have to modify parts? Thats what i was really after. I heard that the SLP headers were a **tch to install. I was curious about the Headmans.

 

I have the Hedman dual cat headers on my 91 dual cat Z28. They were easy to install......nothing really hard about it, just time consuming. The only thing I had to modify was the A/C compressor bracket...needed to be bent up a little....but that was easy with a vise and rubber hammer. I got mine from JetHot for $500 for everything, including the Header/Ypipes. They are the only hedman headers that include the ypipe that fits the dual cat cars.....Id say if you already have the dual cat, stay that way...The part number for them is 68491. You can see a pic of the header itself on Jegs.com.....but they only list 68481(single cat).....but they have the dual cat if you dont want to get them coated(Id highly recommend the coating). Good luck.....

 

Thanks for the info......I just called Jet-Hot and they can special order the Headman dual cat shorty headers and Y-pipe, coat them, and ship them to me for only $511.00 . That sounds like a great deal to me.........I only have one last ?. When you installed the headers.......did you have to mess with the ac, or steering at all to get it to fit? Did you have to lift the engine......? Sorry i'm being so picky....just want to know what all I have to look forward to so there will be no surprises and i get it done in a timely manor......Thanks for all your help

 

I didnt have to touch the steering column or power steering pump on mine. The only bracket I had to modify was the one that bolts to the manifold/head and to the a/c compressor. Just had to bend the end that goes to the header/head....no biggie. OTher than that...no jacking motors or anything. BUT I will warn you...all 3rd gens seem to be different in that category...so I cant swear that you wont have to....but Its not a big deal. Good luck....

 

We just put Chris's Dynamax's in Tom's 88 Iroc (88AZIROC) and it took 3 of us all day long. We had to pull out the entire A/C system to put in the headers. We also took off the valve covers and unplugged the sparkplugs. All in all, it was a pain in the butt.