I am wondering how hard it is to install eldelbrock TES headers? i am planning on buying new vortech heads and inake manifold. will these headers work? what will i need?

 

"Vortec" heads, perhaps?

The headers will work. It would be a good time to install them, setting them in the engine compartment while the heads are off - much easier than when the engine is assembled.

Just curious, what Vortec intake do you mean, exactly? The SDPC TPI base, or are you going carb?

Also, completely off-topic (off-forum?), are you putting these heads on the 305 as-received? If so, you're going to experience a drop in compression, and when coupled with TPI (if indeed that's what you're doing), you may be disappointed with the results.

 

yes on the 305 while the heads are off. arent the heads just ready to bolt on? what do i have to do? i am going to be putting in a cam also.

 

305's come from the factory with 58cc chambers to get the 9.x:1 compression ratio. 350's (what the Vortecs were designed for) are 64cc for the same CR. If you put those heads on a 305 as they are, you're going to drop compression, which will reduce power.

Conventional wisdom says the extra flow of the Vortecs will make up for that loss of compression, but that's typically with a carb setup. With TPI, the flow increase will be less, unless you do other things to the setup.

You can have the heads milled to reduce the chamber volume. But, if you have dreams of a 350 sometime in the future, that's not a good idea. If you plan on sticking with the 305, then consider having them milled, and give the machinist the base, too, so he can mill it to match.

Vortec heads came on truck engines. Truck engines are designed for torque, not performance-oriented horsepower. So, the valve lift they can tolerate is reduced. If you keep lift below .480", you're probably alright, but on the ragged edge. But, the valve springs that come on the heads were intended for low RPM usage, so if you're upgrading the cam, upgraded valve springs would be a good idea, too. SDPC offers heads that are upgraded to take care of all of that. Well worth the price, in my opinion, and if you talk to them, they'll probably mill the heads & base as well.

(Sorry for the off-forum discussion...)

Back to exhaust:
Any particular reason you're going with TES? Have you considered other header options?

 

i am going with TES because here we have emissions. and as the car stood when i bought it i only passed by .001 i have put in K&ns since and did a full tune up but i dont want to do something that might get me to fail.

email me about the vortec heads.

 

TES isn't the only emissions-legal header setup out there. Hooker 2055 are, and are very good headers. Hedman has their version, haven't heard a lot of good things about their single-cat y-pipe, but the dual-cat system should be okay. Both Hooker & Hedman are in the same price range as TES.

SLP is the high-price leader, but it's quality stuff. Some people have clearance issues with their 1-3/4" primary headers, but they recommend 1-5/8" for 305s, anyway.

Just wanted you to know there are choices out there.

 

hooker 2055? what about the air stuff?

 

A.I.R. tubes (up to the point the check valves screw on), O2 sensor fitting, y-pipe to 3" slip-fit cat. It's all there. Bolts, gaskets, spacers, instructions, etc.