Well, I saved up and did it. I ordered the 1 3/4" Stainless, ceramacoated headers for my Z's little 305. Are there any tips or tricks I should know before we install them? I ordered SLP's install kit and catalyst adaptor to help with the install. I can't wait to hear what it sounds like....

 

 

new motor mounts would probably do you a world of good as far as fit goes... you'll have to lift the driver side for the header to go in, most likely. canx your header install kit and buy mine - save you a couple of bux.

 

You are gonna hate putting them on with a passion, I know I did. You can't get a fricken 12 point bolt on them for ****. Make sure you have a arsenal of explicit words ready when your about to put them on, the passenger side will have you pulling your hair out. Get some allen wrench bolts for them.

 

Tip: Replace your spark plug once you have removed the iron headers.

 

Might end up like that, depends on how smart you are. One good idea will be to soak the stock bolts with some penetrating oil several times before removing your manifolds.

 

The motor was just rebuilt two months ago, so the motor mounts are fresh and hopefully the stock exhaust will come back off easily. Thank you for the tip about undoing the motor mount and jacking up the driver's side. Hopefully, that will save some grief!!

 

The manifolds were a piece of cake and its just getting the damn ratchet on them, I over exagerrated for show, the passenger side back bolt is the biggest pain, I had no real trouble on the drivers side.

 

Somebody on another website said that 1 3/4" headers will be way too big for my 305. Is this true? I can't imagine an 1/8th of an inch will affect it that much. Should I have ordered 1 5/8" instead? I sure hope they don't make the motor run worse.

 

You'll be fine.

 

well, if it does, put you a 350 in there = problem solved!

 

That would be me who said that I also posted the reasoning behind it. Pretty much any headers will flow better than stock though.

 

I had no problem at all putting my Hookers on

 

My headers came today! They look amazing! The ceramacoat is flawless and has depth and reflection, while all the welds are smooth and continuous. We put them on tuesday!!
Now I need to get the CARB certificate for the smog ***** and rig up some form of heat-riser for the aircleaner thermac.

 

Did you end up going with the SLPs?

 

Yes they are the 30001C coated smog-legal (air injection & 02 sensors) headers that hook up to the stock cat-converter. I already have a Catco replacement converter, though and a nice Flowmaster crossflow muffler with some stainless downturned tips to utilitize the vacuum under the car to help suck the gasses away.

 

The headers are in! It is a tight fit on the passenger's side, but they are in. It only took several days, about 17 hours of labor to install them. Monday it's off to the muffler shop to have a catalyst adapter created. The SLP supplied one ($35.00) isn't even close to fitting. With open headers right now it sounds like a NASCAR race-car!!

 

Mine wouldn't fit either. Just take it to a muffler shop and have it expanded.

 

Did you put any heat shielding on your starter or sparkplug wires after the install? I was also thinking of wrapping my brakelines that run near the header as well as the O2 sensor lead wires.

 

1 3/4 headers are fine they will make a huge differance once u get them installed. You might have to dent the drivers side header alittle bit to get it to clear the stearing shaft and bend some break lines thats about it. Just take your time and do it right.

 

Got it all welded up and back from the hop today. Sounds like the exhaust gurgles in the pipes, and when you floor it, it ROARS!!:-) Now I need to get a 3" cat converter and pipe to my flowmaster.