I have looked all over and have not found anything useful for installing headers. I work at an auto parts shop and my manager says that installing headers can be tricky but with old GMs they should be able to go in from the bottom with out removing much if anything at all and that its better than paying $400+ for install alone. I'm completely useless with engine work and don't have any experience with it so it still sounds iffy to me. Does anyone have any advice or if at all possible giving me instructions on exactly what to do?

BTW I have a '82 Camaro Berlinetta, I recently replaced my 305with a brand new 350 from Chevy. I heard that headers don't really differ between the two but I thought the more info the better.

 

I did read over the instructions posted about installing the hooker LTs but i was looking at Edelbrock Shorties. I honestly don't know the difference between Long and short tubes and haven't asked around a lot, so im subject to change based on others input.

 

After some quick surfing around, it seems everyone says that STs don't change the sound at all and give some HP and that LTs give a deeper sound and more HP. I have wanted to install headers for a more muscle sound and more HP so it looks like a LT is my option.

 

anyone?

 

I have read that long tube headers create a clearance problem...other than that Im sorry Im not the guy to help you...Im looking for info for headers too...good luck

 

yeah thats what ive been hearing too
Im a parts runner for a local shop so I have been asking any shops what they think. This one guy said that long tubes would be crushed almost instantly with all the speed bumps in my area and suggested shorties, but said that before i do headers i should do a MSD (multiple shock discharge) system and ill get more performance from that than a set of headers, but right now, im not drag racing or anything and am just looking for a deeper more muscle sound, I honestly have no clue what to do now haha

 

out of all the camaros that i have had i have put about 4 sets of short tubes on and 2 sets of long tubes. the short tubes (if you get the y pipe for it) usually are a pretty straight forward installation with only the bolts being a pita. other than that modifications seem to be minimal and ive used flowtech, hooker, edelbrock, and blackjack. the edelbrock were by far the best fit. now longtubes i didn't realy see a ground clearance problems with the headmans only the y pipe is much harder to fab up. i also had a set of headman hussler headers and you have to notch the frame, and move the steering shaft out of the way for those but not made for the street. hope this helps. oh and the headers for a 305 are the same as for a 350 unless the 350 has angle plugs, which they sell headers for those too just get some for a newer camaro ie 87

 

I wouldn't use long tubes again unless I had some sort of compelling reason.

 

thanks turbostang7 that was a lot of help, im planning to stick to shorties for now cause im working with a part time jobs budget and cant afford to have the exhaust redone, so far i have only found one set thats supposed to fit from summit racing but i might try out the Edelbrocks since they fit a lot better and its a well known and trusted company

 

Agreed.

Well designed shorties are plenty for a street car.

 

why do you guys not like the long tubes?

 

Installing long tubes requires custom fabrication and/or a loss of ground clearance. The gains aren't worth the trouble for a street car.

 

There are more clearance issues to consider with LT's, things from ground clearance, starter clearance, steering shaft, etc. Not so much with shorties. I installed shorties on my 87 Trans Am and it DEFINITELY makes the car sound louder over the exhaust manifolds. Headers, I'd say, are a bit more advanced in car-mechanics. So if you don't work on cars much, you might want to skip out. Like stated earlier, probably the hardest thing is getting the old bolts loose. I'd highly recommend a breaker bar...

 

well getting the bolts off now shouldnt be a big problem because i just got a new 350 from GM put in so they shouldnt be too stuck already. or should they?

 

they could be but i wouldn't think so, a little trick and i know it sounds funny, is to heat the bolts with a torch a little and then take a crayon and touch the bolt, the wax will penetrate and work as a break loose. i didn't believe it so i tried it once seemed to work, not sure though.

 

Alright ill keep that in mind haha, for now im looking for just a more muscle like sound... I have an uncle with a '68 Charger and im workin to sound something even close to that. Many said headers are the way to go, but theres a local muffler shop that says with a 3" exhaust and a good flomaster ill get the same results but for what they wanted it'd be cheaper to do headers haha

 

Hooker 2055 shorties were a direct bolt in. They come with a Ypipe and I had to do ZERO modification to get them to fit. Hardest part is that since I have AC, the last two bolts on the back of the passenger side are an absolute PITA to get to.

 

Now i like the idea of no modification needed, my only concern is that i heard the Berlinetta has a smaller engine bay or that it's more cramped in there. If thats true then i might have other problems, unless anyone with a Berlinetta has done this before i feel like im still experimenting a bit

 

Outside of the interior fittings, a Berlinetta is exactly the same as anything else.

 

Cat back exhaust will get you a better "sound" more than a set of headers will. I'd start there before anything unless you already have an aftermarket cat back. Flowmaster -American Thunder is probably the sound you are looking for though there are many options to choose from.

 

ok, well when i first got this car, i was 16 and knew even less than i do now so i had a new cat put in and the put a cheap glass pack on thinking it would sound sweet... and it sounds muscle ish but after awhile it starts to sound like a rice racer so i was planning on ditching the glass pack eventually and putting in maybe a Flowmaster super 44 or something similar

 

Hope to help you all out with header info. In terms of flow think like this. ST's boost your horsepower over stock manifolds. And, LT's boost your horsepower over ST's. So, a good rule of thumb is when installing headers is clearance vs. horsepower. LT's are always the best way to go for power. ST's do give a boost over stock but heres how it works.
Stock manifolds take in exhaust and combines it all together as soon as it gets it (NOT LETTING EXHAUST FULLY ESCAPE THE CYLINDER IN TIME FOR A NEW COMBUSTION CYCLE) BACKPRESSURE therefore robbing horsepower for lack of clean ignition.
Headers individually separate the exhaust before re-combining it at the collector. (GIVING YOU A MUCH CLEANER CYLINDER FOR THE NEXT COMBUSTION CYCLE) LESS BACKPRESSURE. By doing this it helps the engine to not "choke itself" with unflowed exhaust fumes. Now, long tubes do a much better job than ST's over stock simply because THE EXHAUST HAS MORE TUBE TO TRAVEL INDIVIDUALLY (more volume to flow at once) BEFORE COMBINING AGAIN AT THE COLLECTOR. Yes, it's that simple. So, depending on how little backpressure you want then you should go with ST's or LT's your choice. Now, for a lot more dough you can get what's called MT's (MEDIUM TUBES) which will give you nearly the same flow of LT's but better ground clearance like ST's I'm just to cheap to spring the loot for em. LOL Hopes this helps you all on your choice.

Greg "Sho Nuff" Tatum

 

Acutally, it's a whole lot more complicated.

And what we call "long tubes" on a thirdgen would actually be considered "medium tubes" on most platforms.