I’m installing headers into my 85 T/A, 305 LG4 700R4 - I purchased a setup that was supposedly off of another 3rd gen. Included headers, y pipe and cat.



The pipe my foot is on I consider to be the cross over pipe. I cut it at the sleeve just forward of my foot and it’s also cut at the next joint just before it bends toward the cat. I’ll refer to this as the crossover pipe.

The crossover pipe from the drivers side is arched up, causing it to interfere with the torque converter and trans cooler lines. I could eliminate a couple of problems by installing a flex pipe in this section, my question is what opportunities might I be creating by doing so?

By doing so it’s apparent that the passenger side manifold will be supporting most of the weight of the cat, but I doubt the drivers side would be of much help. I suspect additional hangers would be requirement?




What do I do with the engine oil dipstick? There isn’t room to install a stand-off from the factory bolt location, maybe a simple bracket under the header bolt and use that as the stand-off? Yes, #4 plug wire needs to be a 90 degree.





I’d like to make use of the factory hanger as shown.

 

Did someone weld the Y pipe to the Headers? Either way the Y pipe is really screwy looking I would be interested to see how it runs under the car. If that was my system I would cut it off, add flanges, get mandrel bends and remake it.

Get some pictures of how it routes under the car.

 

Huh. Typically the crossover goes further forward, between the oil pan and K-member. Crossing over that far back on something like an f-body would typically limit ground clearance. That setup looks like it's off a truck with an SBC in it.

A lot of people let the dipstick flap around back there. I usually weld a nut to the header flange and then use a bolt, stud, or piece of all thread screwed into that nut and then 2 nuts on the other end sandwiching the dipstick bracket. I can't seem to find a pic of it installed right now, but here is a pic of on welded to the passenger side header:

 

The y pipe should do something like this

 

Yes, it’s not ideal. This looks amazing. I was told it came off of a 3rd gen, though it clearly didn’t fit like it. The crossover pipe hangs just ahead of the torque converter. I haven’t hit anything yet, and I’ve put about 60 miles on the car. Other than the crossover pipe I’m well pleased.

 

Thanks for the feedback, if I’m able to keep the headers sealed up I’ll go ahead and have the crossover pipe redone next spring.

No leaks in this setup fwiw.

 

Thanks I made that one