MikeS

Ok, should I save up for a $300 or so Hooker exhaust system, or go with about twice the price on a set of Vortec heads? My car is a carb'd 350 with stock mid seventies heads and cam, shorty headers, and a thrown together Midas exhaust system.

Hopefully this isn't a duplicate post. Tried earlier, but don't think it went.

mtx28

i'd go for the vortec heads(predrilled for 86 and earlier intakes is like 50$ more) a set of those drilled for all aftermarket intakes will run you right under 500. i hear that shorty headers steal power, but, i think ull benefit from the heads more, especially if you get a cam along w/it, or down the line. but... these two thigns go hand in hand... if you get better heads, u need better exhaust(if its stock) so they work together... if you get a better exhaust, you benefit somewhat, but not near as good as if you get the pair together. you decide, i'd go for the heads

Dan87IROC-Z

I agree I would go with the heads too.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission with 2.77:1 Rear End

Current Mods: Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip with 160* Thermostat, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET : 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to come: LT4 HOT Cam, Air Flow Research 190cc Heads, 2800 RPM Stall Converter and SLP 3.70 Rear End Gears.

JPrevost

[This message has been edited by JPrevost (edited December 01, 2000).]

JPrevost

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, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list)

ede

i say heads also, so unless you want a recount it looks like heads wins this vote.

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-=ICON MOTORSPORTS=-
1st & 3rd

MikeS

Thanks for the input everyone. I have been thinking about going for the heads over the exhaust because they will not only help with performance, but help me pass emissions here too. I would buy the vortecs already drilled and tapped for the earlier intake manifolds (i have a weiand action+ that i want to keep). as for a cam, i know that a head swap is a good time to do it, but don't know what cam i would get or what cam i should get. either way, this will probably have to wait until the spring when i am back in school and can work on my car on the weekends. down time is not so much of a problem then...

CamaroZ_85

recount!!!!! recount!

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

Vader

Go for good heads whenever you get the opportunity...

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

Grim Reaper

Gore wants a recount, including the dimpled posts this time.

irocz

http://www.danieldale.com/election.html

If you change the heads, you really need to make up your mind what cam you're going to use as well...one w/o the other will cost you lots of hp.

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87 IROC-Z, 5.7, auto, 3.27, leather, !cat, Holley fpr, K&N'S, SLP 1-3/4" Jet-Hot coated headers, SLP .218/.224 .495/.502 cam, Comp 1.5 roller tip rockers, $uperPITAram, Edelbrock lower intake, Holley 52mm tb, Dynomax\Flowmaster catback. Coming Soon(?)- Fasttrack/Accell DFI

1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am - 161,000 miles, !cat, 9" K&N

[This message has been edited by irocz (edited December 02, 2000).]

Pukka

I've had my car registered in 4 different GA counties and I never heard of emissions in this state. Unless Atlanta has some different restrictions....but then again emissions is usually controlled by the state. Double check those emissions....it may help you on your decision.

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92 Camaro RS LO3, 5-spd, T-tops
Mechanics:
Open Air Element w/K&N Filter, Flowmaster 3" Cat-back Exhaust, Z28 Grille w/aftmkt fog lamps
Electronics:
Alpine 8030 Alarm System, Valentine One Radar Detector (How did I ever drive without one?), Pioneer DEH 7450 Head Unit w/6-pack CD changer, Pioneer DEQ 7600 Sound Processor, 2 Kenwood KAC-90 Amps powering 2 12" Pro Red subs and 4 Infiniti speakers.
NEXT UP: SLP 1 3/4" Headers/Y-pipe, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch kit

MikeS

Sorry to say it, but they've been testing emissions in metro Atlanta for four or five years now. It used to be every other year and was just a test at idle and a test at 2500 rpm or so. Now it is every year (we have to have the papers to get our registration) and is a simulated acceleration test on some type of dyno. I could pass with severely retarded timing and lean mixture, but it was tough. Too much hydrocarbons. Maybe they won't extend the testing out your way anytime soon. Cause you don't have quite the traffic problems that atlanta has (only been to savannah a few times, but really like the whole area).

Now that everybody has convinced me to go for heads first, I have another question? What kind of cam could I expect to get away with in an emissions tested car? Thanks again.