Soon I'll starting my engine rebuild with one of my 350's I have laying around and I'm looking to prep up my little 305 for the current meantime. I figured If i spend any money that will have to stay with the 305 it'd just be an Intake manifold and carb. I was thinking I'd put some headers (mid-range or long) on the 305 and reuse them on the 350 (350 block w/ LT1 heads). How does this sound and can I get by with it pretty simply? I figured a simple intake/exhaust upgrade on the 305 would help it out pretty well, from what I hear the exhaust is horrible on the L03. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

The general belief is to start from the rear and work forward.
Exhaust is a good place to start.
If you can't get the air out of the engine, you won't be able to get more in.

 

I put open headers and a carb on my LG4 and it rocks. Intake and Cam are next

 

Yes do your exhaust first. Biggest bang for the buck. After the exhaust then the intake system. If you do the intake first you won't get the maximum.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! I decided to start with the exhaust now.. I'm just worried about fitting issues.

 

Forgot to ask: What kind of headers should I be looking at? Brand? Size? Going to keep it Y-pipe also.

 

I'm partial to the Hooker 2055HKR. Best y-pipe out there; headers support stock to built engines. Some minor fabrication required to put on a non-TPI car (for the A.I.R. pipe on the driver's side). These are '86-'90 TPI single cat application headers, getting the rest of the exhaust for that application as well highly recommended.

 

Will these preform better then long tubes?

 

Longtubes - more torque
Shorties - less torque more hp

I went with Hedman longtubes.

 

On an otherwise stock RS? Doubt you'd see the difference.

Shorties win the ground clearance contest every time.

 

I have to agree with 5 7. I have shorties on a otherwise stock RS(besides a K+N) and don't notice much of a difference powerwise. Gas mileage went up a couple mpg. Engine definately breathes easier, but not really a seat of thepants difference.

 

i threw set of shorty headmens and a ypipe under my 89 rs and it made a little difference. formula wise the engine will breath better especially with the open element. btw its headers to tips WIIIDE OPEN!! sounds great

 

+1 Open headers =

Im in love with the way they sound

 

Until the rest of my exhaust gets here i'm running longtubes with header extensions and a lopey cam. Talk about vibration!!! My house vibrates.

 

Well I see those headers have the A.I.R crap that came with the TBI but won't that be useless once my LT1 is built and swapped in there? I'm shooting for a 350HP motor also with the LT1 so would shorty's still help in that situation?

 

That's approximately what my 350 is putting out (gross flywheel).

 

i have headmens w/o air