Ok guys... I'm wanting to get a set of headers for my car. It's a 1991 Z28 5.7 TPI L98 with dual cats (re-moved)....3 inch cat back 80 series Flowmaster, 3 inch exhaust cutout with a 3 inch McCord Power Plate, and 3 1/2 inch tips. So....my question is...what kind should I get? Do most of the kits come with a y-pipe...or is it something I have to buy seperate? Do I want longtubes...shorties....competition....or whatever....?? I'll probably just go ahead and get an uncoated set....but..I mean...I have no idea what size....and..something about air fittings??? I just really don't know to much about this stuff...and I'll probably hire someone to install them...I also don't really want to pay like $400 on a set...I've heard that hedman makes some pretty reasonable priced sets... ANY suggestions/ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks!!!

 

Check out the sticky on this... there is some stuff there. Try a search too. To my experience (very little) headers are headers... a decent set and a really good set only have a very marginal difference in power. You may find different results from different ones though. Deffinalty go with 1 3/4" on a 350... let her breath.

 

well if you want long tubes with no air fittings, then check out summit for the headman LT's they are 109.95, or their shorties, plus they have them in 13/4 and 15/8 but for better TQ then you want smaller tube headers.

 

I just installed Hedman longtubes in my 90 GTA , 5.7 . They went in a lot easier than I thought they would , I just had to remove the motor mount bolts and jack up each side of the motor to get them in from the bottom. I also had to do some grinding on the A-arm support on the driver side, but this is no problem if you have the right tool. Luckily I did, and it only took about 15 minutes. I'm not sure if I am going to have a Y pipe made at a muffler shop to go to my single 3" system or make my own duals. I still have my stock oil cooler in place and my full size starter, so the fit is real nice. I paid $289 from Jegs for the coated ones. I got a couple pix of the install if you are interested.

 

$289.....for coated?????do you happen to have the part number? Did you get 1 4/3 inch primary tubes? I have a jegs catolog..but..I didn't see any for that cheap!...I must be missing them somewhere....sounds nice! yeah..some pics of the installion would be very great!

 

They are part # 500-68460 82-92 F-body SBC Full Length . I think you just have to add a C to the part # for the coated ones . I will get some pics up later when my wife is up to show me how I tried a couple times but I need to resize them because they are too big .

 

Realize that those are only coated on the outside, where as Jet Hot coats the inside as well.

In your situation, I'd get some Hooker shorty headers.

 

Here is a top view, if this works like I want it to I will post some more pics.

 

That is a little big, I will try another size.

 

Bottom view.

 

Wow....those look nice.....so....what does all of this mean...I got this straight from jegs website.....
500-68460
Camaro/Firebird 1982-92 265-400 ci, 1-5/8'' Tubes/3'' Collector,
Full Length Header
Fits Chevy engine
Will fit with angle plug heads
Dual exhaust only, limited ground clearance
Must modify rotary A/C bracket
Designed to fit and clear with 700R4 or TH-350 transmissions.

Dual exhaust only?? Must modify rotary A/C bracket??
My engine is stock......I want to get a set where I don't have to modify anyhing....

 

Oil filter clearence.

 

This is where the A-arm support is grinded, the header is being held out of the way.

 

This shot shows the header in place, you can see why the support needed to be grinded, there was about an inch of metal that would not let the header sit right against the head.

 

They can be hooked to a single pipe set-up, you just need to find someone to make you a custom Y-pipe. I was quoted about $115 to do mine, I havent got to the AC bracket part yet but I read that it is just the support bracket in the back. The jegs catalog also says will not clear stock floor pans, mine had no trouble at all. I believe you said for a 91 Camaro, it should be just like my 90 GTA. Shorty headers are probably easier to install and you can buy the Y-pipe already made but as far as I am concerned full length headers are the only way to go, that is what a true header is in my opinion.(BTW, I dont have to worry about emissions laws so that will be a major factor in your choice of headers, it would be real hard to keep the cat with this set-up)
I just reread where you said your cats are removed so your emissions laws must not be too strict.

 

Thanks for all the grea info! How about heat? I have a fiberglass SS hood on my 91 Z....would they hurt the paint or anything on the hood...since there is a lot of heat been genertaed off of them? I've heard that Edelbrock TES headers are pretty nice too..anyone have any of these?

 

I just finished installing them this morning after spending about 12 hours taking out the manifolds, Y pipes and cats. The installation was kind of a pain but that was my first time installing headers so I guess it'll be kinda difficult at first. The AIR fittings made it worse so I recommend not getting them with AIR if you don't have to. About a couple hours ago I got back from the exhaust shop that made my Y pipe extensions to the cats. I have to say I definitely noticed a difference in acceleration. I didn't want to get 1 3/4 headers cuz seeing as my motor is almost all stock it would not have helped much, and would've robbed me of low end torque. And also the sound is better. But I'm happy with the results. And the engine temps haven't really gone up that much. I thought the headers were gonna get so hot that I would HAVE to buy some kind of protection for my wires or they would burn them no matter how I routed them. But so far everything seems fine. Now it's on to suspension.

P.S. When you do install headers,,,it helps a great deal to have all your A/C and smog junk removed, like I have.

 

Well, here is my $.02 worth. I bought the heddman shorty headers and wrapped them with the header wrap. Mine do have the air tubes and it turns out that I spent about an extra $200 for no reason. A month after I put the headers on I decided to get rid of my smog stuff. So I ended up capping my air tubes and not using them. If you are not going to use smog (no cats right?), I would suggest the heddman shorty headers and some wrap. The shorty heddmans without air tubes is around $110 or so if I remember right. At that price I don't worry about the thermal wrap voiding the header warranty. You can coat them if you are worried about rusting the headers. I will try to insert a pic of mine.
This isn't a very good pic but here goes anyhow.

 

Lookin good! Does summit or jegs sell any Hedman Shorties....with air tubes.....that ARE coated??? I didn't see any in the catolog....but..maybe I'm just over looking.....

 

Well I have just looked in all the magazines I have and online too and couldn't find any either. That doesn't mean they don't make them though. They should and it seems to me that I seen some not too long ago.

 

I know that they make them..I just can't find them..or a price...a friend of mine installed a set to his 91 RS.....all coated..and everything....he said he ordered them from JEGS like that. My friend is off to college...and I can't get ahold of him.....anyone else know??

 

You can email JEGS or call them and they should be able to tell you a part #.

 

So the hookers won't fit T5's?

 

Anyone used these? Saw them on Thunder Racings website...only $314...and they are all ready coated: 66-2460-1 Hooker Shorty headers; 1982-1992 265-400; Equipped with O2 sensor fitting CERAMIC COATED
Would these work?

 

The 2460 do not come with a Y pipe! the 2055 Supercomps do. By the time you have a shop make a custom Y pipe, which will not be coated. You'll Probably have been better off with the Supercomps when all is said and done.

 

Header wrap makes the headers crack eventually--trust me! I don't think you want to go any bigger than 1 5/8s on a stock or even mildly modified engine. Remember you have a single 3 inch exhaust so that will limit air flow from big headers. The Edelbrock TES goes on real nice---well as nice as a header job gets. Good luck.

 

can u get teh 2055's coated, and does anyone now how much that will cost?

 

$520.00 shipped direct from Jet Hot.

 

<b>I also had to do some grinding on the A-arm support on the driver side, but this is no problem if you have the right tool. </b>

What tool? I was going to use my air grinder (die grinder.. whatever) it seemed to be working good but i ran out of discs.

I just put the passenger side header in and had to remove the starter but it fits fine now. the driver side is hitting in the same place as yours, 1990GTA.

BTW for people doing research, my car was a stock 89RS with a 305 and 100,000 miles on the motor mounts. I pulled out that motor, installed a 350, on those stock motor mounts.

The headers i ordered were P/N HED-68460-6 from summitracing.
The coating gets scratched easy so be carefull as you install.
You will need to jack up the motor on both sides you can leave the tranny bolted up, just take out the motor mount bolts and pull it up with a lift or jack it up under the oil pan.
Passenger side went in fine with starter removal.
Driver side will need grinding in 1 place so the header can sit against the heads.
I used the stock 100,000 Mile Moter mounts, if you change mounts the clearances may change as well so be warned.

 

I'd recommend the Hooker 2055's from Jet Hot. $520 shipped to your door. Includes a y-pipe and everything is coated inside and out. I'm very happy with mine. They went in without any mods too (Aside from 90* plug wires).

 

I went ahead an went with the (dual cat) Edelbrock TES headers...I got them for a great price off of ebay....and had them JET-HOT coated....I had one of my friends install'em...I traded and extra 91-92 Z28 High-Rise spoiler for him to install them....they look great..and sounds really great....especially with the cut-out open. I drove through a parade last week....and got-cussed out because my car they thought my car was to loud. I didn't say anything to them because I didn't want them to jump out and kick my car....