Alright, Header help please.

[Damon23]

The car is in getting painted as we speak. Hurrrrrraaaaaayyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I'm now looking around at headers. The exhaust is next in line when I get it home. I know I want ceramic cause I hate rusty looking headers and it is going to be a driver so I want them to hold up. It is a stock motor all the way. I may do a cam kit down the road but it is not important right now. I know I want magnaflow exhaust as well.

So, in your opinion what is a good, cost effective set of ceramic coated headers out there? Should I get shorty headers or full length? What are the pros/cons of each. I've never shopped for them before and I dont want to make a mistake. Thanks in advance.

[Radd]

Pacesetters are the best bang for the buck. I have not seen any people with long term luck on ceramic coating lasting so keep that in mind.

[outlaw77LT]

Hedman, Hooker Comps, and FlowTec have off the shelf headers that do well on a 2nd Gen. I have Hedmans on my '77 and they fit great ( able to change oil filter and the starter without taking em loose ).

[Chick]

Not "versed" on 2nd gen fitments, but I would only do shorties if your car has to meet emmissions requirements in your area. That being said... long tubes do cost more, coated even more so. If you can eek out a few more clams, I'd do it once with stainless LT's. :cool:

[Damon23]

I dont have to worry about emmisions so that is not a problem. I'm more worried about ground clearance and I dont want the headers to look like crap after a couple months. My engine bay looks bad enough. Do you think a exhaust shop can install the headers? I have to call around and ask. I dont have a clue to take it too around here.

[Radd]

I would help you do them if you lived close to me. Its not that much work installing them. taking it to a muffler shop after installing them is the fun part. You sound like nascar granny shifting to the muffler shop for welding.

[DC2250]

theres enough room under your hood, it really ought to be a snap to do yourself and a friend. But most muffler shops will be happy to take your money...probably around $1500 +. if they supply everything and the labor..magnaflow sounds fantastic along with nice headers and tips, just not cheap..

[Chick]

If you can finish a basement, you can install headers. ;) I'm sure somewhere someone has done a write up on installing LT's on a 2nd gen (NastyZ28?). Just remember that PB Blaster and hi temp gasket sealant are your friends. :cool:

[Damon23]

I was quoted $525 for new exhaust using magnaflow mufflers from the intakes back. You think if I bought the headers they would charge me $1k for installing the headers? I'd be willing to pay $200 in labor. I just dont want to make that 14 mile drive to the exhaust place with open headers and I value the skin on my knuckles.

[DC2250]

what I was saying is,,,,,,,,if you buy the headers and the exhaust and have them install it all, you would spend about 1500 bucks, As far as 200 bucks labor, everyone knows their own worth on that one.
most of the skinned knuckles you speak of comes from 4th gen owners, there is no room in that engine bay. In the 2nd gen irs a rather large area depending on size of motor.

[Damon23]

Oh, alright. Thats cool. So far i've learned that shorty headers are good and ceramic may not be the way to go and it is pretty easy to do so I should try to install them myself if I can get a buddy to help. Has anyone had any expierence with that Jet Hot coating stuff?

[1badz]

also you need to know that you will have some problems with your accessory mounts if any go to the manifolds currently, they do make kits for that but most are painted or zinc plated and look like crap soon. If you arent going to do major work to it changing to headers will not be a big gain, so have you considered just getting a nice true dual exhaust with say 2.5 inch pipes and good mufflers, maybe an x pipe too? Headers and full exhaust systems usually result in header gaskets leaking , not all the time though. you might be better off finding some corvette manifolds or something that flows pretty good and possibly work with your brackets, rather than headers. I have seen coated manifolds that look good last for many years..just food for thought

[Radd]

most of the skinned knuckles you speak of comes from 4th gen owners,


Ain't that the darn truth. With stock manifolds it is a nightmare to do anything. With longtube headers its a bit nicer.

[Chick]

also you need to know that you will have some problems with your accessory mounts if any go to the manifolds currently, they do make kits for that but most are painted or zinc plated and look like crap soon. If you arent going to do major work to it changing to headers will not be a big gain, so have you considered just getting a nice true dual exhaust with say 2.5 inch pipes and good mufflers, maybe an x pipe too? Headers and full exhaust systems usually result in header gaskets leaking , not all the time though. you might be better off finding some corvette manifolds or something that flows pretty good and possibly work with your brackets, rather than headers. I have seen coated manifolds that look good last for many years..just food for thought

Question #1 : Couldn't the mentioned accessory mounts be coated (powder or ceramic) at a shop?

Question #2 : Won't the car "breathe" better with a better flowing exhaust/headers and be more efficient (with some HP gains) on a 2nd gen?

Question #3 : How readily available are Corvette manifolds of that era (time leads)?

[Chick]

Damon, in the world of header coatings it's: paint ($) < chrome ($$) < ceramic coatings ($$$) < stainless ($$$$). Ceramic coatings are a good choice, especially if it is a weekend car that doesn't see rain. I would love to have coated, but I didn't have the $$$ so I went with chrome. BTW Jet Hot is a ceramic based coating (lifetime if you resend them back to be coated??). My reference to stainless was that they are worth spending the extra coin on since they don't rust out (like other steel headers do eventually). You can coat SS for underhood temp issues too. If they make SS 2nd gen fitments, it's worth a look see especially if you save some money by installing them yourself.

[fast12]

I have always used Dynomax ceramic coated headers on my small block Camaros. They fit well and everything will bolt up. The coating will last years if you blow a fan on them to keep them cool for the first 15 min. Long tubes are the only way to go. Just put a heat shield on the starter. Or a small gear reduction starter.shiftin

[outlaw77LT]

My gear reduction mini starter did the trick on my Hedmans

[1badz]

Question #1 : Couldn't the mentioned accessory mounts be coated (powder or ceramic) at a shop?

Question #2 : Won't the car "breathe" better with a better flowing exhaust/headers and be more efficient (with some HP gains) on a 2nd gen?

Question #3 : How readily available are Corvette manifolds of that era (time leads)?

A #1 Yes they can, dont know how much it will cost, or if they need to be stripped first.
A #2 on a stock or close to stock the gains from headers wouldnt be proportional to the expense, true duals would make a diffrence, as long as the pipes used arent too big, like dont put 3 or 3.5 inch exhaust on it.
A #3 They used to be all over at swap meets and such, but I havent looked for that type of stuff around here, but the internet is everywhere.

I am not saying not to put headers on, I am just saying for what I understood he was doing that there are other ways to go. Just trying to provide more info and options for him.

[Damon23]

I appreciate all the responses. I may not go with headers after all. I have a guy that can do the exhaust and he can also to a tune up on it (adjust carb, timing, etc...). He is also able to do headers if I chose. I will have him look at it cause I know for a fact I have a exhaust leak. If the manifolds have cracks, well it is ovious what i'll do, but if not then I may have him install new gaskets and go with it.

Car should come back today or tomorrow, keep an eye out for pictures. I will post them here first before NastyZ28.

[76zo6CAMARO]

Looking forward to seeing some pictures. :cool:

[Chick]

A #1 Yes they can, dont know how much it will cost, or if they need to be stripped first.
A #2 on a stock or close to stock the gains from headers wouldnt be proportional to the expense, true duals would make a diffrence, as long as the pipes used arent too big, like dont put 3 or 3.5 inch exhaust on it.
A #3 They used to be all over at swap meets and such, but I havent looked for that type of stuff around here, but the internet is everywhere.

I am not saying not to put headers on, I am just saying for what I understood he was doing that there are other ways to go. Just trying to provide more info and options for him.

Gotcha. ;)

Damon, sounds like you found a soultion to fit your needs. Looking forward to the pix. :)

[GTeater]

If the manifolds are already cracked I would go ahead and do the headers. I put them on my 4th gen and it made a world of difference. Tune ups are much easier tooo