Here's a long tail, stay with me if you will...
not trying to hijack
@66 Sat , thread
My car, I went or I was forced the other way, 68 RR lowdeck 6bbl, trick carbs
full roller, alum heads etc.
TF727 3,200 stall flashes to 3800 stall, 3.73:1 & now has 3.23:1 sure grip
the gears didn't kill it like the rest did
I had some shorty Hedman's on it, not the best headers, maybe giving up 25 gross HP
compared to/over a long-tube 1-7/8"-2" step headers with 3" collectors
but considerably better than the HP iron manifolds
going into 3" Flowmaster Delta 50 Muscle Car series mandrel exhaust, out the back
the Hedman shorty headers great ground clearance
for something low & driven on rough & windy *** off camber mountain roads
extremely easy install, damn near throw them in
easiest plug changes ever, especially with angle plug heads
but not the needed clearance/s for the rear steer bolt in Unisteer Rack
right at the bottom 1/3 of the header on the left side/drivers side
I had to put my 68 HP manifolds back
(they were mildly ported, so not 100% stock manifolds, with ceramic coating that is flaking off now)
on it, after I installed the Unisteer Rack & pinion, (I wouldn't recommend it) $1,000 spent
it's going to stay on the car, need to do something about the 'manifolds'
unfortunately the headers ran right into the head of the area
where the power-steering lines went'
under the pan where the org. drag/cross link went, stock 402 pan
the culprit of my griefs, works great steers great, but no room
hence the god damn old HP' Manifolds again
HP manifolds
It was supposed to be, only for temporary, till I could do some custom headers
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TTI allegedly makes some 1-7/8" TTI-383-178ci (ceramic coated) that will fit
but $1100+
I don't really want to spend on something that only 'may work'
& not be able to return or pay an extra $100+ to return them
the car was a solid 11.90 car with shorty headers, as driven on the street/roads
even with the shitty shorty headers, killing a lil' power
I clocked it with a buddies cellphone/GPS style it was like 12.65 (3/4 of a second slower)
Now (several years ago now)
It is
fat as f*** with the HP manifolds, even ported, it's choked out
haven't been back to the track since
not worth it
I know for a fact it's way slower now
It org. had exact same tune as when it had the shorties on it
same exact exhaust system, with some TTI headpipes for 3"
the only difference was the mildly ported, HP manifold instead, back on
I have since leaned it out a bunch, like 6 jett sizes worth,
it's all killing power every step too
still need to lean it out even more, need more jetts, need to do the carbs all over,
emulsion & idle/air bleeds etc.
MY proof the headers are better, breathe way, way better
& flow way freer & even shitty 1-3/4" tubes on the shorties
it's chocked down
big time now, it was 590hp/550-ish tq at the rear wheels
you feel it in the seat of the pants,
it's killed the power
if I was to stay with the manifold permanantly I'd have to change the camshaft too
PITA, not worth it
Albeit;
these Max Wedge Iron heavy manifolds will work
but they are
heavy as f***, & also $1,200-$1,300
&
like 70#s between the 2 of them
Defeats the purpose, adding back all the weight,
I took off with all the alum stuff
& they barely will clear the firewall, would have to modify the trans/diptick tube too
PITA too
& the head-pipes for them & crossover is like $1300+
the damn hardware, I could build some or pay to have someone build me
a custom set of Stainless headers, for that cost of $2500+ (probably $3,000) for re-pop stuff
I'm going to probably merge my Flowmaster Scavenger 4-2-1 collectors (below)
into the & modify the Hedman's (above) have them cut, then turn tighter & go back quicker
with a sorter head tube, then go down some & a 45* to mate up to my pipes
(shorten the collectors on the 3" part some)
I have all kinds of mandrel 16ga/18ga tubing J & U bends, in 1-3/4", 1-7/8" & 2"
for stepped headers
I was going to build to make it work,
it's all just a PITA
But the performance gains, is well worth it...
otherwise Headers are totally worth it...
one of the 1st things I always do is make the exhaust flow as well as the induction does
what goes in must come out
just a big air pump
normally headers are
NOT this much of a PITA
the 1" phenolic spacers helped some & leaned it out some,
but still choked down badly
enjoy, in my pain
I hate the heavy & restrictive HP robbing, 68-70 HP Iron manifolds
yep the header haters are going to love this one...
