Aftermarket Headers

Q: Aftermarket Headers

I will be redoing my exhaust this winter as part of my refurbishment on my 1968, 350 convertible. I presently have headers on the the vehical. I don’t have a clue as to what kind. They are long over due for replacement.

I have read the recent posts concerning aftermarket headers. The consenus seems to be the at most are running Hedman headers but, that they can be a problem installing them and later and with oil filter changes.

For these reasons I am considering going back to the stock exhaust manifolds? I have checked locally and can’t find any.

Questions:

1. Are the stock headers hard to find?

2. Will only 1967 and 1968 fit?

3. What type of performance loss can I expect to see if I go back to the stock exhaust vs. the headers?

4. Does the exhaust kit that Summit and Jegs sells fit up fairly well to headers or is it made for stock manifolds and requires modifcation?

5. When using the above exhaust kit do the headers and exhaust fit up under the body nicely or do they hang down? The headers & exhasut I presently have constantly drags on drive ways and such. ( One of the reasons it is all beat up.)

I know, always too many questions.

A: I wish I had answers to all your questions. I don’t, but I think I can help with a few of them.

If by “stock headers” you mean the Long Branch manifolds, the originals are pretty hard to find, and pretty expensive. There are aftermarket repros, which are better quality, and can be ordered from Ames, etc or even direct from the mfg, Ram Air Restorations. They run $369 I think, and require the oil filter adapter. They fit 1967, 1968, and 1969 Birds.

If you use these, I don’t think you’ll see ANY difference from headers in your 350.

However, if you go back to factory “log” manifolds, which are much cheaper and easier to find, then you will probably see somewhat of a performance loss, but it’s hard to tell how much. Remember, the 1969 Grand Prix 400 used the same “log” manifolds and was factory rated at 350HP….

I don’t have any experience (yet) with the Flowmaster exhaust sold at Jegs and Summit, but I think that they all say they wont fit in a convertible.

I, myself am researching a good exhaust system for a 350 bird convertible (69) and I’m trying to find one that is 2 1/4 inch, because I want to get respectible performance and may someday upgrade to a mild 400. So far here’s all I’ve found trying to piece it together:

Flowmaster American Thunder Complete exhaust(2 1/2 inch) PN 17139 $321.95 (17129 for 1967-1968 $261.95) – for use with headers. Uses 2 mufflers under the rear floor area. Includes Crossover setup.

Flowmaster Force II (2 1/2 inch) Complete exhaust PN 17104 $314.95 – for use with headers. Uses single Transverse muffler. Includes Crossover setup.

(I think flowmaster says neither of these fits convertibles)

Flowmaster exhaust pipes only (2 1/2 inch) PN 15801 $99.95

Flowmaster 80 series Transverse muffler, 2 ins/2 outs both 2 1/2 inch, PN 42582 $99.95

Dynomax Transverse Muffler #17725, 2 ins/2 outs both 2 1/4 inch, $76.69

Dynomax Super Turbo Mufflers #17731, 2 1/4 in/out, #17733 (2 1/2 inch) $31.99 each.

Flowmaster 50 seris Muffler #42451, 2 1/4 in/out, #42551 (2 1/2 inch) $64.95

Flowmaster Balance Tube Kit #15919, 2 1/4 inch, #15920 (2 1/2 inch) $37.99

Prices as of Sept 1999 – Probably Subject to Change

So where does that leave me. Well, I’d like to use the 2 1/4 Super Tubos and 2 1/4 balance kit, but haven’t yet found 2 1/2 (or even 2 inch) tail pipes for use WITHOUT the transverse muffler, nor have I found 2 1/4 inch head pipes for use with stock manifolds.

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