Headers...

[PHATSPEED7x]

I'm looking at getting a set of headers for my pickup. Are they hard to install? Power gains? Trucks a 91 K1500 with a 350 TBI.

[seaeagle2]

If you have to ask, then you're probably in my league, hardest part for me was dealing with hooking the end of the headers up to the exsisting exhaust. Here's what I did. 1. Get some PB blaster and start soaking the exhaust manifold bolts and the bolts at the flanges, do it every day for at least a week. When you're loosing them if they start to bind, stop hit them with some more pb blaster and take a break to let it work in. As far as hooking the headers up to the exhaust, I bought a new cat, and drove it to a muffler shop and had them install the highflow cat and weld up the flange and pipe from the headers to the cat and the cat to the exhaust pipe. Because I was doing it in my driveway, and don't weld, it was a much easier way instead of trying to use clamps and in or out adaptors etc, etc, and it was only about 115 bucks plus 89 for the cat. As far as performance, not much change unloaded, but when towing my boat, I picked up 5 mph on the grade on the freeway by my house.

[thebigo432]

I installed my headers in the parking lot at my college, i just used hand tool and a can of pb blaster. I soaked the bolt throughly and let the pb do its job for about ten minutes. Be easy when taking the bolt out, if one is being stubborn just use some more penetrating oil, the last thing you wanna be doing is taking a busted bolt out of your block.

[PHATSPEED7x]

Cool. I've got the high bid on some ceramic coated edelbrock headers on ebay.

[thebigo432]

Shorty of long tube?

[lowriderbowtie]

do you need to mess with the computer at all if you swap on some shorty's onto a TBI305?

[GreaseDog]

i didnt, yet. no problems so far, been runnin them about 9 mos or so.

[GreaseDog]

also not running cats either.

[thebigo432]

If you do go with a long tube header it will relocate the o2 sensor farther down and you will have to extend the wire leading to it.

[Tweaks]

Cool. I've got the high bid on some ceramic coated edelbrock headers on ebay.

I have my mind set on the same brand and finish in the OEM shorty version on the Summit website. I was shocked that they only want 300.00 or so for a pair. I thought 600.00 or more was in the ball park. I can't stomach ebay anymore.

[TigerEyz3]

I have my mind set on the same brand and finish in the OEM shorty version on the Summit website. I was shocked that they only want 300.00 or so for a pair. I thought 600.00 or more was in the ball park. I can't stomach ebay anymore.
I would keep my money if I was in your shoes... the NBS trucks essentially come with shorty headers from the factory. Performance change is not really worth the money unless you install LTs.

[mopfried]

I am looking at the pacesetter 72-c2261 long tube coated headers with the AIR fittings and oxy fitting too. For $386 shipped to my door! I would upgrade to a 3 wire heated oxy sensor. I did on my 88 K1500 350 and it help with the cold rich chugging. Its gone now!

[Tweaks]

I would keep my money if I was in your shoes... the NBS trucks essentially come with shorty headers from the factory. Performance change is not really worth the money unless you install LTs.

If I got a dollar for every time someone said that regarding the design on the NBS manifolds, I wouldn't have to reach into my pocket and pay for the headers:cool:

I must now state my reasons for looking into some shorty headers.

1. OEM fit means I can do the install instead of having an exhaust shop go the whole 9 yards on creating a new exhaust system.

2. Looking to create a different note exiting the exhaust system without abandoning my current cat-back system.

3. I can never leave well enough alone and am looking for the next project to attempt. It's a sickness for which there is no cure.