I'm running a 289 block with 302 heads and a standard exhaust. I'm looking to upgrade from stock manifolds to headers and dual exhaust. My father bought me a set of shorty headers, ceramic coated for $175 from the Carlisle Car Show. There are some differences from the manifold and headers that troubles me. One the flange is angled down a bit where the manifolds almost look straight. How do you bolt on the pipes with such an angle at the end of the header. Second, I notice there is a nipple on the stock manifold that a steel line hooks to and attaches to the choke, I'm assuming to warm the choke spring to open the carb up. There isn't one on the headers. Is this a problem? Finally, anyone recommend a good exhause system to bolt to this engine that will give it a nice sound?

Thanks...
67ownr

 

flowmaster...

 

The exhaust shop will fab up the correct exhaust pipe bends to attach to your shorties. You want to pick up a kit that will attach a small flu to the header bolt for your choke. With coated headers, that about the only place that gets hot enough. I've never bought the kit, I've always just fabbed up my own with a piece of thin stainless sheet. You'll also probably need to adjust the choke slightly leaner, as this sheet metal flu is not as efficient as the stock manifold.

3 chamber flows, Ravens, Borla, They all sound pretty sweet. Stick to a completely welded muffler (i.e. the ends are not rolled and crimped, but instead have a nice weld bead around them). A nice 2.5" I.D. set of pipes run all the way to the rear valance with a slight turn down will sound excellent, and not drone inside the car.

BTW: Sounds like your dad is pretty cool. Think he'd be willing to adopt? I come with my own running '66 convertible, and am all ready potty trained!

 

I would like to tackle the install myself. Is it possible to request a certain bend? Or will I need to bend the pipes myself?

Any idea where I can get that flu kit?

Thanks...

 

The only one I've seen, came from a speed shop back in the 80's. You might try a Mustang shop(?). Since then I just rolled a piece of stainless sheet around a small steel rod. I cut a 2" by about 3" piece, wrapped the one side around the rod, and then shaped the open section into a kind of rounded tab and punched a hole. Don't bother trying to drill a hole unless you've got some stainless cutting fluid. Even then it will kill your drill bits. You can make it out of tin, but it won't last as long.
I attached the homemade piece to one of the header bolts, so that the rolled piece sat against the header flange, and reached up high enough the fit "stove pipe" with out bending the stove pipe. They break pretty easy []

As to doing your own exhaust, you can use a coat hangers as bend templates, just make sure you are perfectly square to the header, and use the edge so you can compare it to what they bend for you. Once it's bent you own it from most shops.
It's not so hard, just tedious, and takes some good thought on how to do hangers, etc.

Good luck,

Scott

 

unless you can weld, don't do it yourself.

With mufflers, they are a personal thing, and most flow about the same. Personally, I hate flows, I can't hear in a car with them. Go to a local car show/drag race and listen to the cars, see what you like.