86 Cutlass w/350 SBC Header recommended

[Rooster]

Headers will be going on fresh SBC 350 4 bolt main with 462 double hump heads. I plan on running 2 1/2 in. exhaust. Muffler recommendations are welcome also. Emissions specs are no issue where i live. What set-up are you guys using? Thanks in advance. I realize oldsmobile purists see the SBC swap into olds as sacrilige. :? Relax.It's what came with the car, and I'm working with what I have, lol

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Well, since you didn't specify long tube or not, here's what I have experience with.

I loved the Hedman 68600 shorty headers I was using. Excellant plug clearance (changed all 8 in under half hour) and I bolted the headers to the engine and dropped them in altogether. 1 5/8" tubes with a 3" collector. $160 painted from Summit. Reason I had to go to something else: I swapped to a manual transmission and they wouldn't clear the linkage/hydraulics.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I run flowtech headers with flowmaster 40's and love'em. The headers are full length headers btw. I've heard good things about the summit mufflers. They're supposed to be a single chamber design and work just as good as flowmasters but are only 25-30$ a mufflers. Flowtech headers are only about 100$.

 

[Rooster]

I'm really not sure whether i want to go with shorty or long tube.What are the pros and cons of each? From what I understand, the shorty headers are a more universal? fit, and easier to get to your plugs. I don't know, maybe someone can school me on this.

 

[MrHernandez]

i have the flowtech afterburner headers on mine with the purple hornies and nothing else, all in all i like it, sounds good and not as loud as you think it would be

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

I'm really not sure whether i want to go with shorty or long tube.What are the pros and cons of each? From what I understand, the shorty headers are a more universal? fit, and easier to get to your plugs. I don't know, maybe someone can school me on this.

You can get the shorty headers in very application specific versions. Not universal at all. I've had long tube headers on a past 69 Camaro for years. Some brands are better than others as far as scraping the ground. Also, some brands are a bear to drop the starter and oil filter.

The shorty headers I've used are the Hedmans. I really like these. I first used the 68600 which I'd recommend with an automatic trans. Will not fit with a mechanical linkage manual transmission. They do, though, offer excellant ground clearance and awesome plug clearance. I did plug changes in under 30 minutes for all 8 plugs with these headers. Easy access to oil filter too. I never had to pull the starter with these on but I'd assume thats good too.

 

[Respected_Cutlass]

Those are the shorty headers I got and I put them on first and installed the engine without thinking about them. The starter was no problem at all to take off and put on either.

 

[DRIVEN]

If given the option, I choose shorties over long tube for a street car. Shorties are much more ground-clearance friendly.

 

[Rooster]

Well, It's been a while, but i went with the hooker shorty headers. The muffler shop dude is recommending 2.25" exhaust. does that sound right? Some quick specs:
86 Cutlass
GMPP 350/290 crate engine
Hooker shorty headers.
Modified/reinforced crossmember to allow for true dual exhaust.
Summit "welded" mufflers

I really dont plan on doing anything through the roof with this engine( will prob. end up w/ 350 HP max.) Life happens, and daycare costs overrides dad's toys :shock: so it's taking a looooooong time to get the ol' girl going.

Anyway, 2.25 or 2.5 in. exhaust? and possibly why. I'll post some pics on my progress when i get a chance, thanks in advance.

 

[somethin_random]

It's been a long while, lol... It's a good thing though