Help with Headers 305 SBC into Regal

[cashmoneyspeed]

I have a 1986 Regal that i have installed a Chevrolet 305 engine into and would like to know if there's anything to watch out for when ordering headers. From what i've found, i need shorty headers(not the full legnth) and of course i'll be getting them in ceramic coating but are they all the same? I just don't want to run into any clearance issues with plugs, the starter, touching the frame of the car, etc..... Engine is all stock, no emissions equipment and no a/c compenents.

Couple other things i ran across that i'll need to figure out are that the factory shifter linkage doesn't line up with the new TH350 transmission, the factory buick steering pump didn't line up so i installed one from a 305 out of a Caprice but not quite sure how to space it out properly to get things to line up, and where's the best places to run the spark plug wires(any wire loom kits out there to help with this)?

 

[chevy2480]

You can run long or short headers. I like hooker headers with the cheaper headers the flange that bolts to heads are very thin and bend then you have gaskets blowing out. Hedman headers are also very good. Remember you get what you pay for.

 

[cashmoneyspeed]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking the shorty's will work better due to the car being lowered and not wanting to scrape the exhaust up when its finally on. Any particular model of the Hedman that are better? So far the only ones I've checked out are the ceramic coated ones on ebay for $169 shipped. Flange on those said 3/8" so that's pretty much normal in my experience. Not looking to race the car or anything, just want a nice set of headers so I can have the pipes run to the back. I figure might as well rather then put the rusty stock manifolds back on up against a freshly painted/chrome engine.

 

[kornball426]

169 for ceramic coated headers is really cheap... I'd get them just on principal. Summit sells ceramic coated block huggers for 199.00 (used to a least), but if you look at hedman headers thats the price for the plain steel painted ones, the ceramic coated headers are about twice as much.

I wish I had ceramic coated headers... Mine look like crap. I'll probably change them out at some point down the road.

 

[cashmoneyspeed]

169 for ceramic coated headers is really cheap... I'd get them just on principal. Summit sells ceramic coated block huggers for 199.00 (used to a least), but if you look at hedman headers thats the price for the plain steel painted ones, the ceramic coated headers are about twice as much.

I wish I had ceramic coated headers... Mine look like crap. I'll probably change them out at some point down the road.

Yeah the ceramic isn't an option. I've had stainless, chrome, and ceramic on engines before and only been happy with the appearance of the ceramic after they've been used.

I had bought a set of block hugger headers, however, there was no way they would work due to the location of the "belly" of the frame so i've since sold them and on the hunt to find something that will definatley fit before i take another loss on something that won't work for my application. So far, looks like the ebay ones are the way i'll go and hopefully they fit or i'll have to just put stock manifolds back on and see if i can get some paint to stick to them.

 

[kornball426]

I know what you mean, the headers in the firebird I bought are good ones they're Hooker competitions. But they look like crap because they're all rusty, I wish they were ceramic or stainless... I don't mind discoloration and what not, but I don't like rust.

Oh well... They're what I've got, and there's bigger fish to fry than rusty looking headers at this point so they're staying where they are for the time being.