fear of headers valid? Need Advice!!!

[fast.asleep]

I'm very close to having a set of headers installed on my otherwise stock '87 (30k miles). I have one last question that is bugging me and I need expert advice PLEASE!

I met a backyard mechanic last night who warned me to stay away from headers on my car unless I wanted trouble. He said that installing headers would ruin my heads and I would need to rip the engine apart and put titanium something's in there since more air will be pushed through the heads and the seals of a 16 year old car can't handle it.
He said more but the gist of it was headers will hurt a 16 year old stock motor.

Do I have anything to fear? Will headers have an adverse effect on the reliability of my engine or cost me extra money down the road?

Please help!

Will

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Never heard of that one before

 

[Ken]

Nor have I heard of that supposed effect on the heads. :confused

From the sound of what you describe, when he said "titanium somethings" he was probably referring to the fact that he thinks you are interested in maximum power at maximum rpm. In that case (if you were spinning it at 6500-7000 rpms or more) you should definitely upgrade to things like stiffer valve springs with titanium retainers, better rocker arms, opening the ports to match the gaskets (port matching), etc.. That is probably what he meant, but of course I am only guessing.

What kind of reputation does this "backyard mechanic" have?

 

[fast.asleep]

What kind of reputation does this "backyard mechanic" have?

Not much of one. He doesn't work as a mechanic either. He said his "claim to fame" was owning a 70's LS1 vert back in the early 80's. I probably just misunderstood.

At lunch I took my question to a member of our local vette club. He snorted so hard he almost spit his coffee on me when I told him my fears. He said he had headers on his '87 for years and he has never heard of that problem before.

I must have sounded pretty dumb to some of you but thanks for answering anyway. (and for not moving my post to the humor section )

Thanks for the responses guys! :BOW :BOW :BOW

Will

 

[vader86]

No way will headers tear up your heads.

I guess he was talking about Titanium retainers for the valves.

 

[Chris N]

Headers often develop an exhaust leak at the head, but not bad enough to damage exhaust valves.
They can be a very tight fit and make spark plug removal tough.
If you live in smog check areas they will need air injection ports.
So, if you enjoy working on your car, don't need to worry about smog checks, and would like a few extra ponies, go for it.
If you don't like wrenching save your money for mufflers, air cleaner, or something else.
Just my simple opinion, good luck! Chris :cool

 

[oldace84]

VooDoo crap......no problems.......the best HP increase available....if you don't need smog tests .......then you are fine...
tony

 

[Ken]

Hey guys, Will's already stated that the guy wasn't really a "mechanic", and that there were some communication problems about the retainers (titanium). I think Will has been set straight on the subject now.

_ken

 

[FourAndAHalf]

i was thinking about running TPIS longtube headers, powereffects exhaust, and random tech cats... will i be able to pass emissions in penssylvania with those longtubes??? if not are there ANY longtubes i can pass emissions with and still get decent performance results? thanks guys

 

[fast.asleep]

When I did my initial search on "headers" I came across this topic a couple of times. Here's one thread:

Legal Headers

Will

 

[FourAndAHalf]

thanks for the link

 

[Vettart]

One thing you might want to consider...block hugger style headers wil save welding costs and installation difficulties. You always need a piece of pipe custom made to link the headers to the existing system. Block huggers simple replace the cast manifolds with tubes.

 

[stratman]

Yea when you have a backyard mechanic work on your car you dont know what you will get.
As long as you purchase the correct header and have them installed correctly by a good mechanic NO PROBLEM! Tell the backyard mechanic to go cut his grass.

 

[Edmond]

Yea when you have a backyard mechanic work on your car you dont know what you will get.
As long as you purchase the correct header and have them installed correctly by a good mechanic NO PROBLEM! Tell the backyard mechanic to go cut his grass.

:L:L:L