Do you run headers ?

[1969l78]

I agree with Sam run the headers and leave the originals on the self.

[92646]

Another option is to run headers and leave on the air pump system. This is a picture of Joe's original 1969 SS350 Nova (novajoe). You have to see it in person but it has the right look and this car runs hard.

[Salvatore]

Bill, I would never hack a Gardner system for headers. There are many cheaper exhaust sysyems out there for a header installation. Good headers do not leak and do help performance with a few more small adjustments. Gets kinda boring when I go to these shows and see a couple COPO's, maybe a couple Yenko's and few Z/28's and maybe an LS6 car along with some L78's etc. all lined up with perfect factory restos it gets cookie cutter and a little stepford for me at times. No imagination from the owners, most just seem to be worried about how much their car is worth or not worth with the changes. If the car is a complete frame off resto it is not really original anymore anyway. But this is JMO!

[Survivor 69/Z28]

Very well said Sam. I feel the same way.
I get kind of a kick at guys that say my car has 40k original miles. BUT it has been completely restored. The miles do not mean diddly if the car has been redone.

Having all of the correct stuff is awesome. But these cars ran around back in the day loud and proud. I like musclecars that scare old ladies when you go roaring by. LOL! My survivor Z has a set of headers that were installed in 1974. That and the Dixco gauges were done on the same day. I just love it! Would not even think of putting the smog stuff back on. Just my opinion....

[Salvatore]

There you go!

[1969l78]

Sam you are the man

[Keith Tedford]

While I like the look of a restored car, we drive ours and I too am a Day 2 guy who likes to have a musclecar that looks the part. As a matter of fact, Dale and I were out for about a 30 mile run in the old 396 car today. The first run since last October. Our 427 car ran Hedman headers from Day 2. We had a '72 with a '68 L78 and headers. Our '69 396 car has the headers that came on it in '97. Our '69 el Camino also got headers when I was freshening it up. The 455 in our '72 Lemans Sport got them too. My only experience with Hooker was that the collectors were way low. The Flow Tech headers started showing rust after one season. If you want to buy a nice fitting header, go with Hedman or others that fit, then take them to a company that does ceramic coating. The results seem to be a lot better. Flushed with money, go with stainless steel headers. They should last a life time, or certainly longer than us old guys are going to be around.