350 bolt-on-and-go Headers? Cryptozoology??

I have an exhaust leak at the passenger-side manifold in my '68 Sklyark 4-Door Hardtop (350-4). Before I replace the exhaust manifold gasket, it's necessary to exercise due diligence in considering an upgrade. After a perusal of threads on this forum it's clear that headers, like most any other SBB performance parts, are not run-of-the-mill.

I'm not a welder and I'm a man of modest means; which translates to: I can't make my own and I can't afford to pay someone to make them for me. Have any fellow 350 owners (especially owners of 350s housed in a Skylark Custom) successfully, or not, installed production headers?

Thanks

 

Most 350 headers are designed around Abody cars so they should fit skylark with no problems. I have not heard problems with fit in 68-72 cars but other swaps yes. Nothing fits a gbody swap.

 

1. Here is a link <samp><tt>[SIZE=+2]How to install headers on a Buick 350 ..I got from [/SIZE]</tt></samp>http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/page1.htm (website with lots of great info created by George N.)..hope this helps

 

Awesome, thanks Angelorayhurst!!

 

That's good to know, thanks!

 

So, I'm pulling the heads to get rebuilt and figure I should do the headers now. is there a way to tell if the headers will be a direct swap for the manifolds?

 

Not that I can think off but suggestion is to get porting done on heads before valvejob. Can even go to bigger valves from TA performance then shave heads .040-.060. When you pull heads you will see a steel head gasket if they are original. Unless you get same factory gasket your replacement gaskets will be .043 vs stock .020 . will drop compression ratio abit.

 

Thanks for the advice. I read the compression on the 68 350-4 is 10.25:1. I'm not sure if want to go higher than that...

 

While you have heads off measure how far piston is down hole at top dead center. Check piston dish depth and measure gasket thickness. Many calcultors online for this .You will find advertised compression is not what you measured. Figure about 9.3 I have done the math many times.

 

Andy, I'm elbow deep under that hood right now. Too many things going on at once. I'll trust your math! HA!

 

So, when I search for headers I get very few results for my Skylark. Should I search for Nova 350 headers??

 

There is only 2 makers of 350 headers. Hooker and Doug's. If you look up nova you will get Chevy headers.

 

Alright, I ended up selling one of the kids to buy the TA Competition headers. How high do you have to get the car off the ground to angle them in?? I wish I wouldn't have painted them as it looks like they were attacked buy a honey badger.....uzzled:

 

pretty high up. get some taller jack stands. truck style

 

I got the passenger side installed. Today I got under and there's no way the driver side is going to go in from underneath. The linkage to the tranny is in the way. Should I take out the steering shaft and put it in from the top?

 

Anyone?? I seriously think it will require at least 3 feet of clearance so the header can feed in perpendicularly.... This sucks.

 

I'm thinking your going to have to pull column linkage. You 3 on the tree is rare and most have not experienced it.

 

I haven't done this in a long time but I know I did it without removing the steering column. If pulling the trans linkage gives you more wiggle room, go for it. That is an easy thing to do. Pulling the column is a bit more trouble but I didn't do that either. I'd try just popping it loose at the rag joint and the pinch clamp at the base of the steering column. That shouldn't take too long to get out and back in.

Three feet off the ground does sound reasonable. When I did it, I had a commercial air jack, one front and one back, that got the whole car about 3 feet in the air. You could always take the motor mount bolt out and see if you can rock the motor over enough to get it in.

I did the MT repro headers in my garage on the 455 without moving the motor but I sure did have to get that thing way up in the air!

 

Ugh. Thanks dude.

 

No way can I get it high enough. The only way I can see is removing the linkage shaft/arm from the transmission and I'm not sure how if it can be done without dropping the tranny. The other thing I've been thinking is finishing everything else then to win the car to a garage with a lift....