86 Regal with 307 Engine

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by ronbz455, Jul 27, 2013.

  1. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Whats headers got to do with anything?

    Does the exhaust manifolds have an O2 sensor(s) in them?

    If so,take your header collector(s) to a local muffler shop to have O2 bung(s) welded in them(it).:Do No: (cheaper than changing the carb and the dis.?)(they should charge $10-$15 per collector to weld a O2 bung in them on the bench,probably more if the car has to go on the hoist)

    Just pointing out your options,not trying to tell you what to do. I'm rooting for you whatever way you decide to go forward,thanks for sharing.:TU:
     
  2. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    It's got the normal one on the passenger side but won't be using it. I have a regular Quadrajet and just got my HEI dist, brand new billet for 50 bucks.
    As I was looking at the headers I was wondering about the two ports in the middle. I'm just about ready to take the manifolds off but after looking at a set of heads on the net the center ports are open as 1 big square. Of course the gasket don't match exactly right so I might have to weld along the bottom of the 2 center ports to seal better. I was thinking about knife edging the center divider and removing the center gasket strip since the exaust ports in the center are open from one to the other. I could weld to the center of the header and weld a plate to meet the head when the headers are tightened up but thats sounds like alot of work for a 307 with no power. What are you guys thoughts on this crappy designed head?
     
  3. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    Having messed around with the 307 myself I think that the best use for them is either leaving them stock or replacing then with a larger engine.....

    A Buick 350 would be fun!
     
  4. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    After looking at some head pics the 5A heads have square exaust ports and the 7A round so either I sell them or see what it takes to adapt these to the 7A's. That was the only exaust work I was going to do to it. But maybe not.
     
  5. exfarmer

    exfarmer Well-Known Member

    Have you considered an Olds 350? Should be able to get one cheep and a straight drop in. A great engine with quite a bit of after market support. Even stock will give you more power than you could get out of that 307 without spending a fortune on it.
     
  6. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    I seen a couple for sale on craigs. Next the cat comes off then the crossover pipe. I'm going to pull the manifolds off to cap and repair them if I reuse them.
     
  7. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    The right side manifold is off after a little fight from the thin headed bolts from the cross over to the manifold. It just don't make any sense to put such a whimpy headed bolt there. All bolts came out, "amazing" without breaking. I'm taking it to work to hot tank it since there's alot of oil on it and see how it matches up with the header. It also looks like square ports where the head has round ports.
     
  8. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Wow look at this! I have put the gaskets on the heads and the headers and they sit way low and would have leaked badly. I think I should get stock exaust gaskets and long gate the holes in the header flange to raise the header. Just think if someone put these headers on and the leaked like hell. The are close to being large enough to cover the round hole of the head to the square hole of the header but I will even that up a little when I get it high enough. The Flowtech company never said you might have to fabricate these to fit 7A heads.
    Just called the Zone and they show 2 gaskets. One with square ports and one with round outer ports. They had one in stock and I told them to get the other one tomorrow.
    I love a challenge even if it's to make headers work on an 86 Buick Regal with a 307 Oldsmobile.
    The center divider of the middle port is just shy of flush with the head to header monting surface so should I round the divider in the header or knife edge it?
     

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  9. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Looks like the stock gaskets are the best choice but I will have to weld up the header mounting surface to keep them from leaking. I guess that's why they cost $150.
     

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  10. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Ron,you're over thinking it,you want the header holes bigger than the exuast port holes on the heads,and as long as the gasket is sandwiched between 2 metal sufaces,it should seal,it doesn't matter that the holes aren't the same.

    Just like when an intake manifold is port matched to a set of ported heads,in the direction of the flow you want the intake ports slightly smaller than the head ports so it won't cause reversion. On the exit side you want the exuast ports on the head to be smaller than the exuast manifolds(or headers),so there's no reversion.

    So as long as there is material around the exaust ports on the heads that the gaskets will be under the header mounting surface surounding the header ports,it should seal.(it doesn't need to be a perfect match)GL


    Derek
     
  11. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    No on the outside of the outer ports the gasket goes over the raised portion of the flange. The insides of the outer ports need opened up to match the head ports.
     
  12. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Will the gasket get smashed in between 2 metal surfaces all the way around each of the hole perimeters when its bolted together? If so,it will seal.

    Don't totally understand what you wrote above,what flange,what raised portion?

    The head mounting suface,(in the pictures)looks to be flat,without any raised sufaces.

    The headers raised mounting suface looks like it will smash the gasket all the way around all of the the head port mounting sufaces(in the picture).:Do No:

    If you think there will be exuast reversion,do a little port matching on the headers and heads.You can stuff a rag,or paper in the exaust port when you grind to gasket match(the exaust will push any filings that may have got left behind away from the inside of the engine,which would be minimum,if any at all) In the heads,you only need to angle about 1/4" in to blend to the gasket. As far as you can go to blend an angle in the headers,without grinding through the tubes.

    If the gasket is blocking the ports?,trim the gasket so its not,just make sure there will be enough gasket left for it to seal.

    Not sure what the problem is from the pictures,and from what you wrote? If you want,you can PM me and leave your phone number,or I can send you mine?:TU: Your short hand is'nt translating with me.:puzzled:

    Derek
     
  13. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Go back to those 2 pics and click back and forth between the 2. Gasket on gasket off. On the outside ports of the header the raised section that presses against the gasket is almost even with the edge of the opening of the gasket. When you tighten up the header to the head it would ripp the gasket so I welded along the outer perimiter, the raised portion, of the outer ports, to give more of a surface for the header to press on the gasket. Then I will open up the insides of the sides of those outer ports because the ports in the head are round and are wider than than the header openings. I have the outer sections welded up and I will take a pic to show you where I welded it tonight.
     
  14. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    I kinda see what you're saying now,a picture isn't as good as seeing it person I guess. The picture of the heads with the header gasket on it,looks like the diameter of the outer head ports doesn't look all that much bigger than the header gasket(just a little in the center of the radius),but you are looking at it in person,so..... Just make sure that you weld slowly so the heat doesn't warp the header surface to much,unless you plan on remilling it anyway.(not sure if you have access to a mill or not) It sounds like you have it under control. The headers must be for the older heads,I don't remember my Olds 455(been gone for 20+ years though) having ports like that. GL

    Derek
     
  15. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Yea I think that's the whole problem. They are probably intended for the 5A heads.
     
  16. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    I just tried to put the right header on after taking the oil filter and the adaptor off to get room and it hits the crossframe so I'm getting both motor mounts because they look like they're sagging and if that don't work I will cut the frame or move that one tube.
     
  17. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    It almost fit after a new trans mount but have'nt found a way to lift the engine without bending the oil pan so I notched the frame. Don't need all that frame up there anyway. The right one is in and mounted up.
     

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  18. lostGS

    lostGS Well-Known Member

    I thought by 86 GM had gone to using the chevy small block in just about every thing. My parent had a 86 regal limited with a 305 chevy. I told them that if it was a t-type they never would have sold it to anyone but me.

    Tim
     
  19. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Here's the left header after welding and porting the outer holes to help clear the round outer ports in the head and making the center divider pointed and sloped since the center divider in the head isn't flush with the surface of the head.
     

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  20. ronbz455

    ronbz455 Big Butz Racing

    Just installed the pf 61 filter and the bottom of it is close to the header so I guess a 47 would be a better choice for this.
     

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