Intake and Headers

[Motor City GMC]

I have a 1979 K30 all stock (smog pump and all) with a small blo k 400, and im in the process of removing all of the u needed vacume lines and emissions and i want to out on a new intake, carb and a set of headers. My question is what do you recommend as far a intake and headers?
Im not looking to make a show truck or any crazy performance, as far as the intake i want to eliminate the egr and all that BS.
As far as headers just want something that will sound good not to loud but better than the stock sound, and let the engine breathe (gonna install true dual 2.5" afterwards)
Most important im not looking to spend a ton of money, actually the less the better, have seen a edelbrock performace i take for around 150 or so and headers i do t ha e a clue but thinking a couple hundred.
I know nothing about the specifics of either of these so what do you suggest???

[cerial]

I don't recommend a rpm air gap. That little valley is notorious for stealing small parts and is a pain to clean. Fishing small parts out of that valley gets old fast.


It comes down to personal preference and the proper intake/exhaust for the engine's operating needs.

With long tube headers you get what you pay for. Sometimes you can find a good set cheap. But, the majority of the time they need to be reworked to provide a good seal.
I actually like short ram horns more then long tubes. It makes it easier to work around the linkage and starter. I have picked up cast short block ram horns for $5 and don't think I have ever paid more then $50 for a set. You can do some porting to improve the flow a bit.

I find that some aftermarket block huggers can come very close to the motor mounts or actually block the motor mount bolt from being removed. This can make a difference from just pulling out the exhaust stud bolts and just replace some lead seals. Or, having to remove the entire header to pull the engine which means reinstalling/torquing new gaskets on top of replacing the lead ones. It can turn a clutch replacement from a 2 hour to a 3 or 4 hour job.

[school boy]

If cheap is what you want, look on craigslist or ebay and pick up any aluminum sbc manifold you can find. Being stock, the hp difference will be minimum. If you want new, look at the Summit brand manifolds. I personally used their airgap manifold and it work fine. I believe they are rebrands of the Weiand manifolds.
On headers, I used a set of ebay knockoff stainless steel headers for my break in stand and was very impressed with the quality. Thick flanges, good welds and didn't even need gaskets to seal (but I recommend them). But the hardware and gaskets they came with were junk. Btw, they were for trucks 88-98 because of the o2 sensor bung but should fit 67-98 sbc trucks.

[Motor City GMC]

I dont have a clue what "rpm air gap" is
What do you recommend then asfar as intake/headers?
Someone i know has a set of ceramic coated hooker block huggers, but as i stated i dont know anything about that stuff....are those good/bad, will they even work????
He said he bought them for a 350 and that i would need to check and see if the shape of the ports were the same as the ones on the headers

[Motor City GMC]

For example what do you think about edelbrock performer part #EDL-2701?
It says "Edelbrock EPS Performer dual-plane" 1st, what does the EPS mean, 2nd what does dual plane mean?
Sorry but these and headers talk to me is like speaking Spanish

[farmall]

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/pts/4986145961.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ptd/4998701150.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/pts/4945958898.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/pts/4972190520.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/pts/4915629700.html

You want a dual plane. They come in low and high and square and spread bore.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/pts/4992917659.html

[Motor City GMC]

Hey farmall thanks alot! Thats what i needed was a picture!! Lol
Can you tell me what it means when it says "EPS"

[Motor City GMC]

Will there be any difference between a 350 and a 400 motor for the intake or headers or will they bolt right up to either one?

[farmall]

EPS is new and improved and comes in square bore only.
86 and older and up to 400 small block.

[Motor City GMC]

So i would want eps then?
Sorry but again this is new to me, what is square bore? What is that refering to?

[farmall]

See pic.

[Motor City GMC]

Got it.
One more thing.....when choosing a manifold what do you need to look at to know that it will fit your vehicle? Just basically that it says for example in my case "Chevy small block" and the size example "296-400" and choose if you want aingle or dual plane?

And lastly is it a very in depth or difficult job to change on of these?

Thanks for all your help.....and patience lol

[farmall]

Get the third one down on the left and get a friend to help that has done it before. The hardest part is getting the distributor clocked on reinstall.

[Motor City GMC]

Just out of curiousity why do you say that one?
Once i get one of these it should eliminate alot of my vacume lines right?

[Motor City GMC]

Just out of curiousity why do you say that one?
Once i get one of these it should eliminate alot of my vacume lines right?