Ok guys I have a 78' with a 4spd and 4wd. I still have the carter 1bbr and was wanting to know if it would mess up my intake ratio or even if the header would work. I want to keep the 1bbr. Could you please tell me some of your experiences or any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

What do you mean by "intake ratio?" One problem I see with keeping the stock intake is if you have EGR. The stock EGR system uses a spacer under the carburetor which sources exhaust from the manifold through a pipe. If you have EGR, you'd have to plug this spacer. Personally I think it's kind of a waste to put a header on the motor if you're going to keep the stock intake and carbuertor. Anything is an improvement, but I think you'll be kind of disappointed without doing both intake and exhaust. The stock 1 barrel carburetor is nice in that it is simple and reliable, but all it does is get the job done. It's a huge restriction to the motor.

Here is a shot of my Hedman header going in. It's great and I enjoy having it now that it's in there, but it was a lot of trouble. I had to rebend transmission lines, a brake line, and switch to a mini starter. To install it, I had to hold the motor with a hoist (seen in the picture) with a motor mount removed just to slide it in. Also had to grind down the alternator bracket for clearance. And all new exhaust was not cheap.

 

Sorry i meant wouldn't I be running lean? I have all of the egr crap plugged off... the only vaccum lines i have going are my booster line and the one that goes to the distributer. What kind of fuel mileage do you get? I would like to keep my mileage up there around 20.

 

Rich\lean only has to do with the mixture that's drawn in on the intake stroke. Adding headers won't affect that. When I said cap off EGR, I wasn't talking about the vacuum line. You'll have to cap off the exhaust source to your spacer plate which will take a pipe plug.

I have to be honest, I don't get that great of mileage with my setup because I run a 500 CFM 4-barrel carburetor. I also have a heavy foot. I get about 12 in town and 18 on the highway. However, I haven't dialed the carbuertor in with rods and jets, so it's running rich. I think with some tuning, I could get about 15 in town. I set my idle mixture with a vacuum gauge, and that helped a little with mileage. It runs smooth as glass. I have photos in my gallery if you want to see my setup.

By the way, welcome to FTE!

 

An upgrade to EFI exhaust manifolds is considerably easier and a lot less expensive and you will have the option to single out or true dual out and probably gain just as much on an otherwise stock engine as headers. The real impediment to flow is the head. Pocket porting and some polishing and port matching can help even with a stock carb.