Headers (not your average header thread)

After searching all the header threads in this forum I've come to the conclusion that no one has headers on their box Caprice. But if you do, please reply and let me know exactly what brand and model because I'm having the hardest time finding anything on the web. I've got an '87 minus emissions so I thought I'd have a fairly easy time finding headers for this car--everything else has been easy to find so far.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/045.jpg


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/1201071138aweb.jpg


http://a951.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/100/l_84d1521a521407d9b967c426a86707de.jpg

nice. here is a link to a headers page http://www.racepages.com/products/?D=chevy+caprice+headers&Ntt=chevy+caprice+headers&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Main&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=4294966995+6866&Nty=1

Generally, anything between 1971 and 1990 should fit fine - the specific fit would be on a 1977-1990.

I'm running Edelbrock headers on my '84 Caprice... I just got a set meant for an '86 monte carlo. They fit perfect.

Pete, what did you do about the crossmember on your box Caprice? How's the rest of your setup? I'm just curious because I always wondered if putting headers on my 89 would be worth the trouble to do. I definitely like the deeper and more pronounced sound they produce. What about underhood heat?

The crossmember was an issue for true duals. You can get an aftermarket crossmember from summitracing.com or what I did was cut a huge half-circle shape out of the crossmember tube and re-welded a new piece of 1/8 inch thick steel in the hole for strength to make room for the second pipe. As for underhood heat, I will soon be switching to ceramic coated headers to help reduce it. With normal steel headers it wasn't really an issue except for during the initial engine break-in when the ignition timing was drastically retarded and actually got the headers glowing. But after everything was all set up right, I didn't have any problems with too much heat, although headers do produce more than I'm used too.

Thanks for the reply Pete.

I'm running Edelbrock headers on my '84 Caprice... I just got a set meant for an '86 monte carlo. They fit perfect.
Pete, are they shorties or full length?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/031.jpg

I started with shortys, but then went to full length. The shortys went to a crossover for a single outlet exhaust, the full length are true duals. Both originally for the Monte.

I have flowtechs for mine. They were the only company that responded and told me what would work. I think the part number was 11100 67–81 Camaro, 64–77 Chevelle, 69–79 Nova, 70–77 Monte Carlo, 65–89 Full Size: 283–400, Primary Tube Size 1.625", Collector Size 3", Black High Temp Paint. So you could look for a header similar from another company if you wished.

You could always use a cross member from a 94 - 96 caprice/roadmaster. They are dual crossmembers.

I got some full length Hedman's. I'll post a photo and info once I make sure they're going to fit and after I install them. I'll wait 'til I get to the exhaust shop to find out if I need to do something different than my stock 700r4 crossmember. Maybe they'll be able to work there exaust pipe bending magic. One concern I had with the dual hump crossmember is that I would need to bash in my floorboards on the drivers side.

What options for crossmembers are there on the 91-96 b-bodies? Did those cars use the 700r4? Will I just need to find a 91-96 b-body with a 700r4 crossmember and I'll be good to go?


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/rear.jpg

If you use a '94-'96 LT1 crossmember, keep in mind that you will have to weld an extension on to the left frame rail as there is none on these older frames.

They had 700R4s, 4L60s and 4L60Es (which are all variants of the same transmission).

Exactly what silicon said....

And about the drivers side floorboard?

You should be fine, but if not, use a jack and push it up a bit assuming the metal's solid.

So it's looking like these Hedman's are going to fit, but the right side hits the nipple on the front end of the starter so I'm going to pick up a smaller high torque starter.
Also I decided to break in the motor with the stock manifolds on it so I don't ruin the header coating. Then I come to find that the rearmost bolt on the right manifold won't fit with my new Vortec heads. I guess I'll just do without that 1 bolt for the break in.
Is there any reason not to use stock manifolds for break in? Does the difference in back pressure between the stocks and the headers effect cam break in at all?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o219/ernestmayhand/Caprice%20resto/caprice02.jpg

As far as a crossmember for your car i recently purchased a crossmember from Bowtie Overdrives. It is for a 91 to 93 Caprice/Roadmaster with a 700r4 it fit perfectly except for using shims to get the driveshaft angle to work out alright. The crossmember was about 170 bucks.

As far as a crossmember for your car i recently purchased a crossmember from Bowtie Overdrives. It is for a 91 to 93 Caprice/Roadmaster with a 700r4 it fit perfectly except for using shims to get the driveshaft angle to work out alright. The crossmember was about 170 bucks.

Fit perfectly in a 91 era or the 80's?

It fit a 91 but it sounded like people were saying that they were close to the same. Honestly i don't know but since the crossmember said 91 to 93 it might be a little bit different. If anyone knows if they are the same or close to it at this point would be a good place to lend your knowledge. i apologize for not knowing that answer.

What I've heard is that the crossmembers for the bubble Caprices are almost perfect for the boxes, they require an extension welded to make it all the way across a box Caprice frame. I would assume that would be the same then for the crossmember you bought from Bowtie Overdrives.

Seeing as the crossmember from bowtie overdrives fits perfectly in my caprice i would say that is probably correct. Now this crossmember is a tubular crossmember so it makes much more room for dual exhaust. I was planning on putting a true dual set up on my car and cutouts with an h or x pipe but seeing as I ran into a header snag explained in the headers thread i am currently awaiting a different set of headers and then i will hopefully install them and I will let you know how the crossmember works out with my dual exhaust.