Headers

[97sle]

I'm looking for headers for my truck but every header I found say's that I'll have to cut and weld on them if I have AIR injection. Do I have that? Also is there any headers that I don't have to cut and weld on? It's a 97 Sierra, 350 vortec, auto.

[sub006]

Don't think you have AIR. This appeared on Chevy trucks in the 1966 model year (in California) and I believe it disappeared shortly after catalytic converters came into use.

Edelbrock offers 50-state legal headers for every Chevy light truck. If you check their catalog you'll find AIR fittings as an option for older trucks, but not '97s becuase they don't have it.

[97sle]

Thanks a lot for the information. As a side note what is AIR injection.

[97sle]

Thanks a lot for the information. As a side note what is AIR injection?

[OZBIRN454]

I just got some from Jegs FLOW TECH nice very hapy with the fit!

[sub006]

AIR stood for Air Injection Reactor. Thin metal tubes were plumbed from the intake manifold area into the exhaust manifolds, four to a side on a V8.

Air would be pumped into the exhaust stream when the engine was running, creating an "afterburner" effect just after the exhaust valve that would ignite any (or most) unburned gas, reducing hydrocarbon emissions at the tailpipe.

Like many early smog devices, performance fans hated AIR and would remove the tubes and plug up the holes. At least until regular inspections started in their local area!