Firebird

[bill_yum]

Weather is getting reasonable again.
Getting back to work on car.
1969 Firebird auto with 400 engine.
I was wondering if headers make that much of a difference, and then if so, are there any brands more common or useful on a pontiac?

Many people list headers as an important part of a powerful engine, but my dad has suggested agianst it saying they are always overheating.
I dont mind either way because this car is just going to be local driver for the next few years, and theres no need for the extra power. Just in the end im hoping to have this car run like a dream, and extra power to me just means extra fun.

[MrPbody]

"Good" headers will make about a 10-15% difference in power, if all the other components are up to the task. Cheap headers are a waste of money.
For the Pontiac, unlike most other engine families, there are some very good factory exhaust manifolds. For the '69, they're called "long branch" manifolds. Not cheap, but available through the Pontiac restoration houses (Ames Performance, Performance Years, among others).
Good headers (we suggest Hooker SuperComps), if coated with a modern thermal barrier (not the ceramic, a step higher), will make power AND keep under-hood temps at a reasonable point.
Before you make any changes, get Jim Hand's book "How to Build Max-performance Pontiac V8s". Study it an understand how differently you approach building a Pontiac. It is NOT like a Chevy.
A '69 400 car? Awesome! I have one, myself, getting a "one piece at a time" restoration. Don't feel TOO bad about having the automatic. At least it's a TH400!

Jim

[Tim81ta]

Here's a tip I have learned in my engine building experience. Always start with the exhaust back when looking to create horsepower. For the most part you can apply this to any engine.

I agree with MrPbody, don't waste your money cheap headers, if they don't produce to much head, then there likely to blow. I own a 81 TA(hence the username). The guy I bought it from used cheap headers. It was very hot under the hood, and in the summer there was a chance she would start to over heat if I didn't keep air moving over her.

[stuccoman]

I have so called cheap headers and I have header wrap around them ...I also have a heat shield on my starter and some kind of high tech boot around my wires at the engine ( approx 5" long ) I dont think I need the boots to protect the wires from heat but I installed all three things at the same time I installed the headers....this is the first time I used headers and was afraid of heat....but I think the header wrap would have been good enough......it keeps the heat down just as low under the hood as manifolds....