What headers?

[Seattle Sam]

I've decided to preserve all the smog stuff off my 1970 L78 Camaro, including the TCS, and let the motor breathe a little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/sbesser/L78%20Rebuild/L78onstand.jpg

I just pulled the motor for a rebuild and it's going back in Day Two! I'm staying with the stock heads, intake and carb. What headers would be period-correct for 1970-71? How about cast aluminum valve covers, what brand or style? Distributor and cap? Coil?

All suggestions are welcome!
Thanks,
-Sam

[firstgenaddict]

M/T Cast Aluminum Finned Valve Covers always looked cool to me, I put them on my 69 BB Chevelle. Looked Great! A set of Stahl Headers would be B/A as well.

[musclcar]

any of the hooker long tube headers would look good just don't get the coated headers ie jet hot coated etc. now for valve covers i'd go with a set of M/T polished aluminum covers those are really period correct and would really set the engine off in that old school look.distributors i think mallory either unilite or the dual point with a hyfire cd box and coil. my motor in my 72 camaro has that old school/ day 2 look also. for a sbc i've got old cal-custom finned valve covers and t-handles,flex a lite green fiberglass fan,edelbrock scorpion intake ,holley 850 DP and mallory unilite ignition. the only thing is the headers i'm running hedman shorties due to ground clearance issues with long tubes http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Salvatore]

I love Stahl Headers, but no one ran them on the street. First off they are about $800. Hooker 2"tubes coated black. If you really like day-2 a set of Accel wires (yellow) and distributor cap, with an accel coil, I think look good. Champion spark plugs and M/T valve covers. I have flex-a-lite fans in red-white and blue and in green and in orange. They always look good. Try to find the small style air cleaner like a Motion or just a little chrome one. I personally don't think you need to change the distributor and mount any boxes to your firewall. Header mufflers, traction bars, shackles and big tires and wheels! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif JMO and have fun! Souderton Sam

[Verne_Frantz]

Sam,
Great looking engine http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif......................but PLEASE don't try to lift it again with that dog leesh. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Gives me chills just thinking about it............................ http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Verne.

[Seattle Sam]

[ QUOTE ]
Sam,
Great looking engine http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif......................but PLEASE don't try to lift it again with that dog leesh. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Gives me chills just thinking about it............................ http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Verne.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, Verne! That picture is deceiving! That little chain would not have worked to pull even a small block!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/sbesser/L78%20Rebuild/chains.jpg

We used some decent size chain, then we doubled up with the small chain to be extra safe (not shown in this picture). Maybe we were fooling ourselves... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Seattle Sam]

Thanks for the great suggestions! What style wheels, how about Atlas five spokes?

[Salvatore]

The color of your car would look real nice with a set of torque thrust wheels. VINTAGE only though. Sam, The only way to truly get that car to look correct is to bring it east! We do have the http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif's here!http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[hvychev]

Sam I also agree on the M/T valve covers. Headers could be simply Hooker as they were obviously popular back then. Really grass roots would be to paint them white like they commonly were then but then eventual rust would be an issue. As far as wheels go.....be adventerous and add a set of vintage SLOTS! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif TT's are as common as belly buttons....

[Verne_Frantz]

Wheeeeeeeew! Now I can relax! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

By the way, I vote for white Hookers and M/Ts http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif (exactly what I had on my 396 in '69-------in a '62 Chev)
And I agree with Frank on the wheels. Something "period" but not another set of TTs.

Verne

[68l30]

[ QUOTE ]
As far as wheels go.....be adventerous and add a set of vintage SLOTS! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif TT's are as common as belly buttons....

[/ QUOTE ]

How about a set of Spyders.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

You guys are just used to seeing re-pop TT's

[Supercar_Kid]

I'd go with a set of Cal Custom finned aluminum valve covers, they're fairly inexpensive and not too hard to locate. Headers have got to be white if they're going to look vintage at all. I hear flat white ceramic coating holds up well and looks fairly authentic so long as you keep your greasy fingers off of them. As for the wheel/tire combo, even though most people hate them, I've always thought a set of Keystone Klassics on white or red stripe Firestone Super Sports look cool on a first gen Camaro, and no one is running them today. I'm sure someone can post pics of the Motion prepped Hugger Orange/Black Hockeystick '69 RS/SS with this combo. I think it was featured in an old issue of Speed & Supercar, and maybe already posted here once before. Joe G where ya at on this one? It looked killer IMO.

[JoeG]

Erik--You're right about the headers--Almost everyone painted their headers HT white paint, though you did have to constantly touch them up because the heat would make the paint flake--I painted mine with HT stainless steel paint-----kinda gives it a natural metal look and holds up pretty good. As far as the TT style wheels --thats what I got on the car back then, but I have to admit I put on Ansen Sprints later on and liked the look--I'm sorry I got rid of those-- Keystones--are also a real nice mag------------I also like the finned valve covers http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif--PS. --Always liked redlines

[Salvatore]

Joe, I am having another brain lapse. I remember some headers painted white, but wern't most black? I did have a set of Hedman Husler headers that were yellow. Had a set of Caslers that were black also. Maybe the paint did not stay on long enough to remember. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[firstgenaddict]

I agree with Frank.
Some vintage polished AL slots would be trick. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[JoeG]

Sam ---I meant alot of guys including myself would paint the headers with a HT white paint--my original Hookers were bare metal--I remember colored headers coming along later on--but brain lapses can somtimes be contagious---

[Born30YrsLate]

My vote is for white headers, aluminum slots and finned aluminum valve covers (no matter which type)...how 'bout yellow traction bars too (was that the popular color back in the day).

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
how 'bout yellow traction bars too (was that the popular color back in the day).

[/ QUOTE ]

Hell yes! I had yellow Lakewoods on my '67 25 years ago.

M/T or Cal Custom valve covers. Get'em on eBay. Look for sets with the drippers intact and the knock-outs for the PCV and oil fills still in place. If they've had repairs done, cough twice and pass.

Wheels? Hmmm. How about Cragar S/S's, 15x4 in front, 15x8 or 10 out back? Look through any Cars magazines from 1970-73 and you'll see second-gens with skinny Cragars up front and fat ones out back. I can scan some pictures from my collection if you want.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Chevy454]

Could ya Jet Coat or Powder Coat a set of headers *white*? How would that look & last?

[Schonyenko2]

All the header paint that I remember, VHT burnt off pretty fast. I shot my Doug's yellow when they were new. Didn't last very long. Most headers I remember were rusty black, with patches of paint that hadn't quite fallen off yet.
You might get that por manifold paint to last on headers. It looks pretty good on manifolds. Personally, I like jet hot. And I do like aluminum slots.

[JoeG]

The Eastwood Stainless steel paint works well with occasional minimal touch up--I'm guessing the por coating is similar----For maintenace free headers you can't beat the ceramic type coatings,I think they make one that has a satin stainless finish---- Rob---I don't think there's any powder coating that will handle heat demands of headers http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gifIt's a shame---White headers look so http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[427TJ]

Butch Leal's Pro Stock '70 Camaro with Cragars. 11/70 Cars cover. (No story on Leal's car inside, just the cover shot.)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[427TJ]

Bill Jenkins' Pro Stock '70 from an Edelbrock ad. (The ad was originally printed with lines through the image.)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[budnate]

there is a place in town that alumacoats them white or used to???? epa may have got them...only thing they have a little texture at that point...I did many sets in the 80's and they always looked great..the tubes by the ground would get a little brown from the rain as they were on daily drivers..but stayed nice and white up by the heads...Sam, give Machinist Inc a call and see if they still do it if you want to go that way..if I recall they used to charge about 80 bucks if they were clean when you dropped them off...much more if they had to clean them.

[427TJ]

The ladies seem to prefer Hedman Hedders...

[427TJ]

Big Willie says "Buy American!" Better do what he says...

[hvychev]

Very cool Big Willie ad! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[427TJ]

One of my favorites from 25 years ago. The 'Crystal Blue Persuader' as seen on the cover of the 1980 Car Craft Camaro Celebration #2. Too bad the bar code got in the way.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[427TJ]

Rear view. N50-15 tires out back! Engine was a tunnel-rammed 460-inch Rat with chrome Moroso valve covers and a Muncie trans. Rear was a 12-bolt with 4:11 cogs. ET slots. Note stock tailpipes.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif x 100

[hvychev]

Now that is cool! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[CamarosRus]

Sam, As my 69 CLONE didnt come with the smog parts, I chose to use Hooker Competition(NOT Super Comp) Headers. I bought New from company on EBAY that does Ceramic coating and sells as a package.....I know NOT period correct VHT paint, but much better quality and wont tarnish or rust.....Chuck

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/SubframeBelowFront.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/UnderFloor.jpg

[Seattle Sam]

I like the look of those daisy wheels. My '70 has a bit of that "sleeper" look which is more my style anyway, so I have mixed feelings on the yellow Lakewoods. I think they look cool with the polished aluminum slots and that "jacked-up rear" look, but I would probably go with black for the low-key look. I'll be leaving my ride height stock, and seeing how big a tire I can stuff in.

How do you suppose they got all that height in the rear wheel wells? Air shocks? There were air shocks in my 65 Chevelle when I got it, both sharing a supply line. You could push one side of the rear down and the other side went up..
-Sam

[ktownkid]

What jacked up look??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

1973

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/ktownkid/466.jpg

2003
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/ktownkid/day22.jpg

[MosportGreen66]

Sam--

I just installed new leaf and coil springs from PST. I also did the bushings. Do it once, do it right... thats how I veiw these old cars. The ride is GREAT, height is awesome with 70 series tires!

I have Hedman Elite headers on my car with Jet Hot Coating. I have only one issue of minor break down in the coating -- this is roughly after 1000 miles. Every so often I have to tighten the header bolts, I am considering Stage 8 Locking Header bolts.

I just installed a set of Strippers on the Camaro and they look awesome! They are being painted a silver/gun metal color as we speak. Slots would look awesome, but I LOVE the Cragars on the car.. 14x5 up front 15x8 in the back. Check out some M/T Indy profile tires with redlines in the front for a combo no one has ever sported.

Your going to have a blast with these vintage bolt ons!

[Seattle Sam]

What do you guys think of these valve covers on eBay?

eBay Motion BBC valve covers (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4518198668#ebayphotoho sting)

I like the look of these over the Cal Custom and M/T both, but it would be the only "Motion" piece on my car. Maybe I should get the Nickey ones, as my car comes from Chicago..

[hvychev]

Sam you could not Cheese up under your hood more than with that crap...... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[Seattle Sam]

[ QUOTE ]
Sam you could not Cheese up under your hood more than with that crap...... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Call it like you see it, Frank!

But, I can't SEE the difference between the eBay covers and these on a past feature car.
http://www.yenko.net/features/2003/SSBM2fp.jpg
Of course I'm just looking at photos on my computer screen, and I don't think the eBay covers are NOS Motion covers, but could someone tell me what's different?

Thanks

[hvychev]

The Motion emblems are WAY different. Also why put Motion covers on when the car has NO other Motion components? There are a lot better alternatives than those repop covers.

BTW sorry to come off so hard, I think it is cool that you are going to day 2 your car. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[JoeG]

A SPLASH of color--Pretty subtle M/T '69 AD-- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif--M/T's new Super Scavenger Headers-- http://www.yenko.net/attachments/116211-Scan0011.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v370/darren_costello/cassler0001.jpg

[JoeG]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Rick--Here's one- http://www.yenko.net/attachments/116358-Scan0011.jpg ---Notice the T-shirt--kinda gives the business end of headers a whole different look