1970 GTO the next project

[njsteve]

Did this car have the 400 starter wires running down the tube between the #5 and 7 cylinders? That won’t work with headers. You can use the 455HO/SD455 wire routing which runs across the intake, down the front of the block, behind the power steering pump and along the oil pan rail. It uses a different metal tube to protect the wires on the front of the block. You will need a starter heat shield by the way.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Is there so many problems just to add headers or the problems are increased by also using Aluminum heads?

Pure Stock is the way to Rock :-)

Ryan

[jasonL78]

Originally Posted by Ryan1969Chevelle

Is there so many problems just to add headers or the problems are increased by also using Aluminum heads?

Pure Stock is the way to Rock :-)

Ryan

These are Edelbrock aluminum heads and must be wider than the originals putting the headers close to the frame rail. Only Dougs make these headers for these heads they have a D shaped exhaust port. I have a friend with a 69 Chevelle with a 454 and headers and he has all sorts of space around the frame rails.

[njsteve]

Not a lot of people go with headers on Pontiac engines for this very reason. Bad fit and big leaks, and not much more performance than the ram air manifolds give. They usually upgrade to the factory ram air manifolds which are reproduced now. They even make them with larger port flange sizes. That’s what I have in the Gramma car.

The front mounted 455HO metal tube is really just to prevent chafing on the front of the block so it’s really not that necessary on a modified car. The harness can be protected in other ways. The solenoid heat shield is reproduced in the aftermarket. I can post some photos later when I get home.

[jasonL78]

Thanks for the info Steve, it is truly appreciated. I will search for the heat shield. Good to know about the ram air exhaust manifolds. This wasn't my call all on the owner. I just get stuck trying to make this mess work.

[njsteve]

Here's some links to the various heatshields. Since it's not a restoration it can be any style. But you have to have one on a Pontiac with headers or ram air manifolds. (a Chevy heatshield wont work since it's on the opposite side of the car)

https://www.firebirdcentral.com/1967...p/enc-2040.htm

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...ywordSearchCmd

On the Gramma car, I used the factory solenoid shield. You can also use the entire heatshield wrap for added protection. The more protection, the less the problem (Pontiacs with headers and/or ram air manifolds are notorious for cooking starters).

Here's a photo of the factory style heatshield on the Gramma car with ram air manifolds. See how close that manifold is to the solenoid?

And also here's a shot of the bracket that routes the factory starter wiring on the Gramma car.

[njsteve]

The protection tube at the front of the engine was used to keep the positive battery cable away from the front of the exhaust manifold. You can find alternate methods to do that on a modified car. From this photo you can see the starter wires running down the front of the cylinder head and block, then it goes along the pan rail, under the motor mount and up from underneath to the starter solenoid.

[jasonL78]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Did this car have the 400 starter wires running down the tube between the #5 and 7 cylinders? That won’t work with headers. You can use the 455HO/SD455 wire routing which runs across the intake, down the front of the block, behind the power steering pump and along the oil pan rail. It uses a different metal tube to protect the wires on the front of the block. You will need a starter heat shield by the way.

Steve that is correct. I will look into that tube for the 455, do they reproduce it? Is the heat shield factory? Not that it matters but if I can install one it might save the starter.