Exhaust

[OnionPatch]

I have a '87 diplomat which I've posted here before, I added an edelbrock 4 barrel intake and carb. I would like to ditch the factory exhaust because how restrictive and wheezy it sounds(not right for a v8!).
I was looking at summit headers and was wondering if you can fit a set of long tube headers or if I have to go for short ones. I know the starter would need to be swapped with a mini-starter and I've heard good things about the summit branded ones.
I would like to put Dynomax mufflers on as well after hearing a set on a 318 someone posted sometime back on this site.
Any advice?

Headers https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g9140
Starter https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-820441/make/dodge or https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-820337

 

[M_Body_Coupe]

May I make a suggestion?

There are plenty, and I mean massive amounts, of discussions on our forum regarding what you are asking. Have a go at it: SEARCH is your friend.

The short of it: long tubes will work fine, you need to deal with standard things like steering centerlink, etc., or if your pockets allow (deep enough? lol) TTI offers choices which will make most of these a lot easier/simpler to deal with.

Regarding the rest of the exhaust setup: some kits come close enough, again SEARCH will bring all of these experiences to light, or you can do custom work.

 

[Duke5A]

Damn it, why do you have to be so far away. I've got a used set you can have. I'm not willing to go through the hassle of shipping though.

My opinion? I ran those style of small block headers for years. You're going to flatten those tubes that run under the steering link. What are your power goals? The factory 318 logs will flow enough for 300HP and will sound nice with a true dual exhaust and Magnaflow straight through mufflers.

 

[OnionPatch]

Damn it, why do you have to be so far away. I've got a used set you can have. I'm not willing to go through the hassle of shipping though.

My opinion? I ran those style of small block headers for years. You're going to flatten those tubes that run under the steering link. What are your power goals? The factory 318 logs will flow enough for 300HP and will sound nice with a true dual exhaust and Magnaflow straight through mufflers.

Ive heard they are fine for 300hp but they are an eyesore everytime I open the hood. I am planning on either a 318 rebuild or a 360 magnum swap. Either of those will come later due to my current situation, but for now I want headers for looks primarily.

(Bad photo I know but they show the exhaust manifolds)

 

[OnionPatch]

May I make a suggestion?

There are plenty, and I mean massive amounts, of discussions on our forum regarding what you are asking. Have a go at it: SEARCH is your friend.

The short of it: long tubes will work fine, you need to deal with standard things like steering centerlink, etc., or if your pockets allow (deep enough? lol) TTI offers choices which will make most of these a lot easier/simpler to deal with.

Regarding the rest of the exhaust setup: some kits come close enough, again SEARCH will bring all of these experiences to light, or you can do custom work.

I had read several posts about this topic and I was asking about the specific ones in the post, but your reassurance that they do work is definitely helpful. It’s pretty tough to find information about M-bodies compared to A-bodies lol.

 

[Duke5A]

Any mild steel header is going to rust. Even expensive TTI pieces that are coated inside and out. If you want it to look as minty as the rest of that motor and drive the car regularly stainless is your only option.

There are SS headers available. These are obviously Chinese, but they do fit and work good. Dad has a set installed in his '80 Dodge coupe with a 408 stroker. Didn't need to dent the headers at all for clearance. These are 1 3/4" primary tubes as well.

Only issue I see is you have to be careful driving as you will scrape the bottom tubes. You can either crank the torsion bars up, or replace the bars with higher spring rate pieces. Dad and I both have the 300# Firm Feel bars in our cars and they absolutely keep the front end from bottoming. I don't know if they're still available through. I installed mine almost 15 years ago now.

I'm not aware of any SS shorty headers available that fit. If you can find them they have to be swept back to have any hope of fitting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235316754387?fits=Make:Chrysler&_skw=chrysler+small+block+stainless+headers&itmmeta=01KYHW4CPKW5XRXRKEWDN3ZQNC&hash=item36c9f8b7d3:g:88oAAOSwvRJlY2~Y&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDKD8pLFC4hQ1f0dAI0L9mUbfnzg/MkxxqgeqYtB114FzZsGpZsoKc9tAEA/hNZblsqGsVetzsQDQLz3gx1NXDpiY6+tvilRpM/ItVMoCu+HKS2goXzZ+lfVD40HekC6tFUOBLrhyjY1+CZ5q/ivlom7ww+tMcicjCtDvz1ZQS4X00vmMR7REHTiSQp6v8ad+8/bk5D5AMz6+G1Fbfh6Cy17rfbvDP1Di68ZZ3BbqeTAUDa0uwlTts4FUa71pQqHQ9FZSYA6tsfiNuJDXaptZW1|tkp:Bk9SR8bLkbz0Zw

I'm fuzzy on the years, but find a late model LA 360 with roller cam provisions. They only made them for three years. 89-91 I think before they went with the Magnum motors. If you use this you get a roller cam motor (without needing expensive retrofit kits) that can reuse that intake and valve covers.

Give the SS bodied straight through Magnaflow mufflers a try. They don't drone like Flow Masters. I love mine.

Also, you're going to need that mini starter. It'll make things so much easier even if you can get headers to fit around the old one.

 

[OnionPatch]

I will definitely check out those mufflers and headers. There is also Frog Follies coming up, might be able to find a deal on headers there. As for the Long vs Short headers, is the sound difference worth all the trouble of fitting long headers?