[dave383]

has anyone put headers on your 500cid engine, i just got my 1976 coupe deville up and running again, and i was looking at putting headers when i get my dual exhaust system put on. any suggestions

 

[lux hauler]

has anyone put headers on your 500cid engine, i just got my 1976 coupe deville up and running again, and i was looking at putting headers when i get my dual exhaust system put on. any suggestions

Sorry this went unanswered for so long. I missed it somehow.
I'm sure headers will help the engine breath a little better but I'm not sure it would be worth it on an otherwise stock motor without other mods. If you plan to do any mods that will allow lots more air into the motor (intake manifold....porting, bigger valves), then yes, headers might be a good idea......if not, don't waste your money.

 

[dave383]

Sorry this went unanswered for so long. I missed it somehow.
I'm sure headers will help the engine breath a little better but I'm not sure it would be worth it on an otherwise stock motor without other mods. If you plan to do any mods that will allow lots more air into the motor (intake manifold....porting, bigger valves), then yes, headers might be a good idea......if not, don't waste your money.

Well the only air flow mod for the near future would be a drop in K&N filter. I was just thinking though that headers would help in air flow to the dual exhaust even more so since i will take out the cats. u should check out sanderson headers website and check out the header for the 500 cid.

 

[davesdeville]

Headers aren't a bad idea... if I were looking for performance, the intake manifold would be the first thing to do, followed by headers. I wonder if sanderson headers will go on a 500 in the small engine compartment of my 78.. Ok I gotta get a 500 to put in first but still..

 

[lux hauler]

Here is what Sandersons web site says......

We're seeing more and more Cadillac engines in street rods, and are pleased to offer the first affordable aftermarket blockhugger for them. Sanderson's new CAD500 works in street rods and any later model chassis that doesn't have a crossmember located behind the motor mounts.

If the car that you plan to put the headers in, doesn't have a crossmember behind the motor mounts, these headers should be ok. If you do have a crossmember behind the motor mounts, and you want to use headers, you're going to have to find some with a rear facing dump.

 

[500-CID]

Hey Dave383, I put headers on my 500cid in my 75 caddy, and it made a huge gain in power.. I also ran 3" dual pipes on it. On my 75 when I took off the y-pipe I found small restrictor insert pipes on each side my guess the 76 has em to , just taking these out will make a big difference.

 

[dave383]

Sounds good, what kind of 75 caddy do u have? did u do true dual exhaust from the headers? with 2 mufflers? and what type of headers did u use, and did u have to do any mods to the suspension to do the job. thanks a bunch dave 383

 

[500-CID]

Sounds good, what kind of 75 caddy do u have? did u do true dual exhaust from the headers? with 2 mufflers? and what type of headers did u use, and did u have to do any mods to the suspension to do the job. thanks a bunch dave 383

Hey Dave, its a 75 coupe deville.. And yes its two pipes front to back . The headers are the kit type the kind that you weld the primarys to the bolt flange and then weld on your collecter. The primarys are 2 1/2" with 3" collecters. No mufflers were installed for lack of space, just 3" pipe with 4" crome tips welded on at the ends. As far as suspension mods.. no, all I had to do was replace the metal gas lines with flex-type line just behind the rear end for the drivers side pipe to clear.