Hey people,
I just got my first El Camino. It's an 87 , has a 350 with headers but, they're shot. I need to replace the whole exhaust system. Is there anyway i can do it with out it costing me an arm and a leg? I'm in the New England (CT)area and I was wonding if anyone could help me find someone who can mod my crossmember or put and end to my insanity.


Mikey

I know that you can order specially fabricated crossmembers for dual exhaust from a number of places.. Edlebrock makes one...Jegs offers a couple.. and there are also independent guys who you can order them from via the internet. As for the actual exhaust, go through the latest issue of jegs or summit racing and find you some headers that fit ur needs. Im a fan of the Flowtech Afterbutners myself but thats me. Just make sure you find out if the header that you choose needs special brackets for your a/c pump or altenator. If it is required, you can probably order those through the same company or catalog. They are pretty reasonably priced. Next order your mufflers and cats(if they are required) and that should take care of ur parts list. Now, Before you order all of this, you should go around town and call around to any muffler shop both private and corperate and get quotes on how much it would cost if you brought in your Elky and had them do the exhaust from the headers back. Shouldnt be too much. Somewhere between $150 and $350. As far as components for the exhaust system are concerned, you can go low budget and get mild performance such as more torque and couple dozen horses with some great sound and a little better gas mileage. Or you can go high performance and have the receipts to prove it if you know what im saying. If you just have a 305 or 350, I wouldnt suggest investing a whole lot into exhaust though just because your not cranking out enough horses that your engine needs close to zero restriction in order to function. HappyHunting to you and keep us posted on which route you take.

I decide on getting a Gforce crossmember. I figured I'd spend the extra 25/50 bucks on something that will go right in rather than using the extra money on aspirin for the headache i would get trying to find someone to make one. I'll check out the flowmaster headers you recomend. Everthing started to fall into place after i read your post. So...why stop now. Thanks!

Mikey

Hey Mikey. Good luck with the Gforce crossmember. Sounds like that is the way to go.

By the way. I'm the Region 2 director for ECC/NECOA, of which your located in. We'd like to have you included in our email list. I try to organize members and attend car shows together. Last week a few of the other members and myself attended the Connecticut Chevelle Connection car show.
Next event is June 27th in R.I. Check out the Region 2 forums.

If you want, send me your email address and I'll add you to the list. My email is jlevitan@holycross.edu

I modded mine myself with the help of a welder friend. My Dynomax headers, true duals with super turbo mufflers helped me alot.

Yea I modded my crossmember myself too. I just cut out about an inch n a half and bent a piece of 1/4" plate to fill in the cutout. Welded it solid. If you can't find anybody to do it for you reasonably, then maybe you SHOULD just get it new. Mine are true duals too, btw.

Check this site for a nice looking crossmember. http://www.andersonlimited.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7029
Check here for do-it-yourself info http://malibunorth.freeservers.com/CrossFab.html
:D

G-force RULES!!! I got one of their 700R4 x-members for my 84 monte ss when I did the tranny swap. It's really a beautiful piece and awesomely strong for $200! I saved that and the trans when I sold the monte and now whenever I get my 73 ss I'm going to use them in that. Of course, since the generation is different I'll probably have to modify the x-member but I have 2 welders, so that's cake.