Any headers that fit perfectly on 84 K10?

[Ewhitaker0020]

I'm wondering if anybody can help me pick out some headers that will be an exact fit for my 84 K10 with the 305.

I've already upgraded my intake and carb to an Edelbrock combo and it seems like headers are the next easiest bolt on step.

I've heard picking headers for a 4wd can be finicky. I would like to get something cheapish but will bolt right on with little to no modifications. I have AC if that matters.

I'm including a picture of my engine bay, if that helps and a picture of some shorty headers that I bought super cheap at a yard sale.

Do you think this type of header will work? I heard somewhere that headers for a 4wd truck will have one side that's made different to accommodate something or another. Both of the headers I have look exactly the same

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[shiftpro]

Well your shorty headers are not the best for producing torque.
But to be honest, i always feel bad for a guy throwing $ at a 305. They never should have put these into heavy trucks.

Whatever headers (other than the pretty shortys) you decide on, be prepared to fit them and with no fear to pound some clearance dents into them if required. It absolutely won't hurt performance.
You should also be prepared to move/adjust your starter wiring for clearance as well.

If you get painted headers, best to get them sandblasted (after fitting) and repaint with header paint. The factory paint is junk, I don't think it's even a heat paint.

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

Well your shorty headers are not the best for producing torque.
But to be honest, i always feel bad for a guy throwing $ at a 305. They never should have put these into heavy trucks.

Whatever headers (other than the pretty shortys) you decide on, be prepared to fit them and with no fear to pound some clearance dents into them if required. It absolutely won't hurt performance.
You should also be prepared to move/adjust your starter wiring for clearance as well.

If you get painted headers, best to get them sandblasted (after fitting) and repaint with header paint. The factory paint is junk, I don't think it's even a heat paint.

I don't want to put much more money into this 305, but whatever I'm doing I'm going to try and pick stuff I can swap over to a 350 when I eventually am able to swap one in.

Will the shortys I have be worse than the horrible clunky factory exhaust manifolds? Mine have that exhaust recirculating crap that I've disabled so I'm wanting to scrap them as soon as possible even if I can't use these for my 350 in the future I only paid $60 for them.

 

[bucket]

I don't believe those block hugger style headers will even fit.

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

I don't believe those block hugger style headers will even fit.

:-( you just had to say it didn't you.

I really didn't know if they would fit or not when I bought them. I just hoped they would.

 

[K201979]

I bought these off ebay because the bends looked the closest to the ones i was replacing They say they're for corvettes, but the reviews had a bunch of guys saying they were too long for the vettes, stuck out the bottom. Fit my 79 k20 with a 350. Fit with a th400 and with an sm465 and linkage. I did have to “clearance” some spots and open up the mounting holes in the flange. Have your hammer and pipe ready for dimpling, and drill/dremel/grinder ready to “massage” the flange.

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[78C10BigTen]

Well your shorty headers are not the best for producing torque.
But to be honest, i always feel bad for a guy throwing $ at a 305. They never should have put these into heavy trucks.

Whatever headers (other than the pretty shortys) you decide on, be prepared to fit them and with no fear to pound some clearance dents into them if required. It absolutely won't hurt performance.
You should also be prepared to move/adjust your starter wiring for clearance as well.

If you get painted headers, best to get them sandblasted (after fitting) and repaint with header paint. The factory paint is junk, I don't think it's even a heat paint.

I was quite shocked to watch the engine masters season 1 episode 4 about bashing header tubes to clearance things. It was proven that smashing the tubes had no effect on performance.

 

[Frankenchevy]

Hedman has a decent vehicle lookup feature on their website.

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

I bought these off ebay because the bends looked the closest to the ones i was replacing They say they're for corvettes, but the reviews had a bunch of guys saying they were too long for the vettes, stuck out the bottom. Fit my 79 k20 with a 350. Fit with a th400 and with an sm465 and linkage. I did have to “clearance” some spots and open up the mounting holes in the flange. Have your hammer and pipe ready for dimpling, and drill/dremel/grinder ready to “massage” the flange.


I found them on eBay. So they fit without too much of a headache? I have the factory short AC compressor. Did you have to work around that?

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

I bought these off ebay because the bends looked the closest to the ones i was replacing They say they're for corvettes, but the reviews had a bunch of guys saying they were too long for the vettes, stuck out the bottom. Fit my 79 k20 with a 350. Fit with a th400 and with an sm465 and linkage. I did have to “clearance” some spots and open up the mounting holes in the flange. Have your hammer and pipe ready for dimpling, and drill/dremel/grinder ready to “massage” the flange.


I found them on eBay. So they fit without too much of a headache? I have the factory short AC compressor. Did you have to work around that?

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

Hedman has a decent vehicle lookup feature on their website.

I'll take a look, thanks

 

[Ewhitaker0020]

Hedman has a decent vehicle lookup feature on their website.

They have a great look up tool. I found 48 headers that will fit my truck. I may end up going with them when I purchase something more expensive for my 350 build I do in a couple years.

 

[K201979]

I didnt have to work around a compressor but the bracket Is still there. I had to use a long bolt and some spacers there. As i said, i had to open up, or oval out, a few of the holes in the flange and make some well placed dents in the primary tubes. I also had to cut a couple notches in the flange to get around some stuff on the heads(temp sender, ect). Wasn't to bad if you have a few tools and some mechanical ability. The #1 plug is still kinda close on my truck, if i have them off i will make another dent, but a person could probly use a shorty plug, or heat shield. It has burned a plug boot tho. I should mention, my block is a 1972, outta a camero with 993 heads, but i dont think that'll maKe much difference.

 

[K201979]

Heres the driver side

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[Ewhitaker0020]

I didnt have to work around a compressor but the bracket Is still there. I had to use a long bolt and some spacers there. As i said, i had to open up, or oval out, a few of the holes in the flange and make some well placed dents in the primary tubes. I also had to cut a couple notches in the flange to get around some stuff on the heads(temp sender, ect). Wasn't to bad if you have a few tools and some mechanical ability. The #1 plug is still kinda close on my truck, if i have them off i will make another dent, but a person could probly use a shorty plug, or heat shield. It has burned a plug boot tho. I should mention, my block is a 1972, outta a camero with 993 heads, but i dont think that'll maKe much difference.

It looks great. I should have the ability to do this. When you say enlarge the flange holes, you mean where the bolts go through, right?