Hey all,

So, I have a 75 Camaro, all stock and all original. I'm looking to make a few upgrades which add to the power a bit/improve performance without going completely broke. I was thinking of getting a new carb, maybe some headers, and maybe an intake. I know that this is a slippery slope because once you start it's hard to stop but I just wanted to get the ball rolling with some relatively inexpensive things.

My question is - which carb would you recommend? Also, which headers? There are a ton of options out there and this is the first time I've ever looked into doing something like this so I'm hoping someone wiser than I can help out.

 

Need some more info on your present engine to determine what would be best. If it's a stock 350 4 barrel or 2 barrel, then the bottle neck in a intake and exhaust swap will be heads. Putting a better intake, carb and exhaust on will help some, but best to not go too big on anything, as the heads will be a restriction in between intake and exhaust. Plan on a full exhaust system behind the headers also, or the headers wont work well with a restrictive exhaust.
I don't get too caught up in getting crazy exotic on headers in a street car, as the difference on a closed exhaust system is not that great for a fairly stock engine. Hi performance or race engines, with open exhaust will be more affected by good or great headers, but a street engine will do well with almost any header. Fit and function is more important, as you don't want to fight exhaust leaks. Patriot headers seem to be about the best bang for the buck, as are Flowtech. Flowtech seems to be the one most house branded companies go to for their own header sales.

 

Hey there, thanks for all the info! It is a stock 350 4 barrel without any modifications anywhere. From what I'm gathering here, the header project will end up being the biggest and most expensive. I suppose that makes sense since it's a lot of work directly on the engine.

Are you also saying that I'd also need to eventually rework the entire exhaust system or just make some modifications to help out new headers? As best I can tell, the person that owned this before me removed the catalytic converter. The car is beyond the smog check year in California so I think they just said, "Eff it" and removed them. Would that help in the long run with new headers or should I just realize it's bigger than "put new headers on, enjoy car?" haha Thanks again for all the details!

 

I'd need to know what the exhaust system is. If it's the stock exhaust with just the cat removed, then it's small and uses a crappy muffler sitting crossways above the axle. If it's a full dual exhaust of 2.25" or 2.5", then the headers will help. But putting headers on ahead of a restrictive exhaust, or doing performance upgrades on ahead of the same exhaust, will just be wasting money.
Summit sells a complete true dual exhaust system for around $200 that is complete with mufflers, and can be purchased in 2.25" or 2.5" system. I put the 2.5" on my '71 and loved it. Most hobbyists can do it easily if you follow directions. Headers will run $150-$300, depending on what you purchase. I've seen new headers on local CL for under $100 occasionally, if a person is patient and looks often.

 

Wait! lol, what is your budget? Before spending anything tell me. Because I have some Key tactical target buys that will get you going with room to grow and not have to spend again and again and again If I had it to do over I would do this... just tell me your budget for the entire car. Or just the short term budget. forget exhaust forget everything right now...

 

Budget is relevant, but doing upgrades as a complete matching system is just as relevant. I see too often that people on a budget put a intake and big carb on a otherwise stock engine because of budget restrictions, and end up unhappy. Or they drop headers and big exhaust on a stock setup, and actually lose performance!
Budget dictates what gets done, but it all needs to match and work together.