[A Snake]

If your car is now in original condition, it would be a real shame to start changing things.....even putting on headers. It's hard enough to find an original car, unless it has been through a thorough restoration.

Good grief! That 428 should stuff you back in the seat enough as it is.

Advice from an old timer......don't modify the car. It ruins both the value and the mystique of a fabulous car.

On your exhaust manifolds, I would suggest checking them with a straight edge and doing the same to the heads before I went and spent a bunch of money on machining.

Just in case you've never done this, you need an accurate (+or- .oo1") straight edge and no, the ruler out of a machinist's square is not good enough. It needs to be long enough to over hang on both ends of the manifold and heads.

You want what ever you're looking at in relative darkness, whether it is the head or a manifold. Next, use a shaded light behind the straight edge (away from you) so you see a "line of light" under the straight edge. DO NOT tip the gauge, stand it straight up so that the ground edge is flat on the surface you're checking. Now, a portable flourescent light is a good tool, because it won't shine in your eyes as you look.

If the gauge rocks, the surface is obviously is not flat. If you see the gauge showing light and dark along it's length, it is just uneven and light brighter in the center than the ends it is a hollow surface.

Next, use a feeler gauge along with the straight edge to determine just how far out of true the surface is. In my opinion, .002"-.003" is max and expect it to seal with the high temp sealant. More than that and one or both pieces need to be resurfaced.

Try the straight edge trick even before buying gaskets and make sure the surfaces are clean, bare metal before taking a reading.

Just some thoughts.

Al