When building a car for better performance would you go with headers or stock manifolds?

Headers or D-Port exhaust manifolds?

You can upgrade your Firebirds performance several ways. One way is a Ram Air Restoration. Using RAM Air III manifolds 'factory' long branch D-Port exhust manifolds, mandrel bent head pipes, X-cross over, performance mufflers and exhaust pipes.

Or you can go with a quality header installation. Hooker, Hedman, etc... The headers run louder and generate more heat. And headers are also harder to install on Pontiac motors because of their design.

Basically it is all about good air flow ... an easy breathing intake manifold and exhaust manifold.

I replied D-port Manifolds however, I need to clarify my recommendation. My choice is actually the RAM Air III Manifolds from RARE. The are manifolds that have the through put of a shorty header so you get the best of both worlds, easy installation, stock look but the power of headers. This is what is on my car. Here is a pic of the manifold and a pic of the down pipes I bought with the manifolds from RARE.

Rich,

These RAM Air III Manifolds from RARE are great looking exhaust manifolds.

I bet that many Firebird enthusiasts are not aware that this exhaust performance upgrade exists.

The manifolds look like a shorty header so they look easier to install, compared to full size long tube headers.

They also look stock so all the guys who want to keep their car in the 'stock' class, instead of 'modified' car class can keep their car original looking.

My only question is how much heat under the hood do they give off? From your pictures you don't seem to have very much heat insulation wrap on the starter or exhaust pipes. I know full size headers give off a lot of underhood heat.

The RAIII manifolds are the way to go. Headers on a Pontiac motor are such a PIA. You will not have any fitment issues with the RAIII's. As far as performance a few years back one of the top Pontiac magazines did tests between headers, stock manifolds and RAIII's. The RAIII's performed almost identical to the headers and both performed way better than stock.
The only thing I will ever install on a poncho motor is the RAIII's (Jim knows my preference for mufflers but that is for another post ).

I have hedman headers because there design puts them up along the frame rails. not down low like others do.

but to do it over , the rare , RAM Air III Manifolds are the way to go. and keep a stock look.
only the dyno can see the hp loss form headers to rare manifolds.