i agree 110% that headers flow the best. no disagreement, i just dont think its necessary for say a rocker setup. i just dont. i know the stock manis are useless for anything but stock. even stock theyre dangerous. i got pacesetters, used stock manifold gaskets, copper rtv'd the piss out of them, got the y welded. my problem was at the dumbass 3 bolt collector flange. no matter what i did it leaked. thats just me, and i was getting sick of asking my boss to use the lift at work once a month cuz it was f'd up again. i changed my goals with the car so thats why i gave up on them and sold them. as far as the intercooler, its something that ive contemplated too. seeing what hp numbers and what timing/ pulley combo they are able to run, i dont think the ssic is 100% useless. yes it sounds like it heat soaks a lot more than the full size, but ide be willing to compensate that for half the price (talking new). of course if you could get a good used stage 2 or 3 for ~600, youde be a fool to not jump on it. i would only run the short stack if i was only gonna go rockers MAYBE vs cam. xp, s1x, or anything else that i was gonna run a 2.9 or smaller pulley on (providing you still have ~18*timing) yeah, ide go the big one no question. in the end it all comes down to the goals, and sticking to them so you dont waste money doing things twice, or going overboard cuz everyone says "go big or go home". i was just tryin to put a little positive on the ssic, in case the OP hasnt looked into it to see what people's cars are capable of that have it. thats all
