Wow, you gave us a lot to comment upon. In the future, post fewer querries and you'll get better answers.

anyway.. if you are subject to the smog tests, you would do VERY WELL to show up there in person one day, and get some information on just what they check, and how hard-nosed they are. By-the-book, they are FIRST supposed to do a visual check. That means the smog pump had better be there, and any obvious after-market components had better be CARB approved. Inquire before you order and make sure. CARB approved parts will come with stickers, which you will want to display prominently under the hood for the convenience of the inspectors.

This does not necessarily mean you can't get headders... you just have to make sure they are CARB approved, and that they have the inlets for the smog pump. Here is another caveat: the smog pump is an industry cheat. They claim that by adding clean air into the exhaust, it allows the unburned gasses to burn off. THAT'S CRAP. All it is doing is DILUTING the exhuast mixture, thus fooling the 'sniffer' they stick up the pipe. ( rather similar to the small perforations around the circumfrence of a cigarette filter, but that is another rant ). Before you go replacing the carb, considering you are under inspection obligation, you would do well to just get your original carburetor rebuilt. While you are at it, double-check your vacuum lines, make sure everything is as it should be. You are going to need catalytic converters, but there are high-flow 'cats' available. Your old cats are shot, they only have a functional life of 3-7 years.

Call Summit ( 1-800-230-3030 ) and ask for a free catalog. Better wear a baby bib the first time you read through it, cause you will be drooling all over yourself like a dog waiting for scraps at Thanksgiving.

Depending on how much wrenching you like, you could always consider getting the vehicle in good running order for the inspection, then pulling all the junk and throwing it in the corner till next year when you'll have to put it on again for inspection.

You can save a bundle on the headders, by just ordering SUMMIT brand, then wrapping them with THERMOTEC heat wrap. You'll need one roll-per-headder. You can leave the wrap 'naked' and it will develop a patina like a brown paper bag. otherwise you can use hi-temp paint of your color prefrence. Hold the nozzle about an inch from the wrap, and absolutely soak it. It'll take a can per headder. the aluminum REALLY looks nice! Use some of the 'extra' wrap to make booties for your spark plugs. Just unravel some of the wrap to make yourself some 'thread', then use the thread to sew the wrap into sleeves. Slide the sleeves onto the plug wires, and VOLIA! you got booties for your plug wires, and a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER than what Summit wants for them.

EG