Sorry, not a gold old 5.9, but I found today that my old truck has decided to start shedding exhaust manifolds by breaking bolts. Currently, 3 are holding the right bank on. Since I have to tear the head off anyway, what impact to the whole computer system will I get if I go ahead and shed both AIR pumps and go with straight exhaust without the crossover? What is the best way to deal with both of the O2 sensors?

Truck has actual 36000 actual miles, and has been in the family since new with the exception of about 7 years. I sold it and then bought it back.

I want it to run good and am open to some suggestions since I need to tear it down anyway.

Thanks in advance.

 

My experience with the 360 gas efi, is they ran best with all the factory junk installed. Worked on several back in the dark ages, when those were new. Guys would install true dual exhausts, better intake setups, etc, and actually lose what little fuel economy they had. They also ran like a partially clogged toilet. Spent lots of time trying to bring the performance back up to barely acceptable, before just going back to stock, with slightly better mufflers.

That's it, that's all

 

Ok then, that makes it easy! Right now, I get between 8 and 10 mpg depending on speed. At 60, it seems the engine is about to pop through the hood.

Thanks Pind.

 

You probably have a pretty deep gear in the rear end, 4.11 or similar. Equals lots of revs at 60mph. I've seen a few of those. Most had 3.54 or even 3.07 rears, which had no bottom end, but at least they cruised along ok. Had an 88 with a service body on it, and a 4 speed that would scream right up to 55mph, and that was about it. Made a slight change by up sizing the tires from stock, to 235/85/16. Was going to change the gears, but changed the truck instead.

 

Yea, real deep gears. Driving normal, I can hit 4th at about 23-25 mph and not lug a bit...

I do like the dump bed though!

 

Magnum heads are a direct swap onto the LA engine...
Just make sure you get the proper lifters and pushrods to go with them. They oil the top end like a Chevy instead of through the rocker pedestals.
There may still be only 1 intake available for them yet, that will accept a carb or TB, but switching in any sensors should be fairly simple.
If you've got the carb'd 360, it will be even simpler than the TBI.
Dual exhaust with headers and X-pipe is the ideal exhaust. The X-pipe will help cylinder scavenging between banks.