New Exhaust Comin'.....

[race-n-jason]

Well here is the old exhaust. This was a temporary setup, utilizing $15 Summit turbo mufflers and "off-the-shelf" exhaust components from Autozone.

I just received my new 3/4 length big block Chevelle headers (hedman). I have a set of 40 series Flowmasters that will go on the new set up. These will be tucked between the frame rails and "dumped" just before the rearend.

I realize that there have been several posts similar to this one, but I didn't think you guys (and gals) wouldn't mind if I shared mine as well.

I plan to document the installation. So "stay tuned".....

[race-n-jason]

Old Headers Removed....

New Headers Installed....

[Tx Firefighter]

Jason, please take that fuel filter off and replace it with another type. That glass filter laying on the engine could very easy bounce, break and bar-b-que your truck to the ground.

Glass filters are a terrible idea on a hot engine. Plastic or metal is much better.

Also, please tell how the Chevelle headers fit. Any mods required at all to fit them? Do they rub or hit anywhere?

I also have a 454 truck and have wanted someone with first hand experience to tell me how those shorties fit.

[race-n-jason]

Thanks for the suggestion. Edelbrock has a hard line kit with integrated fuel filter that would be a good solution.

The headers fit pretty well. The driver side Header installed perfectly with no interferance. The passenger header was within about 1/16" of an inch between it and the frame rail. That was a little close for my taste. So before I removed the header I made a mark on the frame rail with a sharpie. Then w/ the header removed I took a grinder to the area and removed about a 1/4" from the top of the frame rail (see pic below). I don't like how close my Transmission fluid lines are either (at the collector). But then again it was a shotty installation by whoever owned it before. Gives me a reason to do it right.

By the way, these are NOT the Ceramic coated headers. A little too pricey for me. I took the regular painted ones and stripped them of the factory black paint (fairly easy). Then coated them with several coats of HTC high temp paint.

[race-n-jason]

One other observation....

I noticed that with the reducers installed, they do hang down a little lower than I expected, especially the driver side. I was planning on routing the exhaust above the transmission crossmember and through the rear one. I hope this is still possible without "kinking" the pipe to much.

I'll keep y'all informed.

[race-n-jason]

Yeah,

Most of the black paint just flaked right off. "Patriot" actually sells the same header uncoated, but it was about 20 or 30 dollars more. Not to mention, these "Hedman" headers now have a new gasketless ball & socket design at the collector (look at 1st picture in post #7). This design will be less likely to leak. This design also allows the reducer to have a little adjustment on the approach angle of the exhaust pipe.

[race-n-jason]

Well the more I look at it, the more I think that the pipes will have to run along the bottom of the frame.

It's not just a matter of the angle of the driver's side header, but the shifter linkage will most likely interfere with the pipe (see pic).

I'm not sure if I have other options, outside of going with a completely different shifter setup (i.e. floor shifter). Don't want this to spiral out of control. Famous last words.....

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Yes please tell about the headder's ????? I have the same problem with my 72 c/10

[Cethern]

That looks very good... And I have to agree with TX about the glass filter I had one on my K5 for a day or so before it broke while out wheeling. gald I got it before my K5 was a big BBQ...

So you just took the black paint off and used better paint....Neat idea


Cethern

[toddtheodd]

Say, that's a 1 piece drive shaft isn't it? I can't see a carrier bearing on it in the first pic of post #11 anywhere.

[race-n-jason]

Yes that's a one-piece drive shaft. Was in the truck when I bought it 13 years ago.

[SCOTI]

Did you get the Broadway store to weld it up? Those guys are a pretty decent group. Heck, I've even brought them some beer for fixin something on my beater for free.

[race-n-jason]

Yep, same guys. One time I had a weld crack on my other truck. Took it up there and asked how much. The owner said, "just tip the welder". So thats what i did, after he fixed the weld I gave him a twenty.

Great group o' guys.

[2low72]

Nice!! I have the same setup

[krue]

Looks good, bet it sounds even better.

[race-n-jason]

i'm diggin' it.

[Gray Ghost]

Looks nice. This is the setup I will have installed on my 67 when the 454 goes in. We've got a great little shop in Terrell that is very reasonable as well.

I like the way the pipes run on yours. I had my ball and sockets welded on the 70. I got the small block version for that motor...love the design cause you can change the angle
of the socket reducer if you weld them.

[SCOTI]

Knockin' the dust off of that one . . . ......

[72BlckButy]

I started reading the thread and thought... I feel like I've been here before.