Header clearance help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Kaptain Kadian · 03-21-2015, 11:21 PM

Hello guys, I could use your help on a problem I have been dealing with for over 15 years. I put some headers on my truck around 15 years ago and have had clearance issues with them ever since. It has been so long ago, I don't remember which brand I ended up settling on. I know I tried 3 or 4 and none of them fit worth a crap. When I first took it to the muffler shop to install them, they ground out a spot one the passenger side frame just beside the starter for clearance without asking me. Not too happy with that. That side fits roughly ok with the notch in the frame. The driver side sits less than an inch away from the lower control arm and hits it when driving. It even hit the crossmember on the driver side. And this was the best fitting set I could find. Anyone know why they would sit so close to the a arm or what I could do to fix the problem? I have taken most of my front end apart right now, so I can't take any pictures. I am in the process of cleaning up and painting my frame while it is still on the truck. I am also doing a front brake disc upgrade that prompted all of this project. Thanks

scott-wisc · 03-22-2015, 07:05 AM

I bought Hedman Hedders from summit. They dropped in and I have no clearance issues. There are different models for different configurations of the vehicle set up, so I never state which part number I have when asked. If you need new headers, call Summit and Jegs, then verify by calling the manufacturer.

**special-K** · 03-22-2015, 07:46 AM

What year is your truck and is it a big block or small block? And was it originally a 6cyl?

Chevypoor · 03-22-2015, 08:52 AM

Running Hooker 2452s on my small block in a 2wd 69 lb. Traded a set of tires for a 350 with them on it from a another 67-72 truck. Fit great with zero issues. I prefer Herman but these were essentially free!

Kaptain Kadian · 03-22-2015, 09:31 AM

My truck is a 70 with a 350. It was originally a 350 small block

MAC71 · 03-22-2015, 10:17 AM

I have hooker headers on my 71 c10 and had to make a small dent in the headers to clear the frame on the passenger side. I have a friend who also has hooker headers on his 67 and needed a lot more room and cut a notch in his frame and a different friend who has hooker headers in a 72 and had about 1/2 in of clearance. Bottom line is one header will fit differently on different trucks.

MAC71 · 03-22-2015, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC71

I have hooker headers on my 71 c10 and had to make a small dent in the headers to clear the frame on the passenger side. I have a friend who also has hooker headers on his 67 and needed a lot more room and cut a notch in his frame and a different friend who has hooker headers in a 72 and had about 1/2 in of clearance. Bottom line is one header will fit differently on different trucks.

Just thought of somthing on my friends truck that they clear the frame his engine mount brackets had large holes in them and maybe the engine is mounted with a slight tilt. Just a thought.

mechanicalman · 03-22-2015, 12:35 PM

Hooker long tubes fit my 72, hooker a/c bracket, no problems no mods necessary for me.

Had a cheap set once, hit the frame and had to weld the leaky tubes (new headers, Blackjack brand).

Dan Wales · 08-30-2016, 12:45 PM

I have a similar problem I bought a set of Headmans, had them coated inside and out. A beautiful job. They sit about 3/4's of a inch away from the lower A arm bushing on the drivers side. Counting coating I have about $450 tied up in these headers I'm not about to beat them up.

I bought a new trans cross member and have a 700R4 going in there. The cross member is slotted I think I can move the engine back another 1/4 to 3/8's inch. I think there is enough firewall clearance with the HEI to do that.

My concern with that is that maybe the heat will be enough to boil out the lube.

Any tips with similar situation would be appreciated. They do hang a little low going into the collector but I can live with that. I will be driving all pavement so just have to keep an eye out for surprise dips.

Dan

72bowtiestepper · 08-30-2016, 04:03 PM

I have Summit brand (made by flowtek) & have no problem with fitment on my 72 C-10 with 350 & TH-350. They were cheap...about $120 w/ free shipping.

garyd1961 · 08-30-2016, 07:27 PM

I have Headman and they are a little close to the grease fitting on my lower control arms but not hitting. I plan to install angled grease fittings, other than that no problems.

Low69CST · 08-30-2016, 09:08 PM

I have a set of ceramic coated headmans. No clearance issues. I was also worried about fluids and temps. Everything I've read says the ceramic coating keeps temps down where that sent an issue. I will look at the control arm tomorrow. You have me curious.

*ck5566* · 08-31-2016, 03:17 AM

In my Opinion I'd go back to the Trucks Ram Horns. Tighten them up once and forget about them, NO I am not from NY Calif grown.

Dan Wales · 08-31-2016, 12:11 PM

I got the truck with a set of cheap headers on it. If it would have had the stock manifolds I may have kept them.

Looking at the clearance I don't see how the lower control arm could move if at all enough at all to touch the header. I'm kinda concerned about heat. The coating may help a lot with that, thinking about it now a wrap on the tube or tubes in that area may work just fine.

Sure doesn't hurt to ask a couple thousand years of experience on here about it.

Thanks

Dan

03-21-2015, 11:21 PM	#1
Kaptain Kadian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Broken arrow Posts: 211	Header clearance help Hello guys, I could use your help on a problem I have been dealing with for over 15 years. I put some headers on my truck around 15 years ago and have had clearance issues with them ever since. It has been so long ago, I don't remember which brand I ended up settling on. I know I tried 3 or 4 and none of them fit worth a crap. When I first took it to the muffler shop to install them, they ground out a spot one the passenger side frame just beside the starter for clearance without asking me. Not too happy with that. That side fits roughly ok with the notch in the frame. The driver side sits less than an inch away from the lower control arm and hits it when driving. It even hit the crossmember on the driver side. And this was the best fitting set I could find. Anyone know why they would sit so close to the a arm or what I could do to fix the problem? I have taken most of my front end apart right now, so I can't take any pictures. I am in the process of cleaning up and painting my frame while it is still on the truck. I am also doing a front brake disc upgrade that prompted all of this project. Thanks

03-22-2015, 07:05 AM	#2
scott-wisc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 144	Re: Header clearance help I bought Hedman Hedders from summit. They dropped in and I have no clearance issues. There are different models for different configurations of the vehicle set up, so I never state which part number I have when asked. If you need new headers, call Summit and Jegs, then verify by calling the manufacturer. Attached Images

03-22-2015, 07:46 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Header clearance help What year is your truck and is it a big block or small block? And was it originally a 6cyl? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-22-2015, 08:52 AM	#4
Chevypoor Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 56	Re: Header clearance help Running Hooker 2452s on my small block in a 2wd 69 lb. Traded a set of tires for a 350 with them on it from a another 67-72 truck. Fit great with zero issues. I prefer Herman but these were essentially free! __________________ 1990 S10 Reg. cab 2wd 2.5/ 700r4, lowered, soon to be a TBI 350/ 700r4 1993 2500 Reg. cab 4wd 6.5 turbo diesel/ 5spd, bigger turbo, Bull Moose pump, cold air intake, and a few other mods 1969 C10 Reg. cab 2wd 305/350, RHS heads, Voodoo Cam, Gilmer drive, 2400 stall, and lots of other goodies!

03-22-2015, 09:31 AM	#5
Kaptain Kadian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Broken arrow Posts: 211	Re: Header clearance help My truck is a 70 with a 350. It was originally a 350 small block

03-22-2015, 10:17 AM	#6
MAC71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: UTAH Posts: 353	Re: Header clearance help I have hooker headers on my 71 c10 and had to make a small dent in the headers to clear the frame on the passenger side. I have a friend who also has hooker headers on his 67 and needed a lot more room and cut a notch in his frame and a different friend who has hooker headers in a 72 and had about 1/2 in of clearance. Bottom line is one header will fit differently on different trucks. __________________ Mike 1971 C10 350 1969 C20 396 1979 Corvette L-82

03-22-2015, 12:35 PM	#8
mechanicalman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Glendale, Arizna Posts: 1,642	Re: Header clearance help Hooker long tubes fit my 72, hooker a/c bracket, no problems no mods necessary for me. Had a cheap set once, hit the frame and had to weld the leaky tubes (new headers, Blackjack brand).

08-30-2016, 12:45 PM	#9
Dan Wales Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lake Wales Florida Posts: 50	Re: Header clearance help I have a similar problem I bought a set of Headmans, had them coated inside and out. A beautiful job. They sit about 3/4's of a inch away from the lower A arm bushing on the drivers side. Counting coating I have about $450 tied up in these headers I'm not about to beat them up. I bought a new trans cross member and have a 700R4 going in there. The cross member is slotted I think I can move the engine back another 1/4 to 3/8's inch. I think there is enough firewall clearance with the HEI to do that. My concern with that is that maybe the heat will be enough to boil out the lube. Any tips with similar situation would be appreciated. They do hang a little low going into the collector but I can live with that. I will be driving all pavement so just have to keep an eye out for surprise dips. Dan

08-30-2016, 04:03 PM	#10
72bowtiestepper Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 684	Re: Header clearance help I have Summit brand (made by flowtek) & have no problem with fitment on my 72 C-10 with 350 & TH-350. They were cheap...about $120 w/ free shipping.

08-30-2016, 07:27 PM	#11
garyd1961 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Henderson NC Posts: 975	Re: Header clearance help I have Headman and they are a little close to the grease fitting on my lower control arms but not hitting. I plan to install angled grease fittings, other than that no problems.

08-30-2016, 09:08 PM	#12
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	Re: Header clearance help I have a set of ceramic coated headmans. No clearance issues. I was also worried about fluids and temps. Everything I've read says the ceramic coating keeps temps down where that sent an issue. I will look at the control arm tomorrow. You have me curious. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

08-31-2016, 03:17 AM	#13
ck5566 Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Rancho Mirage, Ca. Posts: 875	Re: Header clearance help In my Opinion I'd go back to the Trucks Ram Horns. Tighten them up once and forget about them, NO I am not from NY Calif grown.

08-31-2016, 12:11 PM	#14
Dan Wales Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lake Wales Florida Posts: 50	Re: Header clearance help I got the truck with a set of cheap headers on it. If it would have had the stock manifolds I may have kept them. Looking at the clearance I don't see how the lower control arm could move if at all enough at all to touch the header. I'm kinda concerned about heat. The coating may help a lot with that, thinking about it now a wrap on the tube or tubes in that area may work just fine. Sure doesn't hurt to ask a couple thousand years of experience on here about it. Thanks Dan



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