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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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BB header clearance issue
Has anyone run into a clearance issue using Chevelle headers on their big block with stock suspension? Here is my issue: the passenger side front tube hits the rear nut on the lower control arm shaft. The engine is in the stock location using stock 68-71 big block engine stands and mounts. I have good clearance on the frame rail, starter, everywhere except the control arm. The suspension is all stock, including ride height. I can dimple the tube if I have to, but would rather not if someone has another solution. I thought about putting thick washers under the engine stands on the frame and crossmember, but how much clearance do I need if I do this? I have searched the forum literally for hours and cannot find anything on this particular issue.
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70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Latrobe, Pa. 15650
Posts: 344
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Re: BB header clearance issue
My Chevelle headers hit on the drivers side lower control arm rear nut. I marked it where it hit and used a ball peen hammer. I put the ball part of the hammer where I marked it and used another hammer to strike the ballpeen hammer and it made a perfect dent. You really have to use a very hard hit. It works pretty good. Now you will have to deal with the transmission cross member.
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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Re: BB header clearance issue
I have a tubular trans x-member. I knew that would be an issue, but I didn't know about the control arm issue. I had seen pics on here using these headers, but didn't think about the trucks being lowered and using aftermarket control arms. Thanks for the tip about the ball peen hammer.
__________________
70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: strausstown pa
Posts: 3,394
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Re: BB header clearance issue
If your using a oe auto colum shifter you might have interference with the lower frame bracket too.
I used early camaro/nova headers and they fit great all around except the bell crank/z bar needed very minor tweaking perhaps since the BBC ball stud mount was available nowhere so I screwed the stud into the block. Also since I used a car 4spd and got rid of the oe bell c member I wanted a tail shaft c member. I tried a aftermarket tubular and a square tube c member plus a oe auto c member and my collectors ran rite smack into all of them. So I built a custom member that fit and worked fine. I did have my truck mocked up with a th400 that's when I noticed the frame bracket for the colum shifter interference. There is a aftermarket linkage to fix that problem although I never used one. Jfyi.
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81 camaro 355 4/spd 342 posi my first love ![]() 67 swb step 454/4spd ott 373 posi 4/7 drop. 2000 s10 zr2 little blue truck that never gets stuck. '74 heald super bronc vt8. tecumseh powered moon rover. |
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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Re: BB header clearance issue
Thanks for the heads up I have not gotten that far yet. Dimpled the front tube on the right side for clearance of the control arm. Left side went on with absolutely no problems at all. I fired it up in the garage and it sounds mean as hell. Makes me think hard about an electric cut-out system...
__________________
70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Latrobe, Pa. 15650
Posts: 344
|
Re: BB header clearance issue
Yeah, the big block sound through open headers sounded great to me too. I bought the Quiktime cutouts from Summit Racing and they work great. You get every thing you need to make them work. I also bought Quiktime's stainless turn downs to direct the sound. Check them out.
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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Re: BB header clearance issue
Will do, thanks for the info.
__________________
70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#8 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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Re: BB header clearance issue
Quote:
__________________
70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: washington north carolina
Posts: 123
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Re: BB header clearance issue
Dido here. Interference with lower arm nut and mine hit the tubular motor mount perches. I tweaked it and works fine. I also had to modify my clutch z bar.
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: strausstown pa
Posts: 3,394
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Re: BB header clearance issue
Quote:
Sounds like a good plan just keep in mind that pesky neutral safety switch location as it don't provide a lot of adjustment. One thing I tried too keep in mind was frame flex and binding On anything. Further down the line of the exhaust since your up into the frame now the e brake cable and trailing arm c member come into play. I cut out circles and reinforced my oe member for the exhaust only to find later on that the drive shaft was to close for comfort to the top of the opening. A ece c member fixed that. The long e brake rod on the pass. Side is rideing on my exhaust and the adjuster is on the other side but it seems too work fine.
__________________
81 camaro 355 4/spd 342 posi my first love ![]() 67 swb step 454/4spd ott 373 posi 4/7 drop. 2000 s10 zr2 little blue truck that never gets stuck. '74 heald super bronc vt8. tecumseh powered moon rover. |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Winona Lake, IN
Posts: 6,282
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Re: BB header clearance issue
I am hoping the e-brake cable is not an issue. If so I won’t have an e-brake. I am planning on cutting holes in the trailing arm xmember.
__________________
70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Power windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear |
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