What headers work well on 4x4's

[Billhilly]

Better late than never??
I've got Hedman 69830's on my K2500 (with an auto). Same as the 69280's but coated etc I believe. Fit is great, tighter against the chassis on the drivers side. Clears the shackle bolt on the passenger side by 1/2". Don't know how they would go with a manual.

[Captainfab]

Do you happen to have a pic from the side of the drivers side so we can see if there is clearence for a bellcrank for a manual trans?

Originally Posted by Billhilly

Better late than never??
I've got Hedman 69830's on my K2500 (with an auto). Same as the 69280's but coated etc I believe. Fit is great, tighter against the chassis on the drivers side. Clears the shackle bolt on the passenger side by 1/2". Don't know how they would go with a manual.

[Billhilly]

Quite a bit of chassis in the way. Let me know if there is anything more specific you want me to take photo's of or some measurements you want me to take.

[Captainfab]

Thanks very much for the pics. What I was mainly after was a shot like this pic but up at the level of the top of the frame.


I'm just curious to see (I'm sure others are as well) if these headers will work with a manual trans. The main item of concern is the #7 exhaust tube and if it curves far enough forward to clear the bellcrank. In the pics you've posted so far, it appears as they will work, but one more pic might remove the doubt.....that is if you don't mind

Are you familar with where the bellcrank goes with a manual trans?

Originally Posted by Billhilly

Quite a bit of chassis in the way. Let me know if there is anything more specific you want me to take photo's of or some measurements you want me to take.

[Billhilly]

Unfortunately I don't know what the bellcrank looks like. Fat lot of use I am! Got a picture?
These shot's any better?

[Burt4x4]

When I had a 350 & manual linkage I ran Hedmen. First set was the cheeper ones and after a while they warped and even with two gaskets I could not get them to not leak.
The pic above is Hedmen Elite series = MUCH better, way thick flanges to prevent warping. In the pic above look closly at the frame bracket the Z-bar mounts too. I had to drill a hole just to the right of the factory location to move the Z-bar towards the firewal just a bit. This did not affect the Z-bar's function and my manual linkage worked fine.
I would go with Hedmen Elites, the collectors clear and they tuck up nice and high away from trail obsiticales.

I have a 454 now and run Thorley's with Hydrolic clutch so no linkage to worry about.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by Billhilly

Unfortunately I don't know what the bellcrank looks like. Fat lot of use I am! Got a picture?
These shot's any better?

Yes those help a lot thank you very much. The bellcrank stud normally threads in here where the arrow is. Your SB400 doesn't have the holes drilled and tapped because SB400's typically didn't come from the factory with manual transmissions. You can see a bit more what it looks like in Burt's pic.

Originally Posted by Burt4x4

When I had a 350 & manual linkage I ran Hedmen. First set was the cheeper ones and after a while they warped and even with two gaskets I could not get them to not leak.
The pic above is Hedmen Elite series = MUCH better, way thick flanges to prevent warping. In the pic above look closly at the frame bracket the Z-bar mounts too. I had to drill a hole just to the right of the factory location to move the Z-bar towards the firewal just a bit. This did not affect the Z-bar's function and my manual linkage worked fine.
I would go with Hedmen Elites, the collectors clear and they tuck up nice and high away from trail obsiticales.

I have a 454 now and run Thorley's with Hydrolic clutch so no linkage to worry about.

Thank you very much for the pic and the info Burt. The headman book states that these headers may not work with a manual trans. I'm glad to see that it is possible......looks like I'll be getting a set for my '68.