Anybody have fitment issues with Sanderson headers?

[Rob68c10]

I ordered a set of their coated headers a couple of weeks ago. I paid for three day shipping and got them a week later....but that's another story.

I go to pop them on last Friday and the passenger side collector hit the frame so bad I couldn't get the bolts started. The driver side bolted up but the collector was pressing against my transmission kickdown linkage. I contacted them and spoke with a guy and he said they have installed them on many trucks with no issue. I tried to explain where it was hitting the kickdown linkage and he couldn't understand the kickdown was a metal rod and not a cable.

My truck is a 68 with 307 and a powerglide. Am I missing something?

[jdaniel]

I put a set of shorty sandersons on a 73 GMC, they barely cleared the bell housing. C'mon, that measruement is the same on every small block chevy out there!

[Z10]

You don't mention which Sanderson's you purchased? Mine are CC11 and they fit great.

[Rob68c10]

Mine were also the CC11. I would upload pictures but I'm on my phone and not sure how.

[Rob68c10]

Here are the pictures of install.

Passenger side I couldn't even get the thing flat against the head.






The driver side dumps right into my kickdown linkage and almost hits the oil filter canister.

[Lee H]

Are your motor mounts in the forward or rearward frame holes?

[Rob68c10]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Are your motor mounts in the forward or rearward frame holes?

Not sure. I see how that would help on the passenger side, but it's not going to effect the driver side hitting the kickdown.

[davepl]

I doubt its the case here, since you still have the small block, but I know I once tried to install headers in a '69 B-Body that still had the small block pedestals but big block mounts. Nothing cleared.

I've also run into major issues with my 502 Camaro - but that's because the exhaust ports are raised on the cylinder heads.

Since you seem to have an otherwise stock collection of parts, something (like the pedestals) must be in the wrong place. That or the truck used to be a big block and it has the wrong stands, but I don't even know if you could make that work in these trucks. That kickdown part has me stymied though.

The older I get the more I like stock manifolds. Sure they eat power, but how much traction have you got in a pickup truck anyway?

[Rob68c10]

Originally Posted by davepl

I doubt its the case here, since you still have the small block, but I know I once tried to install headers in a '69 B-Body that still had the small block pedestals but big block mounts. Nothing cleared.

I've also run into major issues with my 502 Camaro - but that's because the exhaust ports are raised on the cylinder heads.

Since you seem to have an otherwise stock collection of parts, something (like the pedestals) must be in the wrong place. That or the truck used to be a big block and it has the wrong stands, but I don't even know if you could make that work in these trucks. That kickdown part has me stymied though.

The older I get the more I like stock manifolds. Sure they eat power, but how much traction have you got in a pickup truck anyway?

I am 99% sure that is the original engine in the original location. The previous owner would not have messed with anything.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Rob68c10

I ordered a set of their coated headers a couple of weeks ago. I paid for three day shipping and got them a week later....but that's another story.

I go to pop them on last Friday and the passenger side collector hit the frame so bad I couldn't get the bolts started. The driver side bolted up but the collector was pressing against my transmission kickdown linkage. I contacted them and spoke with a guy and he said they have installed them on many trucks with no issue. I tried to explain where it was hitting the kickdown linkage and he couldn't understand the kickdown was a metal rod and not a cable.

My truck is a 68 with 307 and a powerglide. Am I missing something?

That's odd. Sandersons usually fit very well and their tech support staff are very knowledgeable. When I needed headers for my 67 I called their tech line and they spent almost an hour with me on the phone working out what would fit. My truck is anything but stock and the longtube headers they sent went in without a hitch. For you 502 guys, the 502 & 572 use the same port shape, port size and port spacing and the header bolt hole patterns are identical.

[67ctener]

My bb8s hit my bell housing and inspection cover. Minor trim and they fit

[Z10]

Does the drivers side hit the frame? If not it almost looks like the engine is offset to the passenger side. I'm betting there is a mismatch with your engine stands. Mine was originally a 6 cylinder, then a 400 small block was installed and they used the 6 cylinder engine stands in the rear most position.

I change the stands out to the correct small block stands and move the engine forward to the correct position. As you can see by my photos the CC11 fit great.

I was also looking at your tubes and they seem to be identical to mine. I don't think the headers are the root cause of your problem.

[Rob68c10]

Originally Posted by Z10

Does the drivers side hit the frame? If not it almost looks like the engine is offset to the passenger side. I'm betting there is a mismatch with your engine stands. Mine was originally a 6 cylinder, then a 400 small block was installed and they used the 6 cylinder engine stands in the rear most position.

I change the stands out to the correct small block stands and move the engine forward to the correct position. As you can see by my photos the CC11 fit great.

I was also looking at your tubes and they seem to be identical to mine. I don't think the headers are the root cause of your problem.

If I took a picture of the stands could you tell if they are correct?

[bgood70]

Did you get a resolution to this? I am having exact same issue. My drivers side CC11 header fits fine plenty of room. My passenger side hits the frame rail. I made sure my transmission is centered and I am using the stock motor mounts. No idea why it is so far off.

[bgood70]

Also my Motor mounts are in the front holes. I see Z10's are in the rear holes. What would be the impact if I were to move mine to the rear? I assume it would impact the drive shaft fit?

[1969 Project]

I used the CC1_158 and they fit perfect.. Summit has the best pricing and I revived the next day at no extra charge.

[Rob68c10]

I never did get the issue resolved with these headers. I tried two sets from Sanderson and neither would fit. It's been three years so I can't remember all the details. I'm almost guessing it has to do with my truck having a power glide.