RocketV8

For years I've been running BBO Hooker headers (3902) on my 1965 Cutlass with a 330. They fit with a RobbMC mini-starter, the right transmission ear cut off and some massaging. The main problem has always been ground clearance - they do hang low. I have now lowered my car one inch thus aggravating this problem and I needed to do something about it.

What to do? ARH headers are too expensive for me so I thought I'd try those eBay headers that everyone sells (and they claim they fit my car).

These are the ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exhaust-Head...-/201206050143

Part number / SKU is HDS-DPF-OLDS65 and the manufacturer is DNA Motoring. They are made in China.

Since information about these headers is scarce (both from vendors and people using them) I thought I'd review them and let you know.

The primaries are 1.75" and the collector measures 3". Flanges are 3/8". Looking at the welds/material/quality I must say I am impressed. These headers cost $200 and they look good. Welds are very nice. All inside welds are ground smooth.

I got the headers today and I haven't even started my car for the season so right now I can't comment anymore. I will update with info on fitment and ground clearance later on. Here are some pics:

RocketV8

More pics:

70cutty

That's great information, thank you for sharing.
What pisses me off is how come $200 chinese headers look way better than ARH headers that cost 5x more. No welds showing on the tubes, nice and polished vs ARH picd. below.

[/url]

tinner

I'm in the market for headers too, I will be following your thread. I saw them on Ebay too I need them for a BBO though.

deadeyejedi

good idea rocket I'm always interested in a low cost alternative. you don't always have to pay top dollar for quality .ill be following

RROLDSX

Keep us posted on your install.

RocketV8

So, no progress on the headers just yet but i thought I'd keep the thread going by showing where I'm at right now.

Today I started the car up for the season and got to check things out a little. Pictures show my car with a BMR Handling Performance Package (Level 1). Should be a one inch drop.
Ground clearance with my current BBO Hookers (3902) is now less than 2" with no one in the car... Not good.

I plan to install the new headers next weekend. I'll keep you posted!

wr1970

So why didn't you show the flat spots on those hooker headers? I fixed my buddys 1965 F85 with a floor jack. His was too low let the car run on jack stand till good and hot then used floor jack to push it back up. I did both sides still working good and stayed in place ever since. This didn't damage any of the tubes. I used the flange of tube for lifting point. This was done to his car in 2007. Now if you are to low in the front where the tube makes the bend that would cause flat spot on tubes from hitting on pavement. If they are then doubt this can be fixed with the floor jack.

ziff396

I have a set on my 461. They fit great. However, the #6 tube is crimped more than I am comfortable with. Check yours out. I bought mine 2 or 3 years ago.

RocketV8

I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the tip. The BBO Hookers have always hanged low under my 330 but it has been ok until now. The situation in the pictures shows what happened after I lowered the car this winter. It will not be acceptable even if I were to push the flanges up.

wr1970

So you are saying you are the reason the headers are to close to the ground because you lowered the front of the car! You do know you could have corrected this by changing engine setting by raising it also which would make the ground clearance better.I think there is around one inch you can raise the motor. I have done this with solid motor mounts. What makes you think the other headers will give you more ground clearance?

83hurstguy

or also the fact that he's using BBO headers on a 330... running SBO headers on a 330 is a lot easier than redesigning the whole driveline.

wr1970

Good point!!

RocketV8

Of course running BBO headers on a SBO will put them close to the ground (lowered car or not) but since there are no SBO headers for 64-67 (except ARH) the easiest way is to go with the big block ones. Unless you want to reweld a pair of SBO headers (as they hit the crossmember).
Now - these ebay headers claim they fit small blocks as well as big blocks and I know of at least one member of this board who claims they fit better than other BBO headers. Give me a little time and I will see if this is true.

Magna86

These ebay headers will fit your car just fine with minimal massaging and not excessively low ground clearance (unless companies have changed who made them and they may not be the same standards think the knock off tubular control arms) Now that you have lowered the car the ground clearance wont be as good but definitely should be better than the big block headers. I have posted about these headers before and shown pics of them installed on a 67 with a 330. If I wasn't going to a big block in my 66 I would have bought a set of these. But will probably pickup a set for dad's 67 supreme with a 330.

oldcutlass

I'll be curious to see these on a 64-67.

Magna86

Pics are posted in here. 67 Cutlass with a 330

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...e-headers.html

oldcutlass

I'll have to remember these. I remember your previous thread but did not know it was these.

RocketV8

Yes, I saw your posts and pics and decided to give them a try. Let's hope they work as well for me. In case it's not enough I'll give wr1970's floor jack maneuver a try!

wr1970

I doubt the jack will work as you lowered the car and i missed the part about bbo headers! My bad sorry.

CuttyShark

I am thinking of using thee on my 70 442. Think they will work? I'm Sticking its stock height. I want to use a header back kit if possible. Like from Pypes.

ziff396

[QUOTE=CuttyShark;814492]I am thinking of using thee on my 70 442. Think they will work? I'm Sticking its stock height. I want to use a header back kit if possible. Like from Pypes.[/QUO
These fit really good on my 72 w/455. No clearance issues. The only thing is the #6 tube is crimped coming out of the head. Not good. I even had to re drill the hole behind it to start a short header bolt. It was a bitc!@#$. I was going to return them,(before drilling), however the return shipping was $ so I just put them on. For the price they are good.

RocketV8

Well, I finally got some time over to install these things and the results are - poor...

These headers are more or less the same as the BBO Hooker headers (3902) I already had on. Pipe layout is almost identical and they need massaging in the same places - a little less in some places, a little more in others. They hang just as low...

Passenger side required moderate clearancing but I had to beat the crap out of the driver side to get them in. The biggest problem was #1 hitting the motor mount. For the record, I run small block frame pads and Westar EM-2261 motor mounts. I even trimmed the mount a little but clearance is still less than 1/4"...

I did push them up with a floor jack as suggested by wr1970 and this gave me at least 1/2" extra room. The final results can be seen below - ground clearance is a whopping 2.35"... At least now the flange is not the lowest point anymore, the pipes are. Of course I could have just done that to my existing Hookers...

Magna86 - The headers in your pics are either very different or a 1967 Cutlass is very different from a 1965 version.

Conclusion - If you got a BBO these headers will work just as well as Hooker 3902. If you got a SBO you can smash them in, but if your car is lowered - beware...

As for me, I'm gonna drive it this way. I will scrape and bottom out but if the headers give up I've got replacements ready. They're identical...

Magna86

Wow that's more than massaging! The guy I got the pics from was running a 67 with a 330 as well. He didn't smash any pipes like that just dimples. Only thing I can think is like I said with the different Chinese companies or the different there are different ones being sold by the eBay companies. These headers go from $150 to $230 on there depending on ad.

wr1970

Man that is just sad!!

67442nut

I'd send them back before I'd smash that #1 tube like that!
In fact, I don't know if I'd live with the #5 either.
Damn shame!

RocketV8

Yeah, a damn shame it is. Such pretty headers...
But what to do? You can't try the install without at least some dimpling and then the warranty is void. And it's not until you're finished you know if you're totally screwed or just annoyed...

By the way, return postage is $200 from Sweden.
Hell, it was worth a try!

oldcutlass

Wow, that's pretty ugly. Were those headers meant for a BBO or SBO?

RocketV8

The eBay seller and the manufacturer claim they fit both BBO and SBO but they're clearly meant for BBO.

oldcutlass

Looks that way, with the amount of pounding on those pipes I doubt they function very well.

deadeyejedi

I'm sorry it turned out like that but your sacrifice in time and money has educated us still not sure how they would work on my 72 but not willing to take the chance now ,thanks

70cutty

At least you didn't pay $1100 for them.

RocketV8

Yeah, just trying to get some good info out there. Wish I had better news though. Do you have a SBO or BBO?

I feel your pain man... You did a good job on your ARHs, but of course shouldn't have to with that price tag...

deadeyejedi

mine is a 350 .had blackjacks on a 77 supreme with 350 years ago no beating to get them in but ended up relocating the oil filter in the engine bay. needless to say filter changes were much easier and better cooling

GEARMAN69

Thanks for sharing this Rocket, I had seen these a while back and considered them but had since decide to stay with manifolds and these threads like this one really drives that decision home for me.

VinMichael

Ever give any thought to cutting and welding the piping?

It seems like you could have cut some section out of the piping and re-weld for more ground clearance.

Any way you could have cut out and swapped piping from different cylinders to achieve achieve clearance without hammering them?

I'm almost tempted to buy a set and try to cut and re-weld to size.

RocketV8

If you're going to reweld a set I think it would be best to start with a pair of 1968-up SBO headers.