I have a '70 Cutlass small block with Hooker headers and a 700R4 trans.
They hang down so low that I scrape on all dips in the road.
I have read a bunch of statements on a solution.........have homed in on 2, Hedman shortys #58166 or a set of Thornton 350 JR manifolds.
Anybody have any suggestions or comments.
Thanks, Frank

 

You can also try ARH stainless header. They don't hang low like hooker but pricey $$$$.

 

Sanderson makes a shorty header as well. I don't have any first hand experience with them but they are on the wish list for my project.

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Sand...n-Cutlass.html

 

Thanks 70Cutty............yes pricey, but a solution.

I talked to a guy at a car show this weekend and he said the reason the Hookers hang so low, is that they were designed for a big block with the taller deck, sounds possible to me.

CD I will check that out also.........thanks.

 

Just how low do the Hookers hang?

Mrgadget: What headers are you currently running? Could you post a couple of pics to show your ground clearance? Thanks!

Rodney

 

Sounds like a BBO header on a SBO

 

I'm not a fan of shorty headers, the aftermarket manifolds are ok, but... they're still manifolds. I like long tubes, look for a brand that does not hang so low. Your year model has many options unlike the 64-67's.

 

Put a taller front tire on the car. Problem solved.

 

O'Dave, funny, that was definitely one of my options..........am considering that also.

 

My SBO Hedmanns don't scrape. How are your front springs?

 

Here's a couple pics, not too good, but they hand down 2-3 inches below tranny pan. Only one pic loaded.

Also a pic of my newly made air jack, very cool and handy.

Frank

 

HH springs feel fine, but Hedmans are also an option.

 

Frank:
What brand are those headers? Can you take a pic looking from the front of the car (under the bumper).

 

CD, they are Hooker headers............I'll try a pic in a while. But as TripDueces says, they might be BBO headers..........they came with the car, it was a basket case.
Frank

 

I would like to know what you find out about your set-up as I'm leaning more toward the Hooker 3901s instead of the Sanderson headers. Thanks!

 

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Not quibbling with anyone's preferences but there is a case to be made for shorty headers in addition to fewer clearance problems: Low to mid-range torque can be better with shortys: http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...t-tube-headers.

Most of us with BBOs who run them stock or mildly hopped up will never see the far side of 4,000 rpm (OK maybe the occasional excursion close to five grand range). On my 461 its making maximum torque at only 2600 rpm. In my case with a comp cams 268XE, '68 Quadrajet, Performer manifold with matched intake, high compression pistons, balanced and Henderson shorty headers. The shorty headers are just fine--maybe even preferable for this lower rpm BBO if you buy the information in the link I posted.

A good thing I went with shortys in this case as the BBO is a tight fit on 46-48 Olds particularly on the drivers side with modified steering for MII type front suspension. I'm not sure I could have gotten long headers in there. The convertible X frame presents its own set of problems for fitment of exhaust, trans and driveline.
Jerry

 

Who makes shorty headers for BBO? I have never heard of Henderson.

If you mean Sanderson, you might as well run stock manifolds. Also I don't think that Sanderson BBO Header would fit into A-body due to the design.

As far as the hooker headers, when i had my 350 in the cutlass I had Hooker headers (for SBO) and they hung low. Just like in the picture above, they would scrape everywhere. ARH is much better as they are tight to the floor, but they have their share of QC issues

 

The headers appear to be inline with the oil pan at the back and taper to clear the cross member. Now here is a though check to see how close the exhaust pipe sits to the cross member. My headers have long collectors and the collectore rings go just past the cross member. im running a really old set of blackjack headers. My car has been lowered almost 2 inches and im running short skinnies in the front . My drive way has a steep angle te only thing that hits is my driveshaft loop and i have an x pipe which hangs just a little . Now on my dads car his headers only hang about 4 inches from the ground. but his car is a b body with A body small block headers.


In this picture you can actually see the header pipe hanging lower than the frame by about an inch or so.




In this picture you can see how far back and how low they sit .

 

My bad. Apologies and thanks for catching the misnomer. It is Sanderson. I ran stock manifolds at first start up and for a few hours and then changed over to the Sanderson Shorty's once I was sure I wasn't going to have overheating issues and ruin the coating.

Do I know that long tube headers would have been better? Yeah, no news there but the shortys work for me in this application and long tube headers weren't a possibility in this swap.

Bottom line: Shortys didn't hurt anything, may have helped a few HP and made building the rest of the exhaust much easier.
Jerry

 

Most of us with BBOs who run them stock or mildly hopped up will never see the far side of 4,000 rpm (OK maybe the occasional excursion close to five grand range). (Quote)
I run mine up to 5500, or more on an oops. Almost 5 years now. It once hit 6.5k on an accidental downshift. Dual gate. Pulled back and to the right instead of straight back downshifting. Hit 1st gear instead of second. Still runs great. I guess I have to credit my builder and some luck!

 

Same here. The Heddmans are about the same level as the oil pan. They have scraped before, but that was on a Dukes of Hazzard type excursion and the oil pan contacted, too.

 

This is why I retained the factory spring on the low control valve when I installed the TransGo shift kit as it inhibits downshifting above a certain speed so you don't over-rev the engine. The spring in the kit will let you downshift at any speed.

 

I have the transGo kit in mine converting from a B&M. And yes, I probably replaced the spring also. I can't remember. I did it myself and it's been almost 3 years on that one. Memory I guess is not what it used to be.

 

The instructions don't say anything about retaining the original spring. In fact, they tout the ability to downshift at any speed with the spring in the kit. I learned from my brother-in-law about downshifting at too high of a speed and fragging the trans, so I made it a point to not alter the factory downshift "safety feature".

 

I have the Hedman shorty headers on my '68 Cutlass 350. The headers fit great, but the come straight down and you need a sharp 90* bend to the head pipe. Of which still makes for ground clearance problems. If the headers were more swept back similar to the manifolds there would be no problem.
Now on the other hand my car does sit a little lower, so I take it easy over speed bumps.

Gene

 

Try stiffer shocks on the down side. it heled me.

 

Thanks to all for responding, good stuff as usual..........sorting through the options now.
Will post when problem solved.
Frank

 

Check out dick miller's headers. I have heard nothing but good things about them.

 

If they are hooker they should have a part number on them. Find out if they are 455 headers. If that's the case the easy fix would be drop a 455 in it.

 

4speed, very good, put a 455 in it to raise the header up. Only problem is I'm the guy that went to the trouble to put the Weiand supercharger on that small block and keep it under the hood. If it didn't fit I was going with a 455, but I don't think I want to change it now, too much fun to drive.........but thanks for the suggestion.
Frank

 

Here is the link to SC thread:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...lock-done.html

 

I remember reading that thread - impressive build, getting the SC to fit under the stock hood. Kudos to Mrgadget for his resourcefulness.

 

OK, I went to check at Americas Tire for 235R70-15 i/o my 235R60-15 for the front and 255R70-15 i/o 255R60-15 for the back, the 70 size is 2" in dia larger, so we put a set on and the frame moved up 1.38". Tested it on a couple speed bumps I used to scrape on and no scraping. The tires with the 4th of July sale were $550 out the door. My friends shop helper needed my used tires with 1000-1500 miles on them, for $150, so solved my problem for $400.
Thanks to all for the comments.

Frank