Once again, I've run into a small "issue" while installing my headers, starter, etc.

My Hedman Hedders collector on the driver's side seems too "high" up, or close to the body if that makes sense. I am a little concerned because the extension pipe that hooks up to the collector looks like it will hit the transmission cross-member.

Has anyone had this before? Is there a good way to get around it? I was thinking maybe some sort of offset reducer or something...?

I've got the front up on stands and the back on the ground... Could the frame be bending enough to cause clearance issues at the cross-member (please say it isn't that flexible)????

 

A picture would really help!!

 

Wow and the pproblem i had with my Hedman hedders it that it is sitting too low LOL. But yeah pics would be awesome

 

Either Hedman or Hooker makes a somewhat "S" shaped collector extension set. Have you considered sticking a baseball bat or similar implement into the end of the header to tweak it a little? Don't mean having 3 people doing chinups, just bending it a bit if it isn't too far out of whack. Put ample downward pressure on the collector & gently (not enough to dent them) tap the pipes with a rubber mallet along & around the lower bends to relieve stress. Might work, might not, just puttin out there. "Previous success is no indicator of future performance"

 

Hmm... I hadn't considered that. Does it run the risk of tearing the headers off the heads (twisting the header against the head)?

Yeah, I read your post about that. I was worried I'd have ground clearance issues, but nope. Instead, in the lowest gear, the shift lockout bar actually just touches (barely) the header collector. In drive, I can still get my smallest finger in between. Not sure if that's a problem or not, but I rarely drive in low gear.

To everyone, I'll get pics up tonight, just didn't have time to put them up last night.

 

Same with mine. They just hang to frkin low! I just hate the thought of having to pull them.

 

Are you running a small block or big block? It is possible that the headers are "wrong"? Even though the flanges at the head are basically the same, the height of the collector in relation to that flange is not. OR are you sure you have the correct frame/engine mount combination. Again just poking around for possible explanations. I've used Hooker Competition on two small blocks (original frame/engine mount combo.) and haven't had any clearance or installation issues.

 

I'm running a 71 350 and the Hedman's are made for a small block. I've just replaced the motor mounts with the appropriate ones because I read how much of an issue sagging mounts can be. The header part number is Hedman #58060.

Here are some of the requested pics...

Header mounted on the driver's side:



Header collector in relation to the transmission cross-member.
The wire coming from the top left and going through the cross-member is the emergency brake cable. I have no idea if it is in the stock location or not, but it does go through a cutout in the transmission cross-member. It would be the first thing that the extension pipes would come into contact with if I pushed them all the way up against the cross-member:



Collector in relation to extension pipe. The pipe is not tight up against the transmission cross-member. It could probably go up another 1/2 inch or so. I am not sure how close it can get without rattling...



Looking forward towards the collector... again - pipe not tight up against cross-member. You can see it here:





What do you guys think? Is it a good idea to try to "flex" the header down into position? Should I try to find an offset flange mount or something?

 

I'd get some 3" bends from Walker who makes truck exhaust mufflers and pipe pieces, and have a muffler shop weld up an intermediate pipe that would clear the crossmember. Put the e brake cable on top of the crossmember. Some muffler shops can bend 3" pipe if you don't care if the bends are "crushed" some vs. the mandrel bends that Walker makes.

 

Your frame does bend a bit, but those headers are just too far off. I'd return them.

But first, make sure that your motor mounts, transmission mounts, and attachment of the trans crossmember are all correct. In particular, you said you installed "the appropriate" motor mounts. What's important is that the mounts (the part with rubber in it) match the brackets on the frame. If the frame has big-block brackets, then you need big-block mounts, even if your engine is a 350. Conversely, if the frame brackets are for a small block, then you need small block mounts, even if you install a 455.

If the transmission mount is too tall, or if the crossmember is somehow attached higher than stock, that would tip you engine forward, which would raise the header collectors. Check it out before you blame Hedman.

 

Summit racing has a pipe that bends down. its like 32 bux but it might be the answer to your problem by the looks of it. You would have to line up the pipes to make sure but might be worth trying

I will try to find the link that i used and ordered

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-18804/?rtype=10

 

Yeah, it has a small block with small block mounts. I got the mounts from NAPA. They seem like ok quality mounts. The transmission mount seemed "ok", and I thought replacing it with a newer taller one might just cause more problems... As far as I can tell, the cross-member is completely stock.

Heh, the pic there looks a lot like the extensions I have, just a little shorter. I wonder if I can rotate mine into position enough to get it to fit???

 

I forgot to mention, I talked with Hedman. They are advising I try a different model of their headers - the one made for Cutlass Supremes. Regardless of whether mine is a Supreme or not, they think it might fit better.

Here's the kicker, though: they can't tell me what the differences are between the two models... The guy just said, "Well, we have a different part number for Supremes and SX's." I guess there must be a difference, but I can't figure out what it is or if it might help my problem. One set is p/n 58060 which is made for the Cutlass. The other is p/n 58190 and is made only for the Cutlass Supreme / SX, etc.

I can't drop another bunch of cash on headers right now, so I'll probably have to return the ones I have. Does anyone know if returning something that large and heavy to Summit Racing is even possible?

 

You could also try loosening the bolts on the heads, before pulling down - there is a little play there that amounts to a bunch by the time you get to the collector.
I've even seen the holes increased in size to get more adjustment!

 

You could heat the collector and put a baseball bat in there ind gently bend it down. Or heat the tubes and do the same.

 

SX had a 455, Supreme a 350 engine in 70-71

 

So how would you do that? Mounted on the car or held in a bench vise or ???

Also, just for everyone's info... I talked with Hedman again. The p/n 58060 and p/n 58190 are very, very similar. According to Hedman, there's only a slight difference in the tube routing to fix the "engine offset" in Supremes and SX's.

From the number of times it's been said, I don't think there's actually such an offset, but Hedman clearly does.

 

On the car, heat with a torch and gently bend it down.

 

So I couldn't resist and yesterday I called SummitRacing who I bought the headers from. The guy was pretty helpful and admitted that, from the specs of the headers "for Supremes" and "for others" the specs are exactly the same (Distance from the top of the flange to the bottom of the collector, overall length, overall width, etc.) It is only a tube routing difference.

Anyhow, he suggested I get tall motor mounts for the 350 which should cause it to lean backwards more and allow the collectors to sit lower. Does anyone think this is a good idea? Where would I find tall mounts? Can I just shim standard ones instead?

Lastly, how much space should I have between the driver's side exhaust extension and the transmission mount??? 1/2 inch? More, less??