I have a very nice pair of shorty headers that were/are ideal for the car. However, I have just found out that I cannot mount my AC compressor because of the way the tubes are bent. In fact even with a custom bracket it would be a nightmare for me to get at the number 3 bolt if I ever needed to take the headers off for any reason.

So......... I need new headers. I am not interested in ones that have the collector dump under the car because of road clearance. So I am looking for another shorty type that has the tubes bent differently.

If you look at the headers I have below, you will see the number 1/ 7 tube and 2/8 cross across the face of the header bracket parallel to the engine before turning into the dump. That's the problem.

So anyone got some solutions to a header that collects all 4 tubes into the collector before exiting the engine compartment and does not run parallel to the header bracket like this?

 

Why wouldn't a bracket like this work?

 

Patriot has center dump shorty headers and the tubes are orientated just the opposite of the headers in your picture if that helps.



Dennis

 

i think Toddalin's brackets should work as they were designed specifically to mount to the 1st & 3rd header bolts.
Bill

 

Hi Todd
Here is the problem, the bracket for the AC unit is one of "two". The second one bolts to the water pump and the other end bolts to the first bracket that is on the headers. The problem is, the bracket is not flush with the header it has a 2 inch standoff. So the standoffs, do not work with my header and would not work with your bracket.
As you know I have your bracket for the Alternator.

I am looking at the patriot
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PTE-H8027-1/?rtype=10
and this one
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SU...0-SS/?rtype=10
at the moment. So far the Stainless Steel Summits may win out? I am not into the headers for power or I would use long tube. So its a matter of replacing what I have without having to do the entire exhaust system.

 

Yes this is what I need, I am looking at Patriot and one made for Summit, read post above this one

Thanks

 

i'd like to see a picture of what your mounting brackets look like
Bill

 

I assume that it is the bracket shown just under the compressor. Note that the tabs use the #1/#3 bolts and stand-offs are used to space this piece from either the exhaust manifold or headers.

I assume that a bolt goes through the "tube" and secures it to the bracket left of the compressor though the tab just above of the curved slot.

This #1/#3 bracket could have a couple holes drilled into it to mount it to the Header Power Bracket (the slots on the Power Bracket would allow for front/rear adjustment) and the rest of the bracket trimmed away. Then it would still engage the rounded bracket.

 

not sure what compressor he's using. here's the bracket for a Sanden compressor. if it's akin to this, then he would have to shim out from your bracket

Bill

 

You might also want to take a look at the shorty headers made by McJacks, out of the LA area.

 

Agreed.

In this case he probably would not use the spacer but instead would use the two standoffs that were provided with his kit, but cut down by 1/4" to accomodate the 1/4" of space taken up by the Header Power Bracket.

But the headers that he is currently using are kind of "funky" (sorry guy) and the bends are way too tight and I think the car would look and perform better with a different set.

 

No offense
The headers are Sandersons
The bracket is made to be bolted to the outside of a standard set of manifolds. That means with the headers I am about 2 inches closer in when I bolt to the header plate. They then provide some metal tiubes and long bolts so you can move your bracket away from the header plate by about 2 inches.
With the "funky" headers I have I would have to drill a hole thru number 2 tube to get the bracket to sit properly to hold the compressor.

I ordered the Stainless steel headers last night (cuz I like bling)
now even if they do not fit my existing exhaust it really does not matter because I have a complete new exhaust from the transmissionXmember back. I bought the N11 + pipes from Corvette America.

So taking out the pipe from xmember to engine compartment is no big deal and I wanted to cut the Transmission Xmember anyway to make way for the 4speed/OD automatic that will go in next year.

The new SS pipes were $200 which are cheap and probably reflect the effieciency gain you get but I don't care. I will be able to sell my headers here for about $125 and any custom bracketry would not be a benefit.

Vintage mentioned these were the only headers they have seen to date that would not allow their brackets...... "my luck"

 

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?...hevrolet&dds=1

What "I" would start with would be the second bracket down.

 

Anything BUT the second bracket down.

Those brackets are why I developed what I did. They are probably the worst and weakest header bracket you will find, though the easiest to install. Over time the flex and heat will even make the chrome crack and it will start to peal.

 

Bill

 

So at $6.95, buy another one?

 

why not do it right the first time...
Bill

 

real corvette's don't have a/c.

 

Sure they do - it's called vent windows!

 

That's what I'm talking about yo!!!!!!!!!1