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I am in the process of helping a friend with his 65 coupe, I think at one time it had a big block because of the hood. from what I can tell it now has a 70-71 lt1 motor with headers.
But the motor seats a little higher, I say that because the collector and the pipe hits the floor on both passenger and driver side. He would like to install new exhaust on it, but replacing the existing system with a new set up will do the same.
so I suggested a set of shorty headers so a new pipe can be fabricated to miss the floor.
Does anyone running any shorty headers on their C2? I would like to see what the collector looks like and what kind of bend to meet the rest of the exhaust pipe under the floors. Thank you in advance.
I used Patriot shorty headers. I have a GMPP zz383 crate in my car. I used Patriot because they cleared my steering box. My exhaust was fabricated from the collector to the sidepipes. The collector was also fabricated.
Last edited by Dennis Beck; May 11, 2017 at 12:54 PM.
From: "You may all go to Hell- and I will go to Texas- Davy Crockett
St. Jude Donor '12
Wouldn't a better solution be to make sure you have the right motor mounts in the car, and whatever spacers (if any) between the exhaust manifolds and the lead pipes. Never been a fan of the shorty headers anyway, they sound like **** when uncapped. If you never uncap them I guess it don't matter. Just my 2 cents.
Assuming the car has undercar exhausts, you should be able to use long tube headers expressly made for the mid-year Corvette. The only exception would be if the heads are actually aftermarket that have a different port size or location. That is where you run into complications that cause issues with hitting the steering box, frame, etc.
With side pipes, you pretty much only have choices for shorty headers, which again if made for the car generally do not have a problem.
My car has new heads with raised exhaust ports so I ended up having to buy and return three or four sets of headers before I found a set (Hedman) that worked for my situation.
And some advice. Buy uncoated headers and do whatever it takes to get them to fit. Once the header and (if needed) intermediate head pipe are mated to your exhaust, pull them and send them out for coating. There is nothing worse than messing up your fancy coated headers to make them fit.
Drivers side headers from above
close up of the headers clearing the steering gear
you can see the coated head pipe that fits between the header and the side-pipe
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
From what I've read on the topic of shorties, it seems that a pair of 2.5 in OEM exhaust manifolds make almost identical amounts of power. It's only with full length tubes that there is a marked increase. It's up to you but I'd be inclined to go back to stock, or custom long tubes.
Depending on which Heads you use, check that the spark plugs, with their Boot on, does Not touch the Header....will cause burn & short.
Use The Shortie Plug from Accel.....
Sam
Wouldn't a better solution be to make sure you have the right motor mounts in the car, and whatever spacers (if any) between the exhaust manifolds and the lead pipes. Never been a fan of the shorty headers anyway, they sound like **** when uncapped. If you never uncap them I guess it don't matter. Just my 2 cents.
thank you for the great feedback. The question whether the correct motor mounts are in car got my curious. so, how does one determine if the wrong motor mounts were used for the motor replacement. It is obvious something had jacked the engine high enough to elevate it for the exhaust to make contact with the floorboard.
Assuming the car has undercar exhausts, you should be able to use long tube headers expressly made for the mid-year Corvette. The only exception would be if the heads are actually aftermarket that have a different port size or location. That is where you run into complications that cause issues with hitting the steering box, frame, etc.
With side pipes, you pretty much only have choices for shorty headers, which again if made for the car generally do not have a problem.
My car has new heads with raised exhaust ports so I ended up having to buy and return three or four sets of headers before I found a set (Hedman) that worked for my situation.
And some advice. Buy uncoated headers and do whatever it takes to get them to fit. Once the header and (if needed) intermediate head pipe are mated to your exhaust, pull them and send them out for coating. There is nothing worse than messing up your fancy coated headers to make them fit.
Drivers side headers from above
close up of the headers clearing the steering gear
you can see the coated head pipe that fits between the header and the side-pipe
Are those AFR heads? If they are I was able to use the side exhaust Hedman's with no problems.
You said the motor sits higher...standard small and big blocks sit at same height...the intake manifold and carb could make it higher...OR, MOTOR MOUNTS...easy to swap if needed...
There are talk deck blocks...I doubt you have one...
I'd go long tube hookers or hedmans with coating...if you change the exhaust...
You said the motor sits higher...standard small and big blocks sit at same height...the intake manifold and carb could make it higher...OR, MOTOR MOUNTS...easy to swap if needed...
There are talk deck blocks...I doubt you have one...
I'd go long tube hookers or hedmans with coating...if you change the exhaust...
I say it seat higher because of the headers collectors are "skin to skin" to the floor board. If the motor mount can be replaced to allow the engine to drop an inch. Can you share which model motor mount can I use, then I can replace this long tube headers already on it and go with what suggested.
...
But the motor seats a little higher, I say that because the collector and the pipe hits the floor on both passenger and driver side. He would like to install new exhaust on it, but replacing the existing system with a new set up will do the same.
so I suggested a set of shorty headers so a new pipe can be fabricated to miss the floor.
Does anyone running any shorty headers on their C2? I would like to see what the collector looks like and what kind of bend to meet the rest of the exhaust pipe under the floors. Thank you in advance.
If you could post a picture of his motor mount, that might reveal whether his mounts are correct or not. i.e. ...
Shorty Headers
