Rocker panels and sidepipes
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Millington TN
Rocker panel fittment with sidepipes
I got my headers and sidepipes this weekend. Got into the hobby shop and got most of the work done. I'm an amatuer and the going was VERY slow. Very time consuming. The instruction are not as clear as I would have hoped though. Especially when it comes to the possible trimming of the rocker panels. When I look at everyones pics of their sidepipes it appears no one had to trim their rocker panels. At what point do the panels go back on? The directions have this as a last step but I tried to slide one in there after mounting the headers and it doesn't look like it's gonna happen. Does anyone have a pic of what their rockers look like trimmed? Here's a few pics for ya of where I'm at.
-CR
-CR
Last edited by 'Bochawa72; Aug 20, 2006 at 06:20 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Reinholds pa
you have to finish putting on the tubes. than if you need to trim them it,s were the header pipes come out from under the car. the rocker panels can be a little hard to get back in there. also once you have the side pipes on you might have to cut off a little of the mounting bolts. 
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
I've recently put my third set of Hooker side pipes and headers on my 71'. Don't feel bad it is time consuming and I did mine on the floor. Before you tighten the brackets or head bolts you can use the template for the cut-out as a start and "very carefully" slide the rocker panels in to see how they fit. Take your time, but after some fitting and grinding of the cut-outs you'll get them in. I had to be particulartly careful this time cause the car had just been painted. In the long run when your finished you'll be happy with the end result.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Use LOTS of antisieze on the pipe when you push it on. Makes removal much easier later on. On my 78' I only had to notch one side. As others have said, the mounting bolts that come with the kit are to long and need to be cut.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
From: midlothian texas
rocker trim
if you leave the header's loose on the engine and then trial fit the pipes you may not even have to trim the rockers . I did this on my 72 small block 383 and just had to trim one little spot on the drivers side only rocker panel nowhere near what they called out in the insructions .
big block maybe not work the same .
hope this helped
NTQ DON
big block maybe not work the same .
hope this helped
NTQ DON
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Port Alberni
It is a tricky bussiness but they will go on with some trimming (near the headers that come out of the engine). Also make sure they are cut enough that they do not touch the headers when installed. The flexing of the pipes will cause serious marks on them if they are not left with a slight gap between the header and the panel. One last thing, After the cuts are made try to put them in on an angle strting more at the rear and them slide them forward into place. Be careful of the bolt that tightens the pipe to the header, it can leave a nasty scrape if not paid attention to. This may or may not help. Just go slow.
