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Anyone using header studs on a SBC?

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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 06:43 PM
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Default Anyone using header studs on a SBC?

I bought some brand new ARP Header studs, because I like the idea of not taking any chances on stripping the threads on my AFRs...i put the studs in, put the gasket on, put the headers on..everythings fine, but the darn nut won't even come close to going on, because the primary tubes are in the way. I went to Home Depot and bought some smaller nuts...some will turn, then some won't and i can't even get a socket around the nut, its got to be wrenched on...this sucks. So i took them off, threw them in a bag, and threw on my old ARP bolts...works fine, but I plan on taking these headers off soon to get coated, and so on. I HATE aftermarket $hit...had to rant for the day.
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 06:54 PM
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If there is room for the nuts on the studs, you may have to hang the headers and start the nuts. Tighten them as you go to draw the header against.

Jeff
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by JRD77VET
If there is room for the nuts on the studs, you may have to hang the headers and start the nuts. Tighten them as you go to draw the header against.

Jeff
I tried that, and some of the nuts i bought wouldn't go on straight ahead with the stud...the primaries are really in the way...they are only hedman 1 5/8" primaries too. The nuts that ARP sends have a wide locking base, and theres no way in hell those things would go on.
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 07:30 PM
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It is very tight in there. I use socket head cap screws and had to shorten 2 of them and minor grind 2 of the heads in order for them to fit.
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Redshark6974
I tried that, and some of the nuts i bought wouldn't go on straight ahead with the stud...the primaries are really in the way...they are only hedman 1 5/8" primaries too. The nuts that ARP sends have a wide locking base, and theres no way in hell those things would go on.
I was stating the obvious, but was hoping it would work

Ok, another idea is to use cap screws as Gordonm did.

Bonhaus ( among others ) make high quality ball end allen wrenches. This allows you to get up to a 15 degree angle and still tighten the cap screws to proper tightness.

Jeff
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 10:32 PM
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Default Hedman Headers/AFR or Dart Pro 1 Heads/Sidepipes

Hey Redshark, me and my son are putting a 383 stroker in our 71. We wanted to go with the factory sidepipe covers and use the Hedman Headers and fab up the collectors to 3" side tubes w/ spiral mufflers. But, I called Hedman tech line and they said the Hedman sidepipe headers #68280 would only work w/ factory cast heads and not after market heads cause the exhaust ports are higher.

I see you are in the process of using this configuration thou, could u let me know how you accomplished this , any pics you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Which AFR heads are you using - AFR 195cc/Striaght Plugs ? Are you using the #68280 hedmans. Do you know if the hedmans will bolt up to the Dart Pro 1 aluminum heads? thanks for the help
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 11:12 PM
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Hey,
I used the headman side exhaust on my 434 with AFR 210 heads. They do fit. Barely... I blew out 3 sets of gaskets before I got good headers...

It's not the raised port location thats the problem. It's the stupid O-ring header construction thats the problem!
The o-rings are too small for the ports and just barely seal on the corners.

Those headers are probably the worst example of headers I have seen. The primaries are hugely different lengths making tuning near impossible. Also did I mention the o-ring flanges??? WTF is that? They never seal.

Please don't build a nice 383 and then put those crappy headmans on it. ( Headman does make some nice headers, Them aint one of them)
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 11:46 PM
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I screwed up and also bought the Wrong ARP header stud kit from Summit Racing.

You have to get the small nut kit to clear 1 3/4 headers like my Super comps. Then it's a breeze.

ARP was really nice when I called the tech. line. Instead of returning them to Summit because i had High temp silicone glued them ARP traded me straight across for shipping cost. So I ended up with another full new set.

The correct set is shourldless and I buzz them on and off with an air 3/8th rachet
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Old Feb 6, 2005 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by b71vette
Hey Redshark, me and my son are putting a 383 stroker in our 71. We wanted to go with the factory sidepipe covers and use the Hedman Headers and fab up the collectors to 3" side tubes w/ spiral mufflers. But, I called Hedman tech line and they said the Hedman sidepipe headers #68280 would only work w/ factory cast heads and not after market heads cause the exhaust ports are higher.

I see you are in the process of using this configuration thou, could u let me know how you accomplished this , any pics you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Which AFR heads are you using - AFR 195cc/Striaght Plugs ? Are you using the #68280 hedmans. Do you know if the hedmans will bolt up to the Dart Pro 1 aluminum heads? thanks for the help
they work on my AFR 195s....the are pretty crappy as in, they always leak..i've gone through 3 header gaskets, and now I'm using a soft copper gasket, hopefully they'll hold better. As for the mufflers, i fabricated my own 2.5" tubes and welded them on to some allen's mufflers. As for the headers, they fit fine, but I agree with 427V8...the o-ring is a terrible design for headers. If they bolt up to AFRs, i'm sure they would bolt up to Dart
here are is my setup laid out.
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Old Feb 6, 2005 | 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by gkull
I screwed up and also bought the Wrong ARP header stud kit from Summit Racing.

You have to get the small nut kit to clear 1 3/4 headers like my Super comps. Then it's a breeze.

ARP was really nice when I called the tech. line. Instead of returning them to Summit because i had High temp silicone glued them ARP traded me straight across for shipping cost. So I ended up with another full new set.

The correct set is shourldless and I buzz them on and off with an air 3/8th rachet
I will do this...thanks G.
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