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Need help from the BB guys with sidepipes

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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 09:58 AM
  #1  
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Default Need help from the BB guys with sidepipes

I need some help on this one before I start adjusting my headers. I was just wondering if the guys with side mounts and a BB are seeing the same issues I am. One of the tubes is hitting the steering pitman arm this is not a big problem I can adjust the tube a bit to clear. One of the tubes is also hitting the lower side of the fender and not letting the header flange fit square with the head surface I have two options here I can clearance the fender or I can adjust the header. The forward header pipe is real close to the tire at full turn to lock. Also what amount of clearance should I try to obtain between the header pipe and the fiberglass body?

Clerance to A-arm

Tube hitting fender


Tube hitting Pitman arm

Frame clearance

Motor is finally back in the car
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 02:24 PM
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I don't have headers but do have a couple questions.
What size are those primaries? They look pretty massive and maybe the fitment problem.
where the primaries join the collector. Is it like the picture shows? it looks like they join rather abrubtly. It should taper down nice and long if possible.
You might want more clearance under the frame. Engines rock.

Are these roll your own? Nice job. Wondering if you went over board on the primary diameter though?
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Old Sep 5, 2005 | 08:00 PM
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Hey Techno sorry for the late response was at the Civic Center in Lake Charles with the local Union brothers cooking for the 2700 or so New Orleans residents that are here. It is just unbelievable how much work it is to prepare that much food at one time and we did it for one day. My hat is off to the people that are doing it every day and we only have about 2700 I can just imagine what it is like in Texas.

My headers are off the shelf Hooker side mounts. I think the primaries are 2 1/8”. They are massive but they have been used for years and I have read posts were there is interference issues just want to check before I start modifying them. The primaries finish into a 4” collector it may look that abrupt because the primaries are so large.

Neal
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 08:46 AM
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I had two minor clearance issues and one major one self induced on my 71 BBC & Hooker side mounts. I have a steeroids conversion so I have no left side clearance problems at all (funny cause that is the tightest and most busy side)

1. bottom of the fenders had to be cleranced to fit just like you only a bit more severe as the body is lowered on the frame a bit over 3/4 inch. I'm planning some sheet aluminum shields to the body after paint

2. the tube just touched the frame onthe passenger side... A block of oak and a big hammer solved this quite easily.

3. My fault.. I put the O2 sensor a 1/2 inch to far to the outside in my header tube and it contacted with the frame. It was easiter and cheaper to notch and plate the frame with 1/8th steel than move the bung and re jet hot the headers.
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 08:51 AM
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I think there is a problem with fitment on '70+, BB cars. I ended up dippling my Hooker sidemounts several places and cutting them up to increase the overall width. Do a search on my previous posts if you are interested.
I also heard several months ago that Hooker was looking for a doner car so they chould fix the problems.
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 09:33 AM
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On my 68, I had the fender issue only on the drivers side. I dremeled my rocker mouldings to fit, but an after thought:

I have had to run a pair of header gaskets on a motor before to stop leaks. I wonder if running a pair of header gaskets would give that extra 1/8" or so needeD?
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 10:00 AM
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Thanks for the replies I am going to install the pass side today and see how it fits than I will start tuning on them to make them fit.

Neal
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 10:43 AM
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Something is wrong with those headers.... You sure they're for a Vette and not a Camaro or something? The collector doesn't look right and the area at the rocker seems off, too. Not sure, but something just looks wrong with them. Mine fit much better than yours seem to...

Look at mine and compare to yours...


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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 12:51 PM
  #9  
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Default header problems

I have 71 with the same hooker headers as you have. With 275 24 17
on front with only 1/2 in of clearance, I have raced this car for yrs.
with no problems, 35,000 mi on street driving. Just put in a 572 dart
motor with no problems except with PB booster & stock steering linkage
I put in a rack & hydro boost, the only problems you will have is your
rocker panels at the front where header exit from under car to to side
they will fix themself burning a half moon in the panels but you can't
see so it will look ok. The tubes are 21/8 which is what you need for
500 hp & above. The mufflers are the weak point.if you have the glass
packs you will loose around 30 hp if the other type (can't rememeber
name) you will loose at least 50 hp. They make a spiral insert for those
headers & also for the cobras that dyno runs show 0 lose or as much as
10 hp gain. Don't have the paper work in fron me but if interested can
get. On my mtr a 1in HVH 4 hole made 42 hp.
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 04:31 PM
  #10  
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Default

CG I have checked the part number stamped on the flange and I believe it is for the corvette (1503L and R). I think the body may be shifted to one side, when I get the pass side fitted I should be able to tell. I looked at your vette photos yesterday to see if you had any close up shots of your pipes but I did not see any, thanks for the photo. The tubes look to be bent the same as yours.

bigbadbowties I have herd good things about the spiral baffles so I plan on fabricating them myself.

Thanks Neal
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