Header Clearance Issue
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Joined: May 2007
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Header Clearance Issue
just got my stock motor back. balanced & blueprinted. dropped it in. no problems. After reading several posts here I bought the Headman Elites with ceramic coating. Driver side- no problems. pass side wouldn't go up until I unbolted the idler arm and dropped it out of the way. Pulled the idler arm back into position and the rubber cover is rubbing one of the header tubes. zero clearance. not good. anyone else dealt with this???
this is the only thing holding me up from getting out on the street. Headman by the way claims "they've never had this problem before"
this is the only thing holding me up from getting out on the street. Headman by the way claims "they've never had this problem before"
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 450
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From: Alexandria Va
just got my stock motor back. balanced & blueprinted. dropped it in. no problems. After reading several posts here I bought the Headman Elites with ceramic coating. Driver side- no problems. pass side wouldn't go up until I unbolted the idler arm and dropped it out of the way. Pulled the idler arm back into position and the rubber cover is rubbing one of the header tubes. zero clearance. not good. anyone else dealt with this??? this is the only thing holding me up from getting out on the street. Headman by the way claims "they've never had this problem before"
this is the only thing holding me up from getting out on the street. Headman by the way claims "they've never had this problem before"BTW, these were Headmans also.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I've never bought a set of headers that fit without dinging them, my last set of Super comps I had to weld a piece into one of the primary tubes to make it clear a spark plug, that's why I always buy then uncoated, ding them then get them coated 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
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From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I went thru the same issue with my Hedman Elites last weekend. I loosened the motor and tranny mounts and put a jack under the oilpan and was able to motivate the whole thing to move about 1/4" away from the idler arm. It was really hard doing it with the jack, as soon as I get some room cleared out on that side of the car I am going to put the cherry picker over there and see if I can get a little more out of it. Also had issues with the tranny cooler lines, I am in the process of making some more now. 
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
same here. I decided this would be a good time to go with a frame rail tranny cooler and some flexible braided lines. I got tired of screwing with it. They were going to be in the way in the future if I ever had to pull the starter.
also when your scooting it over, keep a close eye on your fan in the shroud!
also when your scooting it over, keep a close eye on your fan in the shroud!
Last edited by L82shark; Mar 17, 2008 at 10:26 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
by the way if anyone knows the guy that designed the lower transmission line connection to the radiator, I'd like a few moments with him for all my pusted knuckles.
its a tight fit for sure!My header to idler is close but I think it will work. I'm just worried about heat and the rubber on the Idler arm.
I had more problems with fan shroud-fan clearence
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Joined: May 2007
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I'd love that much clearance!! I noticed that the idler arm is mounted to the frame at about a 30 degree slant to the back. I've noticed that if I let it hang straight down I have clearance. Or if i kee the same mounting angle but lower it on the frame 1/2" it will clear the headers. I'm concerned that either one would screw up the steering geometry. thoughts??
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 450
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From: Alexandria Va
I'd love that much clearance!! I noticed that the idler arm is mounted to the frame at about a 30 degree slant to the back. I've noticed that if I let it hang straight down I have clearance. Or if i kee the same mounting angle but lower it on the frame 1/2" it will clear the headers. I'm concerned that either one would screw up the steering geometry. thoughts??
SF The3
Last edited by The3; Mar 17, 2008 at 11:15 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
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you're right. I now wish I'd kept the original idler arm to compare to the replacement from Ecklers. I compared the Eckler one to one at Auto Zone and they were exactly the same - down to the part number.
I wonder what happens to the ceramic coating if I try to "dimple' the header??
I wonder what happens to the ceramic coating if I try to "dimple' the header??
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Va
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
you're right. I now wish I'd kept the original idler arm to compare to the replacement from Ecklers. I compared the Eckler one to one at Auto Zone and they were exactly the same - down to the part number.
I wonder what happens to the ceramic coating if I try to "dimple' the header??
I wonder what happens to the ceramic coating if I try to "dimple' the header??
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I don't have any clearance problem with Dynomax headers. Does everyone with this clearance problem have Hedman Elite headers? If not, what other headers have this clearance problem? CFers thinking about installing headers should take note.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 779
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From: San Bruno California
I have about the same clearance as hwcoop has, 1/2 inch round abouts. I bought the Hedman headers with the ceramic coating. Don't feel too bad L82shark, I haven't heard my motor run for 8 months now.Get close though. Tony
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 38
From: Mankato Mn
Here's my 2 cents worth...I put coated headman headers on a 73 with a new 383 stroker engine last year. They hit in the same place. I called Headman Tech support & they said they are the correct headers. They're answer was to dimple it. I did it and it did not hurt the coating. Seems like a dumb thing to do to brand new headers but that was their solution, sop they have heard of this issue before.