Headers don't fit! Help!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Headers don't fit! Help!!
I bought my headers (Hooker Super Comp, Ceramic Coated for Corvette!!) nearly 6 months ago. When they arrived i test fitted them on the 454 (didn't bolt them down) and they seemed fine.
Anyway, i went today to put them on and the passenger side hits the pitman arm (is that what's it's called? it's the pivot that mounts to the passenger side frame). The header only needs about 1/4 inch more clearance to fit.
Hay anyone ran into this?!?!
What should i do?
=thomas
Anyway, i went today to put them on and the passenger side hits the pitman arm (is that what's it's called? it's the pivot that mounts to the passenger side frame). The header only needs about 1/4 inch more clearance to fit.
Hay anyone ran into this?!?!
What should i do?
=thomas
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Heard this before, the suggested cure is a minor 'dent' in the header tube if I remember correctly. And take that socket wrench off your fender, are you nuts!! :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Are you referring to the idler arm? When I installed my headers, they would not clear the z-bar on the drivers side. I took the z-bar to a machine shop and had them notch it just a little to clear the header. If push comes to shove, maybe you could have the header notched just enough to clear the idler arm. That would be a last resort. Also, could you use shorter bolts in the idler arm? Is the header hitting the arm itself or the bolt?
Regards,
Jim
[Modified by Jim73, 3:19 PM 12/15/2001]
Regards,
Jim
[Modified by Jim73, 3:19 PM 12/15/2001]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Yes, it's the idler arm (thanks) and it's hitting the bottom of it where it rotates. I woudln't mind denting the headers except for the fact they are ceramic coated will this crack the finish?
I'm only needing about 1/4 inch clearance so i wonder if i couldn't make the bolt whole on the idler arm wider and "pivot" it out. This would adjust the strearing linkages, but they are all on ball joints so they should move easy.
Thoughts?
*laugh* ... about the wrench on the fender... This is the original paint job, it's going as soon as the car is running... :)
I'm only needing about 1/4 inch clearance so i wonder if i couldn't make the bolt whole on the idler arm wider and "pivot" it out. This would adjust the strearing linkages, but they are all on ball joints so they should move easy.
Thoughts?
*laugh* ... about the wrench on the fender... This is the original paint job, it's going as soon as the car is running... :)
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Aftermarket headers often do require 'Massaging' to make fit. I can Imagine that att of the possible combinations plus production tolerances would make it near impossible to make headers fit on all cars and engines!
I'd try wiggleing the idler arm, usually those things have some slop in their mounting, and at the least you'd have to dent the header less...
I'd try wiggleing the idler arm, usually those things have some slop in their mounting, and at the least you'd have to dent the header less...
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Followup!
Ok, i decided to go ahead and "massage" the headers with the 5lb bad ***** (and a towel). It worked great. I'm really impreased. It didn't do any damage to the headers or the ceramic and just created a nice smooth bend (without even using too much effort).
Thanks again everyone for your advice!!
Ok, i decided to go ahead and "massage" the headers with the 5lb bad ***** (and a towel). It worked great. I'm really impreased. It didn't do any damage to the headers or the ceramic and just created a nice smooth bend (without even using too much effort).
Thanks again everyone for your advice!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
My 1 7/8 hooker super comps sit real close to the idle arm (1/4" to 1/2") but don't touch. If you got the 2" primaries or bigger I could see how they would touch.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (73Ken73)
They are ceramic coated and yes, i ordered them that way.
I don't beleive i have a heavy duty idler arm. I just got the front rebuild kit (poly graphite) form PST. I didn't order any special components. And the Headers i ordered from Summit Hooker, Ceramic, 454 Corvette 1974.
The "messaging" actually doesn't look bad at all. I was really nervous about it up front. But in retrospect it doesn't look bad.
[Modified by tzavaleta, 11:41 AM 12/16/2001]
I don't beleive i have a heavy duty idler arm. I just got the front rebuild kit (poly graphite) form PST. I didn't order any special components. And the Headers i ordered from Summit Hooker, Ceramic, 454 Corvette 1974.
The "messaging" actually doesn't look bad at all. I was really nervous about it up front. But in retrospect it doesn't look bad.
[Modified by tzavaleta, 11:41 AM 12/16/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
Did you get the 1 7/8" headers? I'm trying to find someone who has a picture of the 2 1/8" setup installed. I'm planning a big block that could really use the bigger tubes, but I'm concerned about ground clearance.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (Flareside)
These are the 1 7/8. Actually, i don't recall, but i just went a took a rough measurement on the OD and it was just a shy less then 2''. So i figure they must be the 1 7/8.
I did research when i bought them and i determined that the bigger tubes wouldn't show any improvement given the size of my exhaust ports and that the pipe size (even at 3") would be a restriction.
I'm glad now because i don't believe the larger pipes would have fit. I was already rubbing against the idler arm and within a fraction of an inch of the A/C box (condenser?) on the firewall.
I can provide some pictures of the headers installed (from any angle) because the body is off the frame (actually looks really cool!!).
I did research when i bought them and i determined that the bigger tubes wouldn't show any improvement given the size of my exhaust ports and that the pipe size (even at 3") would be a restriction.
I'm glad now because i don't believe the larger pipes would have fit. I was already rubbing against the idler arm and within a fraction of an inch of the A/C box (condenser?) on the firewall.
I can provide some pictures of the headers installed (from any angle) because the body is off the frame (actually looks really cool!!).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,237
Likes: 1,009
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (Flareside)
Hey Joe how are you. Before I put on my sidepipes I put on a set of the 2 1/8 inch undercar supercomps and on my car I only had about 2 inches of ground clearance. I still have those headers and they are jet-hot coated so when I finally get my power steering off and you still want it you could test fit those headers on you car if you wanted too. JE68 on the forum has these headers on his 68 and said they fit fine, so I guess it all depends on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: Headers don't fit! Help!! (tzavaleta)
I don't know if anybody else has run across this or not, so I'll ask. I was at a car show earlier this year talking to another owner of a 73, who originally had a small block and put in a 454 and he said it doesn't fit nearly as nice as mine does. I looked at it and everything was a lot tighter in there, everything fit on mine with a little room to spare. he says he used mounts for a 73 big block he bought from GM. He had to dimple his headers for clearance like tzavaleta did. What I don't understand is why the difference? I'd think if your using the same mounts on a passenger Mark IV it should sit the same, or is there some slight difference in the small block cars? Anybody else run across this ?
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
