Hedman Header Clearance Issue!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Well I bought my hedman coated headers off e-bay for $50 cause there aint no way I'm paying $500 for a set of headers whose only difference between the $150 set and the $500 set is a lousy set of air tubes.
So dimpling was in the cards for me
So dimpling was in the cards for me
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Tustin CA
Did you happen to buy them from summit, jegs call them tell them the
product they sold you does not fit you want a different brand of header
or your money back. They sold you that part its there responsabilty to make it right, Summit, jegs, competition products they are all in competition with each other they don't want to lose you as a long term customer, I generally have bought from summit they have never gave me any flack on sending something back. JustinD bought a billit Zoom flywheel from summit installed it Damn Zoom advertisment on summit web site failed to mention the flywheel only works with a springless racing disc, he called summit they sent him another brand flywheel. Call the people that sold you the product tell them you worked hard for the $350.00 to get those new headers you expect them to fit the car. Bend on a brand new set of headers thats bullcrap.
product they sold you does not fit you want a different brand of header
or your money back. They sold you that part its there responsabilty to make it right, Summit, jegs, competition products they are all in competition with each other they don't want to lose you as a long term customer, I generally have bought from summit they have never gave me any flack on sending something back. JustinD bought a billit Zoom flywheel from summit installed it Damn Zoom advertisment on summit web site failed to mention the flywheel only works with a springless racing disc, he called summit they sent him another brand flywheel. Call the people that sold you the product tell them you worked hard for the $350.00 to get those new headers you expect them to fit the car. Bend on a brand new set of headers thats bullcrap.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,351
Likes: 2,077
From: California
Pitman arm looks like an aftermarket unit.
That looks like a Vette brakes hd idler. I would be curious to put a stock GM unit back on to see if that clears and then if so the complaints shouldn't be directed at the headers. Thus if a stock idler clears since you are using aftermarket hd idler, hammer those pipes, just don't dent them, place like a muffler clamp or something around them and hit the clamp with a 2X4 and sledge or fill the whole header with sand and then hammer away. Always check the welds to make sure nothing is cracked and needing rewelding if you hammer.
PS. See if you can get the Smog Number plate EO# or whatever and weld it to someone elses units. All headers will basically do the same thing on the machine. The only difference is that Hedman probably just spent the money to get their units a smog acceptable replacement number. Keep the paperwork for the units that shows smog and tell the station that they are Emission approved and most will just punch in that paperwork number. what are the chances of running into an expert at a smog station?
PS. See if you can get the Smog Number plate EO# or whatever and weld it to someone elses units. All headers will basically do the same thing on the machine. The only difference is that Hedman probably just spent the money to get their units a smog acceptable replacement number. Keep the paperwork for the units that shows smog and tell the station that they are Emission approved and most will just punch in that paperwork number. what are the chances of running into an expert at a smog station?
Last edited by TCracingCA; Jun 26, 2008 at 05:09 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
That happened to me on my big block. Had the headers in the car and everything fit fine. I removed the engine for rebuild and replaced the idler arm and motor mounts with heavy duty aftermarket and when the motor went back in the headers no longer fit.
It may come to a choice between putting a dimple in the header or going with OEM parts.
It may come to a choice between putting a dimple in the header or going with OEM parts.
That looks like a Vette brakes hd idler. I would be curious to put a stock GM unit back on to see if that clears and then if so the complaints shouldn't be directed at the headers. Thus if a stock idler clears since you are using aftermarket hd idler, hammer those pipes, just don't dent them, place like a muffler clamp or something around them and hit the clamp with a 2X4 and sledge or fill the whole header with sand and then hammer away. Always check the welds to make sure nothing is cracked and needing rewelding if you hammer.
PS. See if you can get the Smog Number plate EO# or whatever and weld it to someone elses units. All headers will basically do the same thing on the machine. The only difference is that Hedman probably just spent the money to get their units a smog acceptable replacement number. Keep the paperwork for the units that shows smog and tell the station that they are Emission approved and most will just punch in that paperwork number. what are the chances of running into an expert at a smog station?
PS. See if you can get the Smog Number plate EO# or whatever and weld it to someone elses units. All headers will basically do the same thing on the machine. The only difference is that Hedman probably just spent the money to get their units a smog acceptable replacement number. Keep the paperwork for the units that shows smog and tell the station that they are Emission approved and most will just punch in that paperwork number. what are the chances of running into an expert at a smog station?
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Russellville AR
I also bought a suspension moog kit and the idler arm is against the Hedman headers. Before the replacement, I had about a 1/2 inch between the rubber cap and the headers. Searching the forum, the problem is the idler arm. Apparently most of the idler arms sold are "New and improved" or "Heavy duty". The newer idler arms have a bigger foot print and will come very close to the headers. I do not want to dimple my coated headers.
I hoping to find an orginal size idler arm from a vendor. Please let me know where I could find an orginal idler arm for sale. Thanks
I hoping to find an orginal size idler arm from a vendor. Please let me know where I could find an orginal idler arm for sale. Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Morton Grove Il
Here is my 2 cents worth. I put a set of Headmans on my 73 small block. They fit perfectly. They are the full lenght and tuck up in perfect alignment. Can put them on and off with the starter still in place. I am very pleased with them. I bought them from Jegs.
They were ceramic coated and still look new after a year of use.
They were ceramic coated and still look new after a year of use.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
We used to run in to this same problem with p/n 68306.
They're ceramic coated and I have a set on one of my cars. It's been on there for 5 years and looks brand new. The dimple trick worked just fine.
Willcox
They're ceramic coated and I have a set on one of my cars. It's been on there for 5 years and looks brand new. The dimple trick worked just fine.
Willcox
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
Hedman Elite headers
I also had a fitment issue with the elite headers on a 80 small block, I guess I could have sent them back, but I decided to use the press method for clearance. I simply marked the areas that did not fit and used the bearing press and 2 blocks of wood to oval those areas slightly. The headers now fit perfect and almost look like they were made that way. After modifying this way and seeing the end result I would not recommend the hammer method.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Coquitlam British Columbia
That happened to me on my big block. Had the headers in the car and everything fit fine. I removed the engine for rebuild and replaced the idler arm and motor mounts with heavy duty aftermarket and when the motor went back in the headers no longer fit.
It may come to a choice between putting a dimple in the header or going with OEM parts.
It may come to a choice between putting a dimple in the header or going with OEM parts.
ikwhite
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 954
Likes: 40
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Hi goathearder
I had the same problem with Hedman headers 68286 with new engine mounts.
The problem solved by relising the engine mounts and operates the engine.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...t-problem.html
Avner
I had the same problem with Hedman headers 68286 with new engine mounts.
The problem solved by relising the engine mounts and operates the engine.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...t-problem.html
Avner
to the pitman arm clearance problem. Had to 'adjust' mine also.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
So, I just put my new heads on this weekend and while I was doing that I swapped in a set of the Headman 68301 smog legal headers so I could pass smog. The driver side went in perfect but the passenger side didn't.
Basically, the passenger side header is sitting right up again the pitman arm that is bolted to the frame.
Has anyone else has this problem? Is there anything I can do?
Basically, the passenger side header is sitting right up again the pitman arm that is bolted to the frame.
Has anyone else has this problem? Is there anything I can do?
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Russellville AR
Concerning the idler clearance issue with Hedman headers, I bought the heavy duty idler arm(Moog) and the idler arm was right against the headers. I went to AutoZone and they had an idler arm that looked more like the orginal idler arm--not heavy duty. I install the idler arm from AutoZone and I have about 1/2 clearance from the headers. I know they are not of the same quality of the Moog, but aleast the idler arm is not touching the header and I did not have to put a dimple in the headers.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
My hooker headers (68 bigblock) just barely wouldn't clear the idler arm. Because bubba is my middle name I moved the idler arm. 
Was able to move it the tiniest amount (1/16" ?) which was enough.
Was able to move it the tiniest amount (1/16" ?) which was enough.
