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However, my neighbor, who was once a practicing mechanic (read: knows a LOT more than me...), who has been a huge help to me, has gotten bit by the corvette bug. And is now the proud owner of a later model 76'. Mine is an earlier model. Anyway, here's the issue.
After ordering the same headers I have, we got em in, and got to working on the car, got the old manifolds, off, etc.....and found that the headers are to LONG!!!! As in, they are too close to the cross member in the front of the car. From where they sit, there is simply NO WAY to bend a pipe on such a sharp angle, at such a short distance, in order to get the pipe through the holes in the cross member.
Is this a unique issue? Does he need shorty headers? The headers he got from summit are exactly like mine, but after doing some measuring, sure enough, the holes in his cross member are closer together than the holes on mine.
I also have a 76 with an auto and did have a bit of trouble with the summit $90 headers. they fit fine and work just fine. sorry i can't be anymore help!
This doesn’t answer you question, but will solve the problem. BTO (bow tie overdrives) sells a cross member that the exhaust doesn’t go through. I’m not sure of the price, but I don’t think it was too bad.
However, my neighbor, who was once a practicing mechanic (read: knows a LOT more than me...), who has been a huge help to me, has gotten bit by the corvette bug. And is now the proud owner of a later model 76'. Mine is an earlier model. Anyway, here's the issue.
After ordering the same headers I have, we got em in, and got to working on the car, got the old manifolds, off, etc.....and found that the headers are to LONG!!!! As in, they are too close to the cross member in the front of the car. From where they sit, there is simply NO WAY to bend a pipe on such a sharp angle, at such a short distance, in order to get the pipe through the holes in the cross member.
Is this a unique issue? Does he need shorty headers? The headers he got from summit are exactly like mine, but after doing some measuring, sure enough, the holes in his cross member are closer together than the holes on mine.
Weird. Anyone else exp. this?
My wife and I just bought a complete exhaust system for a 1978 (automatic with AC) through Corvette Central. The shorty headers are from Patriot and the system came with Magnaflow mufflers. Complete system was under $650 delivered and came with everything including gaskets, hangers, and all hardware. The system was easy to install with the exception of the AC compressor. We were only able to get 3 out of 5 bolts back in.
Car sounds great!!! Very happy with system. I called them to verify everything would fit before purchasing. They were very helpful and answered every question I had.
I agree with falcn1 about going with a complete exhaust from Corvette Central with block hugger headers and magnaflows. Unless you are planning to race, long tube headers on the street are just not worth the hazzle of fitment and road clearance. Any benefit for the long tube headers on the street is going to be minimal at best and will most likely cost you low end torque. I vowed long ago after several sets of long tube headers on other cars that I would not put them on my 78. I use McJack's shorty headers which are an exact duplicate dimensionally of the stock exhaust manifold and utilize a 2.5 SS true dual exhaust that is designed for the stock manifolds. Easy fit, no clearance issues, no burnt wires, etc but costly! Love it!
I agree with falcn1 about going with a complete exhaust from Corvette Central with block hugger headers and magnaflows. Unless you are planning to race, long tube headers on the street are just not worth the hazzle of fitment and road clearance. Any benefit for the long tube headers on the street is going to be minimal at best and will most likely cost you low end torque. I vowed long ago after several sets of long tube headers on other cars that I would not put them on my 78. I use McJack's shorty headers which are an exact duplicate dimensionally of the stock exhaust manifold and utilize a 2.5 SS true dual exhaust that is designed for the stock manifolds. Easy fit, no clearance issues, no burnt wires, etc but costly! Love it!
We were actually looking at those McJacks.......
Are the ones you have equal length? Do you have the specs on them, or which one you got, and if so, how much were they, where they truly that easy, etc?