Darn Headman Elites
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
Darn Headman Elites
Well I finally got around to installing my engine today (only about 3 1/2months late) and wouldn't you know it.....the darn things hit on both the idler arm, and the power steering ram
. The Idler arm is a fairly straight forward fix, either dimple the tube, or find a smaller idler arm. Anyone out there have a part number of the smaller idler arm?
The power steering one is troubling me. It's going to take a serious punch to the tube to get it to work as is, and my thought is to work on both parts....dimple the tube slightly, and cut/grind the corner off the power steering ram. What do you guys think?
Looking at the photos, I'll need to cut/grind the power steering until the start of the white line....will I run into powersteering fluid
by grinding that much?? [IMG][IMG]
[/IMG][/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]
. The Idler arm is a fairly straight forward fix, either dimple the tube, or find a smaller idler arm. Anyone out there have a part number of the smaller idler arm?The power steering one is troubling me. It's going to take a serious punch to the tube to get it to work as is, and my thought is to work on both parts....dimple the tube slightly, and cut/grind the corner off the power steering ram. What do you guys think?
Looking at the photos, I'll need to cut/grind the power steering until the start of the white line....will I run into powersteering fluid
by grinding that much?? [IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Thats darned odd. While the idler arm interferance is fairly common with the hedmans (as it was on my car) - the Hedmans on my 78 dont even come close to the Power steering ram. My headers are almost a decade old however and theres no telling if changes have been made in the mfr process since then.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
I was able to cut the edge if the ram off, and that made enough clearance.....About 1/4".... I think thats good enough. I"ll update with photos when it's all done
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Ontario
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
I'm still looking around for a smaller sized idler arm. Went and looked at three today at the local parts peddlers......they all were worse (bigger) than the one I have on now. This is total
for a major hedder manufacturer. Anyone out there have a part number of a smaller Idler arm unit??
for a major hedder manufacturer. Anyone out there have a part number of a smaller Idler arm unit??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,422
Likes: 955
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
No help to you now, but on another thread recently, I had a discussion with someone about why I never put long tube headers on my street driven vette, after years of using full length headers on other cars besides the 78-fitment issues, connection issues to stock type pipes, heat, road clearance issues, ignition wire and plug access, maximum benefit at high mid to high RPM (not much time hear on street driven engines) etc. Probably too late but you may want to consider block hugger headers or a shorty header like McJacks (exact duplicate dimensionally as the Ramhorns with zero issues but expensive). I use McJacks shorty headers on my 78 and BBK shorty's on my 1994 Mustang GT. I just don't feel that long tube headers are worth the extra power over the other types on the street with all the issues that come with them, IMHO, unless your engine makes BIG horsepower.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Aug 18, 2009 at 07:19 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
Seems strange to me the way your cylinder is indexed because mine has the flat part of the cylinder actually going by the header and not the corner.. It looks like it would actually clear if the cylinder was indexed differently and I believe the indexing is related to how the other end is connected to the steering linkage.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
Well I sorted out my issues with this mess, and look to you guys for approval or a darn good flaming (if needed).
The power steering side I sorted out by slicing a corner off the ram unit. I was being held that way by the P/S lines....I tried to fix but after being that way for so long it just wanted to rest that way. Here is a pic:
The Idler arm side was much more frustrating. I looked high and low for a smaller pivot idler arm with no luck. I was able to move the grease nipple easily, and dimple the header tube slightly. The problem was it was still too close to the header to set my mind at ease. I chose to do it the Bubba way.... use a body shim on the top mount to angle the arm slightly away from the header....Flame here if required
Here is another pic:
I hope this helps someone else along the way
The power steering side I sorted out by slicing a corner off the ram unit. I was being held that way by the P/S lines....I tried to fix but after being that way for so long it just wanted to rest that way. Here is a pic:
The Idler arm side was much more frustrating. I looked high and low for a smaller pivot idler arm with no luck. I was able to move the grease nipple easily, and dimple the header tube slightly. The problem was it was still too close to the header to set my mind at ease. I chose to do it the Bubba way.... use a body shim on the top mount to angle the arm slightly away from the header....Flame here if required
Here is another pic:
I hope this helps someone else along the way
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Keep an eye on the upper idler arm bolt- make sure it stays tight. That makes 2 extra places that dirt/paint/junk can work out of and cause the bolt to get loose. I'm not sure I wouldn't look for a bolt that's just a bit longer too. Just me, but I like seeing a couple of threads out past the nut.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 27
From: Northeast South Dakota
On my Hedman Elites I didn't have an issue with the steering. I did have the same problem with the idler arm. I just bent it in my press to be at the same angle as you did by adding the shim. That will work just fine for you. I would really like to know if the hedman's will hit if I go to the Borgeson steering box upgrade.
-Justin
-Justin
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
Keep an eye on the upper idler arm bolt- make sure it stays tight. That makes 2 extra places that dirt/paint/junk can work out of and cause the bolt to get loose. I'm not sure I wouldn't look for a bolt that's just a bit longer too. Just me, but I like seeing a couple of threads out past the nut.
Thanks for the comments
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 480
From: Salmon Arm, BC
On my Hedman Elites I didn't have an issue with the steering. I
That will work just fine for you. I would really like to know if the hedman's will hit if I go to the Borgeson steering box upgrade.
-Justin
did have the same problem with the idler arm. I just bent it in my press to be at the same angle as you did by adding the shim.
-Justin
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Shore Virginia
For the sake of variety I posted a picture of a header that will be going on my '73, in the forum C3 picture gallery under engines and also parts, search for 'C3 SB Stan's headers', it is awaiting approval as I write this but i'm sure it will be there by the time anyone looks.
I'll post some comparable clearance photos when I get 'em hung. These tri-Y headers are not for all-out racing but are supposed to make really good midrange torque, which is what I'm after. They are rather heavy, but I think that is a good thing, too, from the longetivity standpoint.
I'll post some comparable clearance photos when I get 'em hung. These tri-Y headers are not for all-out racing but are supposed to make really good midrange torque, which is what I'm after. They are rather heavy, but I think that is a good thing, too, from the longetivity standpoint.
Last edited by WTFizzit; Sep 15, 2009 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Add image