...actually it was an install attempt. I was hoping it would go well, but.....

I thought I would start with the (usually) easier passenger side first. The present Hooker Super Comps slid off easily in 5 minutes. The new Custom Images went right into place. Then, the problem.......the bolt holes in the flange do not line up exactly with the ones in the head. Close, but not quite. After jiggling the header and trying to persuade it as best I could, it was still a "no go"

I used my copper header gasket as a template to check the alignment, and sure enough, confirmation of bad fit. Also, the header will have a fitment issue at the steering (knuckle?) and would have to be dinged, though it appears if the bolt hole alignment is corrected, it might fix that steering rod issue, too.

So, as of now, the new headers are not installed, as some machining would be needed on the flange holes, and I would really feel bad having to elongate the holes and ding up such a nice looking set of headers.

Here are some pics to show.....
This appears OK, but.....


On closer inspection, the other holes don't quite match and you can't bolt to the head.....


Also, here.....


The gasket matches my Hooker Super Comps exactly and they fit perfectly

Here is the spot that will need "dinging".....


So, rather than ding and modify a set of new headers, I am considering selling them. Maybe they'd be a better fit on another car. FWIW, I have AFR 210 Eliminator heads, 1969 coupe.

 

Send the headers back with pictures.

Or drill and ding. My hooker super comps had to modded to fit on AFR heads to clear a spark plug

 

There is so little room to play around with in that area it is not funny. If the headers were flush with the head they shouldn't hit. Did you try them without a gasket ?

What are the center to center measurements or edge of hole measurement for the ones that don't line up I'll compare them to mine, never had a issue with bolt hole placement on mine.

I just checked and the first set of production headers I have and the holes are dead nuts on the money. I have had them of and on a few time just waiting to get it to muffler shop so they can fit the collector to my exhaust perfectly one thing you always have to do when changing manufactures.

I wouldn't be tossing a nice set of headers out yet.

So I don't know why you are having a problem but make sure it is the header manufacturer mistake, I am sure they will fix you up if it is their error as they are the same guys ( at least I think ) that forum members are lining up for side-pipes so I would cut them some slack until the exact cause of the problem is or there may be no more 1 7/8" headers.

Heres a pic of their gasket which lines up perfect with my passenger side header


Here is a pic with a new 1405 Felpro gasket again all holes line up perfect


And here they are installed in my C3, note that they don't hit anything when properly mated to the heads

 

Yours appear to have way more clearance than mine around that steering rod.....my tubes push right against it.

 

No real way of telling if that's going to be a problem until you get them bolted on properly so until they are bolted up properly that area is not a problem.

Did you try and see if they bolt up without the gasket ? If they do then buy a 1405 Felpro and see how everything lines up. Or try the gasket that came with the headers, you did get that shiny one in my pics above ?

Many things have happened to our C3's in past 30 years that could put things out of whack

 

Are you using header studs? It makes mounting so much easier.

 

You are not the only person with some issues with this particular brand of headers. I agree that these cars, or any old car, can have many variables that could affect fitmit. Check out posts 9 and 10 of this thread:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...e-special.html

 

Mine fits exactly like the referenced problem in posts 9 and 10 of the above mentioned thread. Steering knuckle area will have to be dinged, and exhaust will have to be quickly routed under the floor pan.....straight pipe will hit; this is not a problem, since I already have the corrected pipe..... my Super Comps exited in the same spot.

 

They do not bolt up even without a gasket......the most you can get are 3 holes that match, and the others will be off. Either end matching puts the other end 1/8"+ off. Some of the middle holes are slightly off from each other too. It looks like several holes will have to be elongated to make this fit.

 

Send them back for exchange or TOTAL refund! These should AT LEAST bolt up. I can understand having to maybe ding a tube or so, but they should bolt to your heads without problems. Bad quality control! Thats why I didn't jump on buying these. I wanted to wait and see fitment problems. I don't mind paying more for a product that fits. Than have to modify something to make it work and spend ALL DAY making modifications. Just my .02 cents.

 

I agree that they should bolt to the heads without modification.

As to the other point about interference with the idler arm pivot, I have noted that the size of the idler arm bearing is different depending on standard versus heavy duty, and on brand of idler arm. If you have clearance issues here you might try a different brand of idler arm.

 

I agree the holes should obviously line up. And you made some good points about the idler arm. There are many variables not allot of room.

I still give these guys the thumbs up for trying to fill a gap for bigger inch small blocks, buy starting from scratch to make 1 7/8" primary pipe header,I don't talk with these guys anymore or anything like that but they are nice guys and believed they could help. I don't speak for them but I would be surprised if they keep selling them.

I have a set that fit perfect and others have problems so it seems that all the C3's aren't exactly the same. Who knows a 10mph fender bender could skew front end components enough to have header problems.

I will say I had to ding a set of Hooker Super Comps so bad to clear the steering box ( or rag joint I don't remember) it pretty well ruined the headers and they weren't cheap after I had to add piece of primary pipe to clear a spark plug so when I bolted these new 1 7/8" up I was pretty happy. As a matter of fact I have never owned a set of headers I didn't have to dent or massage in some way or another, the Dynomax ceramic headers I bought about 10 years ago seemed to fit OK until you looked underneath and the collector was pointing down toward the ground.

So when it comes to headers I have seen it all, these are Hooker Super Comps with a nice ding to clear the steering box, as well as another ding for the idler arm on the other side ( I always get my headers painted because I know they ain't gonna fit without some massaging, then once I have finished banging them I get them coated )



Piece welded in primary pipe


Oh yeah I had to make my own tool to remove the #6 plug

 

Well, guys I am sorry some of you have had fitment issues. Apparently they are not the same as the set that Wayne and I recieved because ours fit great and look great.
Unfortunately I cannot be present to monitor the quality control that is used when the headers are manufactured, otherwise these problems would not exist. All of you guys know that I strive to provide a quality product and I am proud to say that for every product that I have personally manufactured I have NEVER received a complaint. However with the headers I am merely just a dealer.
All Wayne and I were trying to do when we started working with XS-POWER on these headers was to come up with a 1 7/8" primary header that was made of quality materials and was affordable. Based on all of the complaints that I have received, affordability and quality materials don't matter if you have to do some minor modifications to the product to fit the particular application.

I will do what I can to take care of C3 Stroker and the rest of you because I stand behind my customers.

As for the headers I will talk to the manufacturer to see what they have to say.

P.S. One question I have for all of you that have bought Hooker headers.
Why is it that if/when you buy Hookers and they don't fit right and you have to bang the crap out of them to get them to fit, that I never hear anyone posting about that or being pissed at Hooker? And they cost alot more! Is it accepted because it is just the norm? I have yet to see a set of Hookers that didn't have a dent in them....

 

I don't have to dent the crap out my Hooker headers. There appears to be something lost in the translation to the Chinese plumbers building these headers. One thing I do know is AFR and most aftermarket cylinder heads have a raised exhaust port that could caise the chasiss issues but, the mounting flange issues in this post? Just SLOPPY workmanship like most of the overseas stuff we see in our journey to prefect our cars and those headers are FAR from perfect.

 

This post made me panic a bit. I didn't install all of the header bolts. I just bolted on a few to verify the #6 spark plug clearance. Based on previous claims, I wasn't worried about steering gear box, or idler arm clearance issues. Fortunately for me, all the bolts lined up, and I have no issues. I will be disappointed if I have idler arm clearance issues. I should know in a few weeks when the engine goes back in the bay to verify the new blower drive clearances.

Unrelated to the post, I'll comment about spark plug clearance. I received my headers about 6 weeks ago or so. I mounted them up to my Dart Pro 1 230cc angle plug heads on an old 350 which was on a engine stand, not in the car. I knew there was no guarantee that they would fit angle plug heads.

As expected the #6 spark plug clearance is tight.

This is a shot of how they "clear" the pipe with one header gasket.


Sometimes by double stacking the header gasket, it moves the pipe out so you gain some clearance. It helped in this situation. I haven't taken photos, but I also switched to shorty plugs, and MSD orange high temp boot. It appears I will have sufficient clearance with the short plug hight temp boot setup. I will also run some high temp boot covers for added insurance.

 

I would like to see a picture of these headers with the supplied gaskets laid over them. One picture of the whole flange. Just like Wayne did above. Can you do that?

 

Interesting. My Hedmans worked perfectly on AFR 195's - just as they did on the cast iron heads previously. What did you have to modify?

 

I've had to cut the corner off the boot before to clear a pipe. So did you post your impressions on these headers anywhere ? How they looked, quality etc?

Would be nice to hear something positive, these headers weren't thrown together overnight, they were 2 years in the making. And many prototype versions were made.

They were an idea that would have filled a void in the market for our C3's and not break the bank, especially when our small block motors are getting bigger and bigger and 5-600HP small blocks are becoming much more common these days

Here's a pic of my current setup and how close the pipes come to the floor pan been like that for years

 

More pics coming........

 

I'm very impressed with the the quality of the headers. One of my rather particularily meticulous picky friends was so impressed he shot photographs and sent them to his brother.
I will post photos as soon as my motors is back in the car. I sent the motor back to Ohio Crankshaft to be re-ringed. The rings never seated, and it ate oil very very bad.

I'm a hypocrite because I said I'd be running a 2" primary on my motor. I was looking at the 2" primary Stahls. $1200+ ouch. My engine building consultant feels that I have plenty of exhaust timing and will be fine with 1 7/8" primaries at 700-750hp. So, I thought I'd try these out. I mean come on these pipes are a work of art, and the price is right.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say at this time and doubt I will. I just don't want to brag them up until they are bolted on in the car. I'll post my findings as soon as I can stuff the motor back in the car.

FYI, I plan on making dyno pulls with both my 1 3/4" super comps, and the custom image 1 7/8" headers.

Here's a couple shots with them bolted on my Dart heads on an old 350 sbc.