headers for side pipes: Hugger - Hedman - ???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
headers for side pipes: Hugger - Hedman - ???
I am getting some 69style side covers and am looking at headers.
Most seem to like the Hedman 68280 here but they look like they are just as close to the motor mount and spark plugs as hugger headers which seem to get a lot of hate here.
I like to use the hugger headers as I have the steeroids rack and also want to keep it as tight as possible. Also will run F/I in the future so the huggers would help in running the O2 sensor.
For those that have Huggers or the Hedman 68280 are there issues with melting the motor mount and also spark plug/wire issues for you?
68280
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hedman-Stree...f83a25&vxp=mtr
68280 installed
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...selection.html
Hugger header with mock up
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-Small-Bl...aed456&vxp=mtr
Most seem to like the Hedman 68280 here but they look like they are just as close to the motor mount and spark plugs as hugger headers which seem to get a lot of hate here.
I like to use the hugger headers as I have the steeroids rack and also want to keep it as tight as possible. Also will run F/I in the future so the huggers would help in running the O2 sensor.
For those that have Huggers or the Hedman 68280 are there issues with melting the motor mount and also spark plug/wire issues for you?
68280
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hedman-Stree...f83a25&vxp=mtr
68280 installed
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...selection.html
Hugger header with mock up
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-Small-Bl...aed456&vxp=mtr
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,936
Likes: 3,344
From: NYC NY
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
Thanks 3JsVette. Idler should not be a issue for me but the Rack might.
For you and Big_Block_69 how close are the hedmans to the sprak plugs and motor mount? I still like to run the huggers but that was the isue many complinaed abiut yet the hedmans look like they would also have the same issue.
Thanks
For you and Big_Block_69 how close are the hedmans to the sprak plugs and motor mount? I still like to run the huggers but that was the isue many complinaed abiut yet the hedmans look like they would also have the same issue.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I am running a set of S/S shorties purchased from e-bay a couple of years ago. They set on the shelf till I installed the new motor. While test fitting them on the stand, They would not draw up tight, as they were hitting on the motor mount. I had to grind the corner of the motor mount ( on the driver side only) to get them to bolt up. I can see where this could cause the problem of melting a motor mount, especially a urethane one.
It was also very tight for the plugs to get in there.
I decided to make a couple changes to get them on the car. First, I built a 1/4 in. S/S plate motor mount, for the driver side only. If they melt that, I'm in big trouble.
Next I cut the flanges, Just because I like the look better. Then I machined 1/2 in spacers to move them out from the block that far and clear the plugs a bit. I did have to taper the spacers on the driver side a bit to clear the steering box and I now have about 1/4 in there.
Not for the faint of heart but I see no problem with thinking out of the box.
It was also very tight for the plugs to get in there.
I decided to make a couple changes to get them on the car. First, I built a 1/4 in. S/S plate motor mount, for the driver side only. If they melt that, I'm in big trouble.
Next I cut the flanges, Just because I like the look better. Then I machined 1/2 in spacers to move them out from the block that far and clear the plugs a bit. I did have to taper the spacers on the driver side a bit to clear the steering box and I now have about 1/4 in there.
Not for the faint of heart but I see no problem with thinking out of the box.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
^
Ha yea I guess you REALLY wanted them to work.
So the motor mount, if I understand and see right, is a solid metal setup you made? I think that may be a little firm for me. Also no leaks from the adapters you made to move the headers out?
Ha yea I guess you REALLY wanted them to work.
So the motor mount, if I understand and see right, is a solid metal setup you made? I think that may be a little firm for me. Also no leaks from the adapters you made to move the headers out?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
You can buy solid motor mounts, but I prefer to make things that I can. Using the one only lets the motor twist into the rubber on the passenger side with out lifting any on the drivers side. As far as the leaks, I have none on the exhaust.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
Maybe the people who designed your shorties did it on an aftermarket head without the 10 degree turn-in on the exhaust port. This would locate the pipe out away from the motor mounts and alleviate the interference. Then when you use Chevy heads, you tuck them in 10 degrees closer causing the interference.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,936
Likes: 3,344
From: NYC NY
The knock on block huggers is they hurt horsepower but so do factory side exhaust. IMCO since you are not in a max horsepower race the block huggers may give you more options with ground clearence and O-2 sensor locations going foward. You may also consider to only buy from a company that will give you a refund (not a credit) if their product doesn't fit. Even if you have to try a few different manufacturers until you get something you're happy with it's better than beating and banging on pipes to get something to work.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,936
Likes: 3,344
From: NYC NY
You bring up a very good point! There are well known and high quality header manufacturers that do their mock up work using only an engine and specs not a car to create a jig and build their headers. I bought a set of very high quality American made headers from a well known company with the understanding that if they did not fit I could return them for a FULL refund. Guess what? They didn't fit. When I returned them they said they fit their jig just fine and insisted there was nothing wrong with them BUT they did stand behind their word and reputation and took them back with a full refund. They did feel though it was the car not their product. The end of the story is a set of Doug's Headers fit perfect with NO clearence issues at all. So you tell me if it's the car or the R and D that's the problem...........
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
Thanks all.
Still thinking. May get a cheap set of ceramic huggers and try to make them work. Seems Hedman of late has been hit or miss so does not seem like there is a clear easy answer other than try and return.
Still thinking. May get a cheap set of ceramic huggers and try to make them work. Seems Hedman of late has been hit or miss so does not seem like there is a clear easy answer other than try and return.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 3
From: Tampa / Ft. Myers FL
Here are a couple of pictures of the Headman sidepipe headers. If you have Steeroids the Hedmans will hit one of the support brackets on the passenger side. I chose to alter the Steeroids bracket with a "V" cut, a bend, and a weld; not too bad a job. I spoke to the guys a SpeedDirect before I did the mod and they were good with it. I have some pictures of the mod but I'll have to search a bit.
Last edited by MyRed69; Mar 14, 2012 at 03:27 AM.
