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I read somewhere here on Corvette Forums that the trick to getting the headers in is to dent them? Is this true? Would that hurt the headers? Does anyone have a picture of a properly bent header to fit?
I have a 77 Corvette L82
Thanks
This is the BRAND NEW engine i got for the Vette. Dropped a washer in the old original engine which had 37,000 miles on it.. I bet i don't do that again. This is one of the headers for the car. (im hoping) Where the power steering is and to the left (toward driver side) is where the header doesn't fit.
You can massage the tubes for clearance, try and make them smooth. Engine masters (motortrend network) beat the heck out of the primary tubes with very little loss of power on the engine dyno.
back in the 70’s in a borrowed garage in the middle of a cold MI winter, I “lost” a screw for the choke during a carb rebuild on my Camaro. After searching in vain for said screw I put the carb on and fired it up. As soon as I gave it some throttle, I found the screw. Only it was now imbedded in the top of one of the pistons. Been there, done that!
Last edited by Sunstroked; Mar 9, 2021 at 01:25 AM.
You can massage the tubes for clearance, try and make them smooth. Engine masters (motortrend network) beat the heck out of the primary tubes with very little loss of power on the engine dyno.
back in the 70’s in a borrowed garage in the middle of a cold MI winter, I “lost” a screw for the choke during a carb rebuild on my Camaro. After searching in vain for said screw I put the carb on and fired it up. As soon as I gave it some throttle, I found the screw. Only it was now imbedded in the top of one of the pistons. Been there, done that!
that’s exactly what I did with a washer..
It blew out of the tailpipe after a start
but Even then it was too late.
new engine later, I can’t hook everythjng back ip
It would be impossible for anyone to tell you where to dent those headers or if you even need to. Do you know who made them?
You will have to stick them up there and see.....they go in from the bottom.....easiest way.....
I use the end of a large sledge hammer, place it on the area desired and give it a whack.....
You can massage the tubes for clearance, try and make them smooth. Engine masters (motortrend network) beat the heck out of the primary tubes with very little loss of power on the engine dyno.
back in the 70’s in a borrowed garage in the middle of a cold MI winter, I “lost” a screw for the choke during a carb rebuild on my Camaro. After searching in vain for said screw I put the carb on and fired it up. As soon as I gave it some throttle, I found the screw. Only it was now imbedded in the top of one of the pistons. Been there, done that!
Mine was a washer. Took out a head and two pistons. Fell from the cowl of a pickup into the intake while the TBI was off.
THE COWL IS NOT A PARTS TRAY!
is now a sign in my shop.
And as far as dimpling, I use a 1" oak dowel, hold it where I want the dent, then whack it with a whacker. I've done a few this way, even a couple with ceramic coating on them, and haven't lost any coating. Dents look "factory" with no marks on them.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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I ususally use a socket . I disconnect the anchor bolt on the motor mount, lift the engine enough to put the headers on, then lower it to see what it hits and mark those areas with a marker. Then take the headers off and lay a socket on the ares athat is rubbing in the dirrection that the object is travelling. Then hit the socket with the hammer. It gives a nice round impression and doesnt chip the coating. Good luck
Are those the same headers that were on the other engine with the same accessories, nothing else changed?
If so and they now don’t fit I doubt any amount of dimpling will make them fit. The first thing you need to figure out is what changed that now keeps them from fitting. Do you now have Vortex heads? Taller block? Figure this out first.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
You may have to install/uninstall header(s) several times massaging the header each time. Also, if you massage the header to get clearance, you may need to massage header in another area created by the first massaging. But don't worry, Engine Masters gained power denting headers - the more they dented, the more power was gained.
I have a 79 L-82. I have had 3 different types of headers on my motors. I have always had to install one from the bottom and the other side from the top. I've never had to bend the headers to clear anything for installation. AFR heads or at least mine have a poor plug location requiring a couple of dents.
Tricking the Headers
