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SSAC Headers...You live and learn.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 6
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
SSAC Headers...You live and learn.
Well I guess not doing your homework really can bite you in the a$$!
I bought a set of used SSAC headers on here in August from a member, and everything sounded great, and figured I would take a chance. I thought the price was fair, and he shipped them quickly.
I finally had the chance to have them installed this weekend, and my guy tells me they will not work. He says that both sides are hitting very hard on the Bell Housing. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I had assumed that the seller had these on his car as the post said that the "AIR Port" had been tweaked to clear the A/C lines. But now I'm not sure and I have PM'd to ask him, but he has sold his car so I don't know if he will respond back.
Not sure what to do now. My installer said that the car was on jack stands and that he would drop it tonight to see if the weight being back on the suspension changed any of the clearances, but I don't see that happening. And short of clamping the pipe on one side to make a flat spot that clears, I don't know of anything else to try.
I bought a set of used SSAC headers on here in August from a member, and everything sounded great, and figured I would take a chance. I thought the price was fair, and he shipped them quickly.
I finally had the chance to have them installed this weekend, and my guy tells me they will not work. He says that both sides are hitting very hard on the Bell Housing. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I had assumed that the seller had these on his car as the post said that the "AIR Port" had been tweaked to clear the A/C lines. But now I'm not sure and I have PM'd to ask him, but he has sold his car so I don't know if he will respond back.
Not sure what to do now. My installer said that the car was on jack stands and that he would drop it tonight to see if the weight being back on the suspension changed any of the clearances, but I don't see that happening. And short of clamping the pipe on one side to make a flat spot that clears, I don't know of anything else to try.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,398
Likes: 1,139
From: Dyer, IN
Well I guess not doing your homework really can bite you in the a$$!
I bought a set of used SSAC headers on here in August from a member, and everything sounded great, and figured I would take a chance. I thought the price was fair, and he shipped them quickly.
I finally had the chance to have them installed this weekend, and my guy tells me they will not work. He says that both sides are hitting very hard on the Bell Housing. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I had assumed that the seller had these on his car as the post said that the "AIR Port" had been tweaked to clear the A/C lines. But now I'm not sure and I have PM'd to ask him, but he has sold his car so I don't know if he will respond back.
Not sure what to do now. My installer said that the car was on jack stands and that he would drop it tonight to see if the weight being back on the suspension changed any of the clearances, but I don't see that happening. And short of clamping the pipe on one side to make a flat spot that clears, I don't know of anything else to try.
I bought a set of used SSAC headers on here in August from a member, and everything sounded great, and figured I would take a chance. I thought the price was fair, and he shipped them quickly.
I finally had the chance to have them installed this weekend, and my guy tells me they will not work. He says that both sides are hitting very hard on the Bell Housing. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I had assumed that the seller had these on his car as the post said that the "AIR Port" had been tweaked to clear the A/C lines. But now I'm not sure and I have PM'd to ask him, but he has sold his car so I don't know if he will respond back.
Not sure what to do now. My installer said that the car was on jack stands and that he would drop it tonight to see if the weight being back on the suspension changed any of the clearances, but I don't see that happening. And short of clamping the pipe on one side to make a flat spot that clears, I don't know of anything else to try.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 12
From: Leon Iowa
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
sorry to hear that man. mine fit pretty good. If in fact they are hitting the bellhousing that pretty much says they are junk, so I wouldn't worry alot about damaging them so I would take a torch and heat them up and bend them over out of the way. Trust me it will work if you can get the area good and red. I had to do that on some poor fitting headers I had on a mustang once. Sure, it will turn them blue where you heat it but it won't hurt the performance any. Mine worked fin on my mustang. I mean what can ya hurt doing it?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 6
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
I know...I know 
I should have researched it more, but I guess the impulsiveness came out in me. I usually am not like that.
We will try a few different things, as my friend has seen similar problems with F-bodies. A little cutting and welding, and we will see what happens. If it doesn't work, I will have to scrap them and start over.
I should have researched it more, but I guess the impulsiveness came out in me. I usually am not like that.
We will try a few different things, as my friend has seen similar problems with F-bodies. A little cutting and welding, and we will see what happens. If it doesn't work, I will have to scrap them and start over.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: San Diego Ca
Advice from custom exhaust guy:
Find an LS engine out of a car (no bell housing; junk block and heads o.k.)
Bolt headers down tight to head with all bolts.
Use a porta-power or jack to carefully bend them outboard about 3/8". You may need to heat up tubes below 1st bend out of exhaust port.
Retry for fit in your car. Bend more if needed.
Might be worth a try before doing any cutting.
Find an LS engine out of a car (no bell housing; junk block and heads o.k.)
Bolt headers down tight to head with all bolts.
Use a porta-power or jack to carefully bend them outboard about 3/8". You may need to heat up tubes below 1st bend out of exhaust port.
Retry for fit in your car. Bend more if needed.
Might be worth a try before doing any cutting.
Last edited by 22vette; Sep 24, 2008 at 12:12 PM.
Scrap them. They will never be right in your mind anymore! 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Love my SSA headers! Been on about a year now. Infact, all my local vette friends are impressed with how they sound and what i paid for em brand new. They perform just as good as any other header but hey, to each his own. If you want to spend $1500 on headers go ahead. I put headers(ebay), a x pipe(ebay), cold air intake(ebay), and a used GM hot cam in my car for that amount of money. Made 381HP and 372TQ to the rear wheels on a mustang dyno and went 12.1 @116 with a **** 1.9 sixty foot in 90 degree weather! Enjoy your vette tax....oh and heres a lil vid of my car, happy motoring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFv_wYouOLk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFv_wYouOLk
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Before you beat up on SSAC, theres a few things that you need to check out:
Are they really SSAC headers?
Are they for your model year car?
Are they really headers for a C5?
Is your installer installing them correctly??
How hard are they hitting?
You are not the first person who purchased something the was supposed to be one thing but it is intended for another thing. I bet ya there F Body headers!
I dont think SSCA headers hitting the "BELL HOUSING" was one of the common things that people were having problems with. It sounds very ODD that this issue is happening. Putting the car on the ground will NOT change anything. That explanation or reasioning doesnt make any sence!
Take a picture of the Headers and the area of the issue and Im very sure that there will be more people that can add in some benifical suggestion and expierencies with these headers.
What did you pay for them????
Bill
Are they really SSAC headers?
Are they for your model year car?
Are they really headers for a C5?
Is your installer installing them correctly??
How hard are they hitting?
You are not the first person who purchased something the was supposed to be one thing but it is intended for another thing. I bet ya there F Body headers!
I dont think SSCA headers hitting the "BELL HOUSING" was one of the common things that people were having problems with. It sounds very ODD that this issue is happening. Putting the car on the ground will NOT change anything. That explanation or reasioning doesnt make any sence!
Take a picture of the Headers and the area of the issue and Im very sure that there will be more people that can add in some benifical suggestion and expierencies with these headers.
What did you pay for them????
Bill
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Sep 26, 2008 at 09:21 AM.
