Author Topic: AARRRGGGHH !!! HEADERS ARE DOING MY F*CKING HEAD IN !!! (Read 7461 times)

Roadkill · « **on:** March 12, 2009, 03:43:41 pm »

Needless to say I'm at melting point trying to find the ideal headers for my LT1 - in - Third Gen set-up.

Hooker 2210 was my first port of call - big primaries, tuned, ceramic, but $750 - plus it not D-port so I'm stuck with the Super-Comp (uber $$$)

Next the Stainless Works Long-tube S/S headers . . . Again not D-port, again over $750 but this time pose a potential trans X-member clash.

Next I found Doug's 3221's . . . Almost identical to the Hooker 2210's but $180 cheaper !
Alas no-one seems to have used these yet and I ain't parting with £500 without some feedback !

The search goes on . . .

Roadkill · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2009, 03:44:50 pm »

Oh, the "ideal" SLP Ceramic headers are no longer made.

Roadkill · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2009, 04:10:18 pm »

Then there's Hedman 66479 shorties - with D-port . . . I don't want shorties, though.

66479 - Hedman Hi-Tech Coated Headers Details
GM Cars

Without smog injection or injection heads.
With A.I.R. system.
Shortie style hedder. Maximum groung clearance.
Not legal for sale or use in California on pollution controlled motor vehicles.
Will fit with angle plug heads (Chevy aluminum only).
Must modify rotary A/C bracket.

Hedman 68469

Hedman #500-68469

Full-Length Headers
1982-92 Camaro/Firebird
D-Port 283-400ci
Tubes: 1-5/8"
Collector: 3"

Hedman 68460's.

68460 - Hedman Hedders Headers Details
GM Cars
Will fit with angle plug heads
Must modify rotary AC bracket
Dual exhaust only (limited ground clearance)
Designed to fit/clear TH700-R4 or TH350 transmission

Then there's Dyno Don's headers.

Gator · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2009, 05:52:35 pm »

i think even if you find the right combo its gonna be fingers crossed when you fit them

Rocky · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2009, 08:23:39 pm »

Have you had a word with Spohn or hawks as they run cars with the same motor in a 3rd gen. SLPs ones were nice too but they say there is no longer any call for them. I wanted to order 5 sets

Roadkill · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:55:11 pm »

Quoting: Rocky

Have you had a word with Spohn

Have sent them 5 emails asking for them to clarify the "clash" they speak of regarding the T5 / T56 . . . . no response.

Quoting: Rocky

or hawks

Hawks charge $50 more for the same stainless works headers so I won't go there out of principle.

Rocky · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2009, 08:09:59 am »

Quoting: Roadkill

Hawks charge $50 more for the same stainless works headers so I won't go there out of principle.

Yeah but i wondered what they used on their project car and then you can gety them elsewhere.
I was thinking of getting the stainless works ones for mine but they are a bit of $$$$$ at the moment. You must be able to adapt them somehow to fit your gearbox?

Roadkill · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:34:57 am »

I've been doing some reading and all, it seems, of the long-tube type have ground clearance issues once you go up to a 1 3/4" primary.

A 1 5/8" primary SAP for a SBC gen I doesn't cover, fully the D-port on the LT1 head hence needing to go to the slightly larger 1 3/4" - which is what limits the choices massively.

As far as I know, Hedman are the ONLY company to do 1 5/8" D-port matching headers for the Third gen - ie. LT1 in Third Gen set-up.

Hedman do both Long-tube and shorty headers.

The long-tubes have ground clearance issues and do not have a Y-pipe to fit them.

The short-tubes (eg. 66479) obviously provide maximum clearance AND there's a Y-pipe kit (17470) which is an almost bolt-on (you need to weld/clamp on one end).

The stainless works long tubes do NOT work with the T5 and, apparently, only clear the T56 with collector modifications.
However, looking at the pictures on Hawks and Spohn it looks like the Headers will clear the T56 but the Y-pipe for that kit definately WON'T.

To make matters worse the Spohn T56 adapter X-member is pretty huge and I'd guess kills the clearance further.

So if I used the Stainless works headers I'd need to have a custom (stainless) system made up - which is a ball-ache - but would be extremely difficult as the S/W headers tuck so far up into the trans. tunnel.

I'm now considering the Hedman shorties so I don't have to concern myself with ground clearances OR potential gearbox clashes . . . . .

That said I really wanted long-tube headers.

F Body · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:52:23 am »

Quoting: Roadkill

I'm now considering the Hedman shorties so I don't have to concern myself with ground clearances OR potential gearbox clashes . . . . .

That said I really wanted long-tube headers.

Remind me what the benefits of long tube headers are

Roadkill · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2009, 01:29:14 pm »

Quoting: F Body

Remind me what the benefits of long tube headers are

They tend to be tuned so give a more "stable" performance.

They also affect the powerband / torque . . . . there is arguements for and against these for on LT1's, though . . .

The other benefits - for me at least - is a simplier exhaust construction as I'll be doing it myself.

Shorties finish higher up and normally at odd angles whereas long-tube headers tend to finish running paralell with the floor pan.

EDIT -

VERY interesting thread, here, especially the final post . . . :

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/exhaust/470125-why-long-tube-headers.html

Rocky · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:54:40 pm »

Ive fitted many Hedman shorties and they arnt the best fitment especially on the SBC stupid things like bends in the wrong place so bolt wont go in straight suppose thats what you get for mass production, most people opt for Hooker which i found a little better. I set up trade with Spohn but only applys to their products

Tried stainless works but they dont reply very well. Im wanting to go with long tubes on mine but they are alot of dosh for the SW ones

Roadkill · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2009, 08:49:03 pm »

Hmm. I'm waiting to hear from a guy selling some Doug's long-tubes . . . they're similar lay-out to the Hooker Super-comps (but cheaper) so I'm hopeful . . . .

Roadkill · « **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:50:15 am »

Link dump : http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/engine-drivetrain-parts-sale/497168-dougs-long-tube-headers.html

I've now fired off an email to Doug's regarding ground clearance issues with their D3321's . . . .

Roadkill · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2009, 10:03:22 am »

The Doug's 3321's are actually cheapest on the Doug's site - $588 !

At this size I can scale it, roughly, and work out the clearances from there - worst case.

EDIT : These are the comparable Hooker 2210's.

HardRockCamaro · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2009, 12:07:22 pm »

I wanted Hookers as they seemed to be the hot ticket over on 3rdgen.org

The long tubes do have ground clearance issues on 3rd gens.
I did have a video of the underside of a car with them fitted showing it trying to get over a *very* small speedbump and it barely made it...

Roadkill · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2009, 12:55:50 pm »

I spoke to Hooker Tech re. the clearance a while back - they said the collectors hang down 6" (overall) from the floor pan !

The Doug's ones look the same, if not shorter - so more clearance.

As I say - I've asked them basically the same question as I asked Hooker, though . . . . We'll see.

Titsy · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2009, 01:01:54 pm »

I don't think you have 6" to spare do you? you'd never get it out of your estate...

Rocky · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:45:47 pm »

Damn i will have to go with shorties then

Roadkill · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:21:55 am »

Still no response from Doug's but the exact response I got from Hooker is as follows :

" . . . . . . . The ground clearance will be roughly 1.5-2.5" from the floor to the top of the collector then another 3" to the bottom side so I would say they will hang down 5-6" from the floor pans."

Roadkill · « **Reply #19 on:** March 18, 2009, 09:12:27 am »

Have now got a response from Doug's so will get my tape measure out this weekend . . . .

"Dean,

Here are the measurements of the D3321 header. The B measurement would be
how low they hang. You would measure from the top of the head flange to the
bottom of the collector.

Left A=3 B=18 C=24 Right A=3 B=18 C=22

If you have any further questions feel free to contact me."

F Body · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2009, 07:45:42 pm »

Don't why you don't make your own

Roadkill · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2009, 08:06:58 pm »

Is that supposed to be a Turbo manifold ?

I can't quite see under all that pigeon $hit !