Thanks for getting back on this, Dave. I think it may have been one of your earlier posts that helped steer me to try Hedmans. I didn't have any trouble getting them in, it's just after I bolted them down all the way I noticed they were drawn right into the cross member and control arm. If I loosen the bolts, they hang down and clear everything. I'm going to double check to make sure all the old gasket was removed, but I'm pretty sure the heads are clean.
I'm fairly new at doing my own work on cars, and I'm really enjoying it, but I'd like to stop soon and get everything done so I can run it by Spring. I can drop headers in and out with my eyes closed now. Tom -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Dave Studly Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 7:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Chevelle-List] Header Question Tom, I'm catching this thread late, but I looked up my receipt and I have the Hedman 68290's in my '70 small-block. I've had zero trouble with them, and they've been on the car since '98. A couple of the header bolts have loosened a little over time, but it hasn't been what I'd call even a minor headache. Based on my experience, I'd recommend them to anyone looking for a decent, inexpensive header. To specifically answer your question, the fit on the driver's side is fine. It doesn't have near the amount of clearance the passenger side has, but I didn't have any real headaches putting them on, if I remember. I do seem to remember that I put them in from the bottom, which let me get away with not having to un-do the motor mount. But I do not have any of the alignment issues with the crossmember that you mention. The car isn't here, so I can't go look, but it does seem like they were kinda close to the lower control arm, but not enough to cause me any trouble. It sounds like you did indeed get a header that shouldn't have made it through quality inspection. Just thought I'd pass along my $.02 -Dave -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Tom Tomlinson Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 6:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Chevelle-List] Header Question Thanks for all the suggestions; I'll look into the Sandersons. However, I think I'm on the trail to identifying the headers that came with the car (Hooker Comps); they fit, didn't leak, and stayed tight, so I might switch to them. Tom -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of William King Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 9:50 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Chevelle-List] Header Question One word when it comes to headers..Dont. Look into Sanderson Exhaust manifolds. Hi flow, bolt on, never tighten. At 11:48 PM 3/3/2003 -0500, you wrote: >My experience with Hedman for street headers has been very good. I'd try >to work with them before switching manufacturers. >Don >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Tom Tomlinson >To: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:47 PM >Subject: [Chevelle-List] Header Question > >I'm in the middle of doing some upgrades to my '71 Malibu 350, including >headers and exhaust. As far as I know, the engine is stock, but not >original; at least the ports on the heads are the stock size. I'm not sure >what headers came with the engine, but they were too rusted and dented to >attach to the new flowmaster exhaust. > >So I purchased a set of Hedman headers (pn 68296 to be precise), which I >heard from (some on this list) should fit fine. The passenger side fits >great; lots of clearance, and the collectors exit where they should to >line up with the indent in the transmission cross member for the exhaust >pipe. The drivers side is another story. After bolting them up, they hit >the frame cross member as well as the lower control arm. The collector >also misses the transmission cross member indent by quite a bit (too far >to the outside of the car). If the header flange was at a slightly >different angle, so that the pipes ran closer to the engine, I think >things would fit fine. > >I called Hedman and they said it could be that the one side got "tweeked", >and that another may be ok. Luckly, Summit will take them on a return. > >1) Do others on this list have experience with Hedman 68296 (or 68290) >headers on a small block? How have they fit on the drivers side? >2) Should I expect that much manufacturing variance in headers such that >another set might fit? >3) Should I look at another manufacturer? > >As always, any help is much appreciated. > >Tom Tomlinson >'71 Malibu 350 >ACES #4284 ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe please visit www.chevelles.net/list.html To start a new topic, send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
