Wanted to show you guiys a pic of the area around the steering column where guys are having problems. These headers were a dream install, no problems, as you can see by the pic there is about 1/4" clearence from tube to steering. No banging or cussing was needed. Installation time: 3 hrs. This is in my friends "90 IROC 5.7L. Spark plugs also no problem. This is probably an exception to the rule since many people have had problems with these. Any questions, please post. thanks.

 

you have a lot beter clearence then me. on my car, the primary is about 1/16 away from the steering shaft.

 

Looks good, did you cut off and reattach the AIR tubes?

 

No, AIR tubes stayed attached, passenger side just as easy, only had to take wires off starter and remove temp sender. Y pipe also lined up to the dual cats, only had to cut the pipe and weld to cats.

 

ewwww, AIR tubes

 

Why are they all bent up like that then, and that spot where it hooks to the header?

 

Thats the way they come I guess, we took them right out of the box the day they arrived and installed the same day. The only modification to the AIR system was to install 90 degree fittings to the top to better align with the stock tubing. One more thing: On the drivers side we had to bend the brake lines a little closer to the steering column. It actually took longer to get the old stuff out. Tip: Use a sawzaw or plasma cutter on the pipes near the converters if possible, all we had were a air cutter and hacksaw, took awhile to cut. We were ready for just about anything due to the good posts of the readers with their good and bad expierences with these things. It was almost scary how well these headers fit, we were expecting anything to happen.

 

Where or whom did you buy them from?

 

They were the ones that Summit was selling for $349.

 

you are LUCKY. you dont even want to see what i did to my steering shaft to get clearance...

-brian

 

how come some have clearance problems and some do not

they look great!!

 

Don't really know for sure, some people say motor mounts might have something to do with it, some say fit and finish issues with the headers themselves, but it is something you really have to take your time on and not get discouraged. At first they didn't look like they would fit right but after bending the brake lines toward the steering column a little more they fit fine. I have read where some of SLP goods (especially intake runners) don't fit so good.

 

Cool......I thought I was the only one, cause my SLPs fit perfectly......I even have more clearance than the ones in the pic.....I did have to bend the brake lines slightly also.

You are right....cutting off the old y pipe with a cut-off wheel sucked.

 

Mine look like that and they are still in the SLP shipping box.

 

I guess only the select few have the skillls to make them fit, huh?

 

I really didn't like the way they put the air tubes on myself, for that money I expected better, SLP does have some fit and finish issues to work out. I put one of their cat-back systems on my car and I love it but it could have looked better than it did. Those headers were a good deal at summit for $349, but on SLPonline I believe they are $499 plus an installation kit at $63 plus shipping 2nd day air to Hawaii is another $87. They fit good on my friends car and they look decent, plus they are stainless steel, but if and when it comes time to do it to my car, I will look at the other alternatives, don't get me wrong they are a good product but at $649 total now since summit does not carry them anymore, they are a bit pricey, plus if you get them jet coated (I don't even know how much that would cost) that is a lot of bank.

 

most headers fit fine on the drivers side...its the pass side I usually have trouble with.

My hooker competition shorty headers went on the drivers side with ease...didnt even have to take the spark plugs out.

My hedman longtubes also fit the drivers side fine without bending brake lines....pass side was a rough install on the hookers and hedmans to.

I think 350$ for SLP headers are kinda steep especially since your supposed to buy a 80$ install kit with them.

 

Yeah, and all the install kit is some gaskets, bolts, and rubber hoses for the AIR system that should come with the headers themselves for that price.

 

i'd wager to say if your having clearnance issues, it has to do with the engine mounts.
soft old monts it's gonna sit closer, good mounts it's gonna be farter away.

 

wager all you like but it's not the mounts,after installing my slps i too had 1/4 of an inch of clearance but try turning the wheels lock to lock the steering shaft spins but it isent concentric mine came within .020 in some places.but it never hit.so i under took changing the moter mounts (to poly)did that and gained maybe 1/16 more (maybe would have gained more if they were more abused only 25k on them)so i flattened mine out just a little so it would never hit. most likely those who's fit "fine"never checked lock to lock or maybe thier car was fitted perfectly to the one slp fit with the jig.
pete

 

I have noticed with the SLP products I have bought over the years that some of them have fit and finish issues. These headers fit very good but you read some posts of them not fitting so well.

 

Yes, I realize the steering shaft does not have a perfectly circular cross section. Rather, it is round with flats on two opposing sides. So, clearance does vary a bit on mine as the shaft turns, but is fine throughout the range of motion. I count myself as one of the lucky ones.

 

I disconnected my steering shaft to put mine in. I had to jack up one side of the motor too but it fits fine now with plenty of clearance. Only thing is, I have the heddman headers from summit. They look just like the slp ones.

 

I never had a problem, I bought mine years ago when they were super $$$$$$ and they fit my 305 fine 350 and now the 400 and yes they are the 1 3/4" the air tubes look the same the welds arn't quit as big but, basically the same no differance. I only had to take the coolant sensore and air pump valves off the pass side to get it to fit drivers side was a brease, i think the gaskets make your biggest differance for the drivers side.

the 400 I had to install my oil dip stick tub last though but 400 is far from the original motor.