I read up on everything about longtubes and 3rd gens.

I had no problem making some modifications/dents/grinding to the headers and/or my frame or control arm mounts.

Seems like most people had to but it was nothing too crazy.

I put in new solid motor mounts, no tranny in yet, and the passenger header was hitting the frame in 2 spots bad and the control arm. And on top of that i had to hog out a couple of the bolt holes on the headers. They did not even line up with the motor on the engine stand.

I have run cheapie headers before, NEVER had this many problems.

Not sure if I got a bad pair or what, but these headers are a pile of dog crap.

I really want to run long tubes but hesitant on buying a different brand and possibly having the same problem.

Motor I have in the car should make 450-500hp.

Any suggestions? Either I modify the hedmans more or throw them in the scrap pile and get a different pair.

 

Did you buy the hedman's new? I run hedman longtubes (D-ports) and they fit with no issues, tight yes, but that's just the nature of running long-tubes.

I would contact hedman and ask them what is up. You shouldn't have to do that much work to get them to line up. My guess is you got a bad pair.

 

Yea they were new. I have no heater, no a/c, mini starter, this engine compartment is empty. As much room as there is on these cars, I can't believe any of these companies can't make a header that fits with no fitment issues.

Im not talking ground clearance, thats a whole different issue. I have read of people using $500-700 headers and having some fitment issues. No reason for that.

About ready to build my own headers from scratch.

 

There are plenty of people that make good headers with 0 fitment issues. You're probably not going to get something that fits GREAT for $200-ish though. There's obviously a line between price, and product integrity.

 

I would gladly spend more. Just afraid i would have same issues. Dont want to throw away $400-600 on headers that fit like crap. I have cheapie flow-techs on my yukon. No issues there.

 

Hooker Super Comp Headers, Part # 2210.. fit great on my 383 (465 HP ) and the ceramic coating still looked good after 12 years.

I sold those when I built my 421.
If money is no object I recommend Lemons Headers.

 

NO company makes headers that fit right out of the box. its as if they all have the "ah, that's close enough" mentality

 

i had to ding one tube on each header a little bit on my Hedmans... took me about a half hour to put them in..

and why are you fitting headers with no transmission in the car? yeah, you have solid mounts, but there is wiggle room in the mounting holes and things might move a bit once you get the transmission in there.. it's weird how just moving the transmission up or over a little bit can move header tubes away from stuff farther than you think it should.

also, keep in mind that these cars were cheaply and quickly built, and there is a lot of variation from one car to another. the 80's wasn't a great time for quality in GM, and these are cheaply made unibody sports cars that were thrown together fast.

 

I have a set of hedman long tubes that was bought 10 years ago. My dad used them on his '82 firebird and now I'm using them on my '88 camaro. The headers had to have 1 tube dimpled and both cars needed the A-arm mount ground down, but that's the only fitment probs we had with them.

 

Then why do my Hawks headers fit great then?

 

I've been looking at Hawks headers also. Are you happy with them? I know long tubes are a PIA on 3rd gens but it seems Hawks headers fit very well in the pics on their site. Man they're spendy but if they're as good as they seem then worth it IMO.

 

with headers, its hit or miss. usually miss. it would be a better end result if one bought a kit and fabbed up their own headers that fit their particular application.

 

<- Doug's headers (2210 knock offs)

They fit pretty good, still on the car.

 

I just recently installed the OBX ebay Long tubes on my car and they fit great. Very little modifying just normal stuff. Reamed out some bolt holes a little. No dimpling of any tubes at all it all cleared. Its a little close on the pass side frame rail next to the tranny area but it fits. Also has great ground clearance. Oh and they were $400.. See my thread with pics.

 

My hedmans are pretty painless. They tuck up well if you've got a lowered car too.




One Primary got dented in a tad, teh a arm perch got trimmed... otherwise... that's about it.

 

That's the best ground clearance I've seen on long tubes. ^

 

these headers two posts above me in the pic are they the hedman 68460?

 

I've recently installed both hedman 68460 and hooker 2210, they both need a ton of work to make fit (note this on an lt1 though) the hookers are much better quality but still banged on everything in sight. Also hookers hang much lower, sucks on my lowered car with aftermarket torque arm and manual transmission. The hedmans were a lot more work to bang up but they did work, I run an lt1 with d port heads so I prefer the hookers for their 1.75" primaries. Infernal vortex I wish my exhaust tucked up half as nice as yours....I assume u run an auto transmission, am I correct?

 

Humm, no issues with those hedmans, fit just fine plenty of clearance





The cheapo ebay obx (and other brands) headers are 1-3/4 (not 1.5) and they fit just as good on an auto (not with a manual with external clutch linkage or hydro...internal hydro throwout no issues) they even tuck up a little better and have excellent ground clearance (because they are copies of the stainlessworks headers that are a quality product)

obx vs hedman


clearance (engine hangs down no tranny...held up by wooden wedge block)



clearance of subframe etc:

 

I don't mean to dereail this, but do you have the part number for that bell housing and adaptor? I have a Tremec 5 speed I'd like to put into my Camaro.

 

Yes they are the 68460. Any clearance problems you have are going to be from getting the exhaust under the transmission crossmember. Anything you do to address that will solve it.

I have a T56.

 

Ah I see why it works so well. I forgot about the tran mount differences. I guess Back when I was looking at mounts I inadvertently sacrificed ground clearance for torque arm mounting location. Oh well, I stand by my decision and remain jealous.

 

all i had to do was the normal dents and trimming to get the hedman long tubes to fit my 91 LO3, i was very impressed for the price.