OK, I know that some people are going to think I'm crazy (& I'll admit that there is a definite possibility that I could ruin a good set of headers) but here goes...

It's no secret that I've been disgusted with the lack of swap headers available for our cars. So, after reading one thread (I think it was on LS1Tech) where someone modified a pair of headers that were made for the "normal" Gen-I engine so that they fit the Gen-III/Gen-IV engine, I decided to give it a shot - and my success or failure will be posted here for all to see (and/or "point & laugh at")...

Here is what I'm starting with:



What you see above is one bare L92 cylinder head with the set of Hooker long-tubes that I bought for this experiment. I chose these headers because they were the only ones I found that fit my criteria - LTs with 1.75" primaries, that were made for 3rdgens & that didn't "break the bank" for me (I got 'em second-hand).

You can see that two of the pipes line up pretty well, while two are only vaguely in the same neighborhood. I'm fervently HOPING that after I remove the flange that bolts to each head, the application of some heat, combined with some gentle, patient "persuasion" will result in a pair of LSx headers for about 1/2 the cost of the others. (If this works, I'll probably get 'em coated, which means that I'll still have nearly the same amount of money into them, but they'll also come with a nice sense of accomplishment as well...) At the moment, I'm waiting for the LS-type flanges to arrive.

Wish me luck!

 

AHHHH!!!! I can't see your photos! I MUST BE GOING BLIND!!!!

 

Nice... I'm disgusted as well with the lack of ls1 headers for our third gens. Keep us posted and hopefully eveything will work out.

 

Give er!

FWIW Heat the pipe in a diamond pattern on the backside of the area you wish to bend. I'm sure if you search around you'll find info about this on google. Search steamfitting, steam fitters etc. Its the way they bend pipe although your probably going to have a fair but of cutting and welding to do as well.

Good luck!

 

OK, try this then... (Links to the full-size images)

Link 1

Link 2

Hope you're not DRIVING anywhere tonight...! (Just kidding, I know you're more responsible than that...)

 

Actually, my ISP was blocking the images for some reason.

Sorry for the anxiety attack - I didn't pack any meds.

 

Actually, I didn't have any meds to pack.

 

I was going to say about the same thing...but I think you are going to have to cut and weld. You might be able to cut the upper most bend off, then bend the main tube over to get it closer, then you might be able to use the old bend and bridge the gap.

Just try to plan things out before you cut/bend. Beacuse you might be able to minimize the amount of extra material you need.

Good luck and I hope it works out for ya!!! Keep us posted...Ill be watching for sure.

J.

 

How are they coming along?

 

Sorry guys - my dad's gone into the hospital a few times this year, and twice within the last 3 weeks - and each time that happens, I wind up driving nearly 100 miles each way to be there. I'm not only losing time to work on my swap, I'm losing time from work as well...

I'll get back to it as soon as I'm able to - it's just that every time I think we might be past the worst of it, we get to do it again...

 

do you have flanges for the LS1 head? if not, I'd suggest you get 'em.

I also agree, just cutting and welding up new bends will be waaayyy easier than trying to bend the tubing without ruining it.

a word of advice too, mock the engine up the chassis, so you can figure out which tube(s) will not change much, it would suck if you picked the wrong tube as a reference and the whole header needed to move forward or backward for clearance once you had them fabbed.

it's not hard, just time consuming.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he is ok.

 

Sorry to hear things arent well with your dad, but go Rumble! A shop owner in town and I are trying the same thing with a pair of Hookers that I found for cheap, so I'm right there with you on the ridiculous price and poor availability of headers.

Looks like you already saw this, but i've been told that the 1st and 3rd primaries stay where they are and that the 2nd and 4th are the ones that require cutting and bending.


Good luck on you headers, I know just about every swapper out there (myself included) would love a detailed writeup on how your headers turn out success or not.

 

anyone tried out the generic brand headers for ls1s on ebay ?
lol just wondering

 

any updates as of yet?

 

No, not yet, I apologize. I got all amped up to get started on it, then realized that I really should wait to start on this until I can place the engine in the car, so that I know which tubes -if any- can't be moved or modified. I'm working on getting to that point as quickly as I can right now...

Pretty sure that SheldonZ28 has a thread up here that shows his progress on this project though...

 

yeah, i read through that the other night, i'm just waiting on the driver's side photos lol. i am debating whether or not it will be worth it to take the 350 out of my car to do the 5.3 swap now. its a bracket car and its deadly as it is, but the 5.3 may make it into another car, we'll see i suppose.