finished the drivers side header finally today, may have to cut down the headmann hustler collector just slightly though, haven't checked yet. Ground clearance is even with the oil pan bottom.



passenger side should be completed in a few days longer, waiting on more u-bends from summit.

more pics at the end of the post of updates.

 

Looks good...

 

Looking good!

 

Driver side was the easy one for me that's why I started on that side. I figured between steering, booster, and brake lines in the way it would be the hard one. I was wrong the pass side gave me all kinds of trouble. Just stay with it and remember it will all be worth it in the end.

 

Isn't that what people say about the entire swap process??

 

I have the passenger side one done until the a-arms for 3 of the 4 pipes, so I'm hoping it won't be too much harder, but ya I figure it'll take 2-3 more solid days to finish it. Then there's the radiator hose issues since my motor is setback some to contend with along with a radiator that is setup for a 70 nova, so I still have issues to contend with. I'll have to take some progress pics later this week of what else I have done.

 

where it sits as of last night. Still haven't touched the passenger header, but did run the MSD 6010 box harness and redid half of it because the lengths are all wrong for a carb intake setup.

 

You woulnt feel like making another set would you?

 

I have about 30 hours into these two headers now, so it isn't very cost effective including the $200 or so in flanges, u-bends and the collectors that I'm up to now. If a company comes out with 1 7/8" headers shortly then I will sell these off, otherwise I'm going to hold onto them.

 

Im looking into fabricating a set of 1 7/8" headers for my car.

How many bends do you have in these? Ive calculater 8 J bends, and 3 Straigh pipes + collectors and flanges.

Sheldon

 

What are the straight sections for? Each hooker u-bend had a 9" or so section of straight pipe on one end and 6" of pipe on the other end. I think I used 11 u-bends total with me probably having 1 left over when I'm done. I have 6 out of 8 of the tubes done, hopefully tomorrow I'll finish up the passenger side completely unless something pops up at the shop and I get pulled away from it. If I made 1 7/8" headers I'd probably step them to 2" then into 3.5" collectors if I was going to make my own set, but that's probably too extreme for the motor you're planning on running.

 

Stepped 1 7/8 is a bit much for what im doin, but i beleive that the 1 7/8" will be a gain over 1 3/4" so id like to do it in the 1 7/8" since id be fabricating a complete header anyway.

If i ordered 11 U bends in 1 7/8", then a 3" collector, that'd probably work for me.

I was figureing a 2.5" Y, to a 3" catback, but would the 2.5" Y be too small?

Build is a 346, MS3 cam, TSP CNC LS6 heads etc

Sheldon

 

Sheldon - have you thought of running the 3 inch collectors into a 3.5" single cat back. (2 x 3" in 1 x 3.5" Y) flow master makes a pretty decent Y for this at a good price (http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku). There are better but they cost a ton more and are only a bit better. No need to choke the new motor

 

I'd do a dual 3" y-pipe with one of those flowmaster "y" connectors into a 3.5" catback and put a cutout there first, you'll pick up some power with the cutout no doubt. The 2.5" y-pipe would be a restriction as would the 3" catback, but the cutout will help when you are at the track, etc if you want to keep the 3" catback instead.

 

That would be nice to do.

If i ran a cutout, i could put a more restrictive muffler on, cause i want to keep a bit of a lid on the sound this year.

Magnaflow is very loud, and while the sound is to die for, my neighbours dont feel the same way when i wake up at 6am for work

I could do a 3" Y, then run a 3.5" single to a muffler of some sort, then just tuck the outlet, since im not a fan of the single tip look.

 

Was just juggling the idea.

If i ran the collectors into a 2.5" piping, X'd it and ran 2.5" true duals. Would that choke a 364 still?

 

There are "stock appearing" 455 GS's and 454 Chevelles running low 11's and high 10's through manifolds and 2.5" duals. My 3900 lb '57 ran 11.9's through 2.5" dual tail pipes (not even mandrel bent).

I don't think you'll have a problem.

 

I think the 2.5" duals will be fine, as for the stock appearing ones running those times, that's great but unchoke the motors and I bet they'd pick up a few more ponies on any chassis dyno.

 

Would the 3" be a massive step up from the 2.5?

If the difference between the 2.5 and 3" is like 5hp, i wouldnt bother. But if its 15+ id do the different

 

for a true dual setup or for a catback y-pipe? If you want to just run the cutout then I told you what to run, otherwise a nice 2.5" or 3" true duals would work. Both have to be bought new so might as well go bigger while you have that option. I'm putting 2.5" true duals with 3" cutouts immediately after the headers so for street duty it'll be quieter with the fullsize mufflers where the back seat bottom should have been in the floor.

 

kickass! very cool steve, glad to see some progress pics from you finally!

 

finished up the passenger side header today finally.

here's a shot of the drivers side installed



here's the passenger side on the welding bench

 

finally finished both sides today and painted them in VHT header paint.
drivers side installed from behind

both headers installed....only .5" lower than the oil pan, should be perfect for ground clearance.

both headers from behind

passenger side header, now this is what I call tucked perfectly. .25" clearance all around the collector flange.

 

Looks good!

Boy the things id give to have a lift!

 

ya that's my buddies shop, i've kinda taken over his center lift for about the past 3 months. I think I've been in there 3-5 months out of every year actually now that I think about it. Not a bad gig for dealing with customers and answering phones, etc while he's out of the office. He has a 7 bay shop with 6 lifts.

 

dont know how i missed this thread to start with.
headers look good!

 

I read this a couple of times and still am not sure what size primaries you used. and do you have any pics from the top side installed Thanks.

 

1 7/8.

 

That's what I thought but than this post got me confused.