i am just about to put a '72 400 sb into my 83 z-28. i have a question about what headers anyone has used or if anyone has any recomedations. i have heard problems about clearances with the starter and was wondering which headers would fit the best. i would like the headers to have 1 5/8 primaries. thanks in advance for your help.

 

Headers are no different for a 400 than for any other SBC.

Depending on whether you have a manual or an auto trans, you may have to drill a bolt hole for your starter that will not exist on any 400 block. This hole will enable you to use the stock type starter on the small flywheel (although the stock starter on these cars will barely turn over a 305 let alone a 400). Do a search for my name, "starter", "400", and "bolt hole" on the site, you'll find the answer given for the starter question over and over again. If anyone tells you there's some starter you can use that will work on a 400 with a 12¾" flywheel but doesn't require the bolt hole, smile politely, nod approvingly, and ignore every other word they say on the subject without wasting your breath on arguing. Until you've been laying up under your car with the motor installed and hooked up with a starter in your hand that won't fit, you won't realize how you've been sent on a left turn down a dirt road by listening to them.