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Looking for header options for my LS3 motor inside of 72 K5 4x4 frame - about to send frame to powdercoat and would like something that didn't require trimming but will if needed.
Any firm experience or fitment you guys can point me to
Usually headers fit more than one application and Chevy and GM are good about sharing chassis between models. You may not find an ls header listed for a K5 but it may share the same chassis as a similar year truck that someone makes the ls header for.
Agree - it does seem however that there are fitment issues even when they say they will work. I'm just trying to flush out any fitment issues before I powedercoat the frame then have issues. Or if there are issues with exhaust routing ect...
Doug Thorley Tri - Y's
Scheonfiied are the two that I have seen also
Was hoping someone had tried the Hooker, or other brands
Agree - it does seem however that there are fitment issues even when they say they will work. I'm just trying to flush out any fitment issues before I powedercoat the frame then have issues. Or if there are issues with exhaust routing ect...
Doug Thorley Tri - Y's
Scheonfiied are the two that I have seen also
Was hoping someone had tried the Hooker, or other brands
One thing to keep in mind, If you are going to go by someone else's experience then the setups have to be exactly the same. Same engine mounts same transmission/ same trans crossmember and so on.
I would look at forums for that era of truck, Like I said earlier many cars and trucks shared the same chassis configuration back then so the headers you are looking for might be listed as fitting those models but may not list yours even though they are the same. Chevy was good at doing that because they could make one part fit several vehicles saving them time and money. So see what other vehicles shared your chassis design.
Not an LS, but close. I put Shoenfeld headers on an L83 5.3 in a '72 Blazer 4x4 and had to trim the frame a bit. More so on the passenger side than the driver's side.
As noted, it will depend a bit on the engine position. I have a 1971 Jimmy, running a dirty dingo crossmember with slider engine mounts. The further forward the engine, the more you get interference with the headers vs the top of the framerails. The further back you go, the more you can interfere with the firewall.
I am running the 1-7/8 Doug Thorley tri-y's. I remember needing to trim 3/8-1/2 off the top of the frame rail on both sides (top leg of the C channel of the frame). Been running the truck for 4 years, no problems with the headers since install. Only problem I had was the rubber in the clamshell engine mounts that came with the kit shifted/sagged, so that the engine started hitting the crossmember. I jacked it up in place and filled all of the voids with Windoweld to make them more solid, and it's been fine.
Generally speaking, the 76-72 frames and the 73-87 frames are assumed to be similar. I've never had one of the earlier ones to know for sure.
How stuck are you on headers? The 2010 Camaro manifolds fit a 73-87 frame beautifully. The bellhousing was left in the stock position for this. I can't say for sure what would happen if you used Tejas mounts or something similar.
I have had good luck in my squarebody swaps with using 2010 camaro ss headers. They clear the frame and rear mount for the front leaf springs. Do have to cut and rotate the collectors as the are not straight after the merge.
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LS Headers on Blazer K5 4X4 Frame 
