should i send these headers back?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,713
Likes: 7
From: Humble Texas
should i send these headers back? i really want these to work. there arent many options for a 2" primary and 3.5" collector for my application. I got a set of ARH headers for my 69 camaro that fit like ****. they clear in all the tight places, but the collectors are way too close to the transmission. ARH said that they were made for a standard transmission and wont fit with an 80e and that they've run into this a few times. you would think that they would mention this in the description.... anyways i'm not sure if i should send them back for a refund or try to figure out a way to make them fit. any ideas on getting them to fit?
here is my linkage before the headers were even tight. the collector came in even farther.
here it is fully bolted down
notice the shifter lever is above the collector
i bolted it down and ran a strap from the collector to the frame and was able to move it over far enough to work, but it snapped right back when i released the strap.
any ideas on how to make them work? i considered running a spreader bar between duals and putting a H pipe in there to hold everything out but if i ever remove the exhaust i'm in for a PITA and i dont know if it would affect the seal at the heads being forced out like that.
here is my linkage before the headers were even tight. the collector came in even farther.
here it is fully bolted down
notice the shifter lever is above the collector
i bolted it down and ran a strap from the collector to the frame and was able to move it over far enough to work, but it snapped right back when i released the strap.
any ideas on how to make them work? i considered running a spreader bar between duals and putting a H pipe in there to hold everything out but if i ever remove the exhaust i'm in for a PITA and i dont know if it would affect the seal at the heads being forced out like that.
I would pie slice about a quarter inch out of the outboard side right after the o2 bung to cant it outwards like most headers made for 80e's do...but that brings up another issue. you're gonna have to plug that bung and install another somewhere else
TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 985
Likes: 12
Are the header flanges thick enough to have them ground down like a wedge?
Thin at the top thick at the bottom, would move them farther away from trans, have to use
a wedge shape washer to tighten them up. Just a thought.
Thin at the top thick at the bottom, would move them farther away from trans, have to use
a wedge shape washer to tighten them up. Just a thought.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,713
Likes: 7
From: Humble Texas
what kind of side load can a V band clamp take? i could run an H or X pipe and spread the collectors out and clamp them down with a wider exhaust setup. not sure what kind of effect that would have on the seal at the heads...and ofcourse the side load at the collector. I plan to grind down the current 02 bungs and cap them and weld in new bungs on the outside.
i like the idea of milling the flanges to make room, but things are tight around the steering shaft/steering box and motor mounts.
ARH did offer to cut the collector off and cant it to the side. if i go that route, they could flip the collector 180* to put the 02 sensor on the outside. what would that do as far as the spike sitting sideways in the collector?
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 134
Easy fix. Run an extra 3/8" thick header flange across the cylinder head sandwiched with 2 gaskets. Just get longer bolts to make sure you have enough thread contact. This will sit the headers out from the transmission and also acts a little like an exhaust port extension before flowing into the huge 2" pipe. I did this and worked well for me in the past on another make of vehicle, I had tall deck headers and went to a low deck engine and the headers were like yours when bolted on as is. An extra 3/8" flange on each side of the cylinder heads and using 2 gaskets gave them just enough clearance to work nice.
Of course this might make your headers hit somewhere else, but if it doesn't it will fix your problem.
Of course this might make your headers hit somewhere else, but if it doesn't it will fix your problem.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,713
Likes: 7
From: Humble Texas
Easy fix. Run an extra 3/8" thick header flange across the cylinder head sandwiched with 2 gaskets. Just get longer bolts to make sure you have enough thread contact. This will sit the headers out from the transmission and also acts a little like an exhaust port extension before flowing into the huge 2" pipe. I did this and worked well for me in the past on another make of vehicle, I had tall deck headers and went to a low deck engine and the headers were like yours when bolted on as is. An extra 3/8" flange on each side of the cylinder heads and using 2 gaskets gave them just enough clearance to work nice.
Of course this might make your headers hit somewhere else, but if it doesn't it will fix your problem.
Of course this might make your headers hit somewhere else, but if it doesn't it will fix your problem.
I have a really nice set of 3/8" flanges that I was going to use to build turbo manifolds with that I wont be using. Let me know if you want them and cover the shipping and theyre yours.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,713
Likes: 7
From: Humble Texas
were they for 2" primarys? i'd love to take you up on the deal but don't want to accept parts that may not work for me. Thank you for the offer and let me know. ARH wants 140 for a pair of matching stainless flanges. I wish I knew who supplies their flanges.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 15,713
Likes: 7
From: Humble Texas