I have had great luck and great service in dealing with Summit Racing. They always ship promptly and rarely backorder anything. Having said that, and knowing that headers can be a real problem, I called to make certain that Hedman header part # HED-68296 would fit my 72 El Camino with a 350 that I put 1966 double hump heads on. They afirmed it wouild fit, so I ordered them. I've spent the last two days installing and taking off, dimpling and redimpling on both sides. I just finished installing the passenger side for the third time only to see that one of the tubes now hits the starter motor. The starter is a PowerMaster and about as small as you can get. What I found is:

1) The drivers side hit on one tube and requires more that "dimpling" I had to flatten it half way to clear the upper rear A arm.

2) The passenger side hit the starter flange and when I dimpled it, it then came to rest against the starter motor.

3) getting to most of the spark plugs is difficult and are close to the header tubes. I have an order in for insulator boots for the plug wires and an insulator for the starter. I have concerns about how close everything is.

It will be a couple of days before I have time and inclination to take it back off and dimple (flatten) for the starter motor.
At the same time, I ordered FlowMaster exhaust system from Summit and just HOPE I have better luck with that install.
I installed Sanderson headers on my 31 and 32 Fords w/ Chev 350's and had no problems with those.
In fairness, Hedman notes that you may have to dimple some tubes for clearance. Take it from me you will have to beat the heck out of one tube on each side for them to fit.

I remember very well last April 2010, we tryed putting Hedman Headers on and NO WAY they would fit so the store took them back and I went to Hooker Headers and thought I was getting the best but in less than a year I'm dealing with rust. Apparently 435.99 are cheap headers. Anyway these where a very tight fit on my 80 with a 350 and I do have a boot on two of my plug wires so they will not melt on the headers. Guess I'm just making a point. I sure don't like the rust already.

so you got headers to only flatten one tube half way :???: ?
looks like you got the wrong ones, i have no problems with mine.

I'm running Hedman's right now and no problems. I got them ceramic coated at Enduro in Mesquite Tx. The tip is to use a 90 degree boot to make the wires stick up and away from the headers.Oh yea,use a copper gasket instead of the crappy paper ones most header companies supply in the box

I have Hedman headers #68310 on my 81 Malibu, The only problem I have is I have to unbolt the header from the head and the exhaust to replace the starter.. Doug

Running Hedman "shorty" headers on my '85 SS. Have had no problems with the fit. It did require a 90° fitting for the oil press. sending unit to clear. There was an issue with the bolts on the collector tubes loosening. I fixed that with a little spot weld on each nut. I like 'em.

Steel Beast;
What did that outfit charge to coat your headers?

Yep, that was my point. Even though I double-checked, the headers didn't fit according to Summit; I'm still a fan of Summit. Anyway, after reading Hedmans install info and seeing that dimpling may be needed, I started the dimpling process making them non returnable. I just wanted to share the part number as compared to the 72 frame geometry so someone else doesn't make the same mistake! I do have the 90 degree plug boots and it is still close.
Thanks to all for your thoughts anyway.

Jim.....I am sorry to hear of your tribulations with the headers. Here is a link from this forum that sort of deals with someone else trying to fit headers and the coating on someone else's headers rusting after just a year. Headers are like a rite of passage for everyone who works on cars. I even have an air hammer attachment just for header dimpling. The only headers that I have ever dropped in were a set of Hooker Super Comps on my 1967 Chevy truck. Those were funny to install. A good mechanic friend of mine tried one night to install them. No way would they fit. I went home in disgust and much sorrow. I prayed that night for Divine Help in getting them to fit. The next night after work, Albert and I tried again.....and......they dropped right in with no modifications. I now pray before I do header installations......LOL....and keep the air hammer ready.
Craig (headers can make you find religion....or at least make you believe in Evil)
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=14104

Jim.....I am sorry to hear of your tribulations with the headers. Here is a link from this forum that sort of deals with someone else trying to fit headers and the coating on someone else's headers rusting after just a year. Headers are like a rite of passage for everyone who works on cars. I even have an air hammer attachment just for header dimpling. The only headers that I have ever dropped in were a set of Hooker Super Comps on my 1967 Chevy truck. Those were funny to install. A good mechanic friend of mine tried one night to install them. No way would they fit. I went home in disgust and much sorrow. I prayed that night for Divine Help in getting them to fit. The next night after work, Albert and I tried again.....and......they dropped right in with no modifications. I now pray before I do header installations......LOL....and keep the air hammer ready.
Craig (headers can make you find religion....or at least make you believe in Evil)
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=14104
Thanks for that story, now I too will say a few prayers before I hit the sack. You are so right about prayer, it works every time, at God's speed, not ours. Michael:smileyb:

Thanks for the encouragment! It's a case of making a little dimple, then a little more and after bolting them up, taking them off, bolting them up, taking them off, the good lord got tier of me talking to him about it.
I'm only running a mildly built 350 probably putting out somewhere around 300 HP, so I don't think performance will be hurt too much. If I had a fire-breathing 650 HP monster up front, I'd make a change. Time to move on, getting close to interior and paint.

Hooker headers great fit 85 El Camino

My coated headers ( Malibu) have some pits in them, and it's a summer car with less than 2000 miles on the engine and headers. Seems like the coatings are not all that great.

Steel Beast;
What did that outfit charge to coat your headers?

My headers were around 160.00 from Jegs and the ceramic coating cost 250.00(well worth it). They are still looking good. The best thing about them is if i get oil on them,aluminum polish takes it right out. Never order headers that come ceramic coated from any company because they are mass produced and the coatings are cheap. It's always better to get them coated at a local shop because they can dip them and coat them the way you want.

im running patriot headers on my 87 with a LT1 and love them they are the metallic ceramic coated clippster headers they fit with put hitting anything and all the header bolts aligned good and i would highly recommend them

The only headers I've had to dimple were a set of Doug Thorley's on a '73 Chevelle, where they came against the engine mount. In the old days, we used Jardine headers. Don't know if that company is still around.

i dont know if yall like them but header studs help out alot in situations like your have to take them on and off alot

I love them and use them like swiss on ham. They truly help when you are hanging headers trying to see what will and won't clear (Carburetor will clear.....Frame won't)
Craig

I love them and use them like swiss on ham. They truly help when you are hanging headers trying to see what will and won't clear (Carburetor will clear.....Frame won't)
Craig
more than:twisted::twisted: a fat kid love cake