Ok heres my story of the header moster i bought about four sets of headers for my 78 elk and still cant seem to make one set fit.
Now the set was flo tech 1 5/8in with 3 inch collectors and they were very close to fitting but i thought it would be smart not to go with my natual instinct and beat the **** out it until it went in so i brought them back and bought dyno max headers and they wernt close at all, but summit claims they would "fit like a glove"but i saw no glove fitting in this project soooo i brought these back as well.
So then it was up to hedmen headers that didnt want to go in to my car as well, so i was just about to give up until a went to my local car auto parts store {car quest} and the gentlemen was looking in the book and keep in mind the flo tech were very close, so he found ploblom for me. all the other headers i tried were 1 5/8 inch with 3 inch collectors and the ones ordered were 1 1/2 with 2 1/2 inch collectors that hopefully will give me the little room i need to make them slide right in with minimal work.

You should have bought a Hooker! Set of headers that is! 8) Where we're the brands you tried hitting?

everyone of them except the flo tech were hitting anywhere and everyware and i honestly cant tell you how many things were in the way.
I get my new flo techs on friday and will write again to let you guys know how it went

Huh that doesn't sound like much fun, I guess i got lucky then. I used a pair of coated headers my dad had left over when he went to a BBC in his nova. I really didn't think they would fit since they were from a 69 nova but i tried it and they fit pretty good, just some minor hammer work. I think they are either Hedman or Hookers not sure.

Chris

Same thing--I got a set of headers from wrecking yard for my 5th gen. The guy said they came out of an '84 Monte but weren't close to fitting. Then a set of FloTech "almost" fit. The long pipe from #3 cylinder to the collector hit the upper A arm. Took a combination of new motor mounts, grinding down the A arm, and a little hammer to that pipe to make it fit.

I bought a set of flowtech headers years ago when I first started workin on my Elky.. They fit the original 267ci snail and the two 350's that came later.. They fit my ZZ430 too but I had to cut the flange off and replace with a d-port version.. Still, fit like a glove! Using stock lt-1 manifold gaskets and Breslin Header lock bolts I'm still drivin' leak free after 10k miles! I guess there is quite a big difference in the manufacturing tolerances between our Elky's or the headers! Good luck!

I was thinking of adding headers on my 84 ekly, but after reading about the stories of how almost all headers won't fit most El Camino's , I am not sure it's worth all the fuss. Yea, the extra bost will be great , but I am not looking for all the head akes either.......

For all of thoes who added Headers, was the effort worth it ????? :?

All the magazine articles are always pushing headers. Oh they do so much this and so much that. Yeah but they don't fit so what use are they!

What they gloss over as you look at all that shiny metal is the absence of things like an AC compressor or a heater box or the fact that they swapped in a corvette front end underneath. Those are just minor details to them but get some stock dimensioned accessories hung on that motor
( and a sanden AC compressor with a custom evap setup is not even near the dimensions of a stock A6 based AC system) and see how easy the headers fit.

I would like to have some too on my 74 but it's just not worth it when you look at all the crap I'd have to get out of the way.

I guess an alternative is to buy one of those weld it yourself kits and build your own that fit but I'm not much of a welder so that's out for me.

would be nice tho.

:-D

Ok i am wanting to add headers to my 71 anyone with a 3rd generation that has done this?

Any tips or horror stories?

Things to be aware of?

I have A'C that mounts on drivers side and P/S and both are staying! I love cold air!

Yes even more then horsepower!

My 71 has Hedman's on it, they were on it when I bought it. I've had them off once or twice and they weren't too bad to work with. One pipe is dimpled a little bit on the drivers side because of being so close to the end of the a-frame, but that's the only modification to them, otherwise it would rub slightly. Who ever put them on had to leave the lower rear a/c mount off that bolts to the exhaust manifold, but between the front mount and the top rear mount the compressor doesn't move.
Tip #1: jack the car as high in the air as you can get it (be sure to use jack stands)
Tip #2: remove all spark plugs, drain the coolant and remove the water temp sensor so it's out of the way.
Tip #3: be sure to buy gaskets that match the shape of the welds on the header flanges.
Tip #4: use a pair of long bolts that you can turn easily with only your hands, so you can get the headers lined up with the heads and drop the gaskets in place before installing those short little header bolts.
Hope this helps some.

I have a stock engine witih single pipe and muffler. It goes without saying that I would have to put duel pipes on with the Headers.

My question is, do I have to put a second CATALYTIC CONVERTER on ???

I live in California with tough Smog laws. Can I put 2 Catalytic converters on at the same time ????

Or, can I run only one Converter ???? and still pass smog.

Guys,any ideas ???? :?

James84elky
pierj260@cs.com

I'd say run studs into the heads if you can. Might make it easier to get the headers on than fumbling with those damn bolts that always seem to slip out of your hand and get eaten.

As for the smog question, I'm pretty sure you'd either have to run your exhausts either into one cat and then split out from there on (kinda like the factory setup on a 78-81 Z28) or run dual pipes with two hi flow cats. It's really a question of mounting locations and flow. Although the single cat setup would probably balance your exhuast pulses kinda like an exhaust crossover. Probably keep the smog police happy too since it would look more stock.


:D

8) ok here is the scoop, flow tech hedders from holly will fit your fifth gen
ekly.......... but to get them to fit , and it's real close to the upper passenger side a-arm....... is the saggy motor mounts, it drops the motor down in the frame to far to let the hedders fit........just a little bit of lift to the correct position on the motor and they will fit like a glove as the manufactures and retailers say, try that and you should have the success your looking for.........just did the same to my 80 elky and figured out it was the motor mounts :oops:

My 87 has Thorley tri-y headers fit no problem and are smog legal to boot!


August

This subject came up before and I think I was the only one who installed Sanderson headers. They've been trouble free and easy to install. Anybody else have them?

http://sandersonheaders.com/

i must of got lucky. i bought a set of hooker comps and the only two thing that were in the way were the oil sending unit and the dip stick. it was the eaziest install of all times. and man do they sound great and look even better.

good luck
farat82 john

1982 el camino
2004 ssr
1979 corvette
2004 hate to say ford lightning
ALL BLACK

Are there any headers that fit a '79 with a 350 that will fit more or less problem free, or do the all require jerry-rigging in some way, shape or form?

8) Some times you get lucky most of the time you have to do a little tweeking and dinging. :cool: Hooker does seem to be the one that needs the least.

Hedman Elite headers fit my 1979 with no issues. However they are not full-lenght or equal-lenght which means an easier fit and more ground clearance which was a fair trade-off for me.

Put a set of Flo-techs on mine. Had to remove the steering column shifter linkage to fit.

This subject came up before and I think I was the only one who installed Sanderson headers. They've been trouble free and easy to install. Anybody else have them?

http://sandersonheaders.com/

What model did you buy, if you remember.

I have a 69 with a real leaky set of old hookers. I've tried the dead soft aluminum gaskets, the Earl's gaskets, and the Fel-Pro's work best, with a little red RTV silicone. the dead soft Aluminum work for the collector's I've found.

8) I've in the past even used 2 gaskets per side to make headers seal. The old AP or Blackjack headers. :cool:

Anybody having starter clearance issues? I put Flow Tech on my 83 full size and they were great when they weren't burning up starters, 1/4" clearance from header to solenoid.

8) Go with a mini starter or try a heat shield. This seems to be a common problem when using headers. :(

My dad and I just put a set of Dynomax Blackjack full-length headers on my '79, and here's all the problems I could remember (quite lengthy):
-Had to fabricate a spacer for the rear a/c comp./power steering pump bracket that originally used an exhaust manifold bolt for mounting.
-Had to heavily modify the column shifter rod that runs from the steering column to the transmission linkage (got in the way of cyl. #7 tube), as well as clearance part of the transmission (TH350) shifter linkage for the collectors.
-Made a rough heatshield for the starter since one of the tubes was only about 1/16 inch away from it. Now I have to loosen the pass. side headers to remove the starter.
-Put some dents in the firewall on driver's side to get the headers in. Also had to remove the trans. crossmember to get the engine tilted down enough to get the headers in from the bottom. My dad also busted the plastic fenderwell with a hammer and punch because he was trying to put one side in from the top and he needed some clearance and he thought they were made of metal. But, um, that last bit wasn't necessary. I wouldn't recommend it.
-Went ahead and welded on a hot air pipe for the heat valve in the air cleaner to make it legal.

Here's my main advice: DO NOT buy full-length longtube headers if this is your first header job. Fifty percent of these problems would have probably never existed if I used shorter headers. Once I get more experienced, I might use them, but this time, it was a mistake. At least I learned something. Happy wrenching and God bless.

-One more thing: never confuse header noise for a lifter click and overadjust your valves and wipe out your brand new Comp camshaft and entire bottom end. Don't ask how I found that out.

I got some flo tech headers for my 81 also, I got a 350. I had to pound a small dent on one of the pipes on the passenger side and the flanges had to be cut to make room for the steering linkage.

My biggest problem is the last bolt on the passenger side by the firewall. I can't get that one on. I think flo tech skimmed on quality for production purposes.

I will buy new bolts and gaskets. Hopefully I can get that last bolt on because the pipes and cat back has all been welded already :(

I just installed some dynomax short style headers on my 85 with no problems. I recently replaced the motor mounts, so if yours are bad, then I can see some issues there. I had to modify the ac/ps brackets, but the headers came with instructions on how to do that. It's definitely worth it. I gained a whole lot of power. I also removed my cat and put true duals.

i just recently put some on my 78 g-body
i opted for the HOOKER competition longtube headers 1 5/8" - 3" collectors
and they did fit like a glove
going from underneath on both sides
drivers side slid right in
just had to replace the stock size oil filter with a shorter AC Delco one
passengers side i had to remove the starter
then it slid right in.
after i put the starter back in i realized that the headers were resting snug against the starter so i went down the road to see my friends at O'reillys and got me a "mini" starter for a i think 95 GM truck its like half the size of my old starter it slid right in with plenty of room to spare. i used the new hardware that came with the headers except for the bolt that the compresser bracket attaches to even though i dont have a compresser.
instead of using the single gasket that came with the headers i used 2 sets of felpro stock manifold gaskets on each side, sealed like a dream and sounds amazing! then i put dual exhaust with flowmaster mufflers and i didnt even use a double hump crossmember just "squeezed" the pipe a bit for ground clearence.

well thats my story hope this helps

all in all HOOKER is the way to go.

I got some flo tech headers for my 81 also, I got a 350. I had to pound a small dent on one of the pipes on the passenger side and the flanges had to be cut to make room for the steering linkage.

My biggest problem is the last bolt on the passenger side by the firewall. I can't get that one on. I think flo tech skimmed on quality for production purposes.

I will buy new bolts and gaskets. Hopefully I can get that last bolt on because the pipes and cat back has all been welded already :(


its easiest if you install the bolts closest to the firewall first i learned from first hand exprience. (i actually had to cut a wrench in half to even be able to get to it to tighten it!)

just a suggestion.

I'm in process of putting Flow Tech headers on my '66. Drivers side fit OK. Passenger side is against the frame. Will try shimming the motor mount for clearance or will make clearance with a torch and a hammer and screw up the ceramic coating.

Worn Motor Mounts are the cause of most Header Clearance Issues. NOT ALL, Just most.

In my case, motor mounts are new. There seems to be plenty of space between the Flow Tech headers and the engine that they could have done a better design job at flow Tech.

Well at first I was not impressed with the Dyno Max headers I bought, I guess now I am, and they are the 1 5/8 with 3 in collectors. Mine fit right in, no hammering anything, anywhere. I did have to modify the P/S, A/C bracket and I moved the oil pressure sensor up to the top by the dist but thats it. Well I do have a mini starter, never tried a factory one. One thing I'll do next time is get the creamic coated tho.

before i put a bbc in my '84 el camino, i bought a set of hedman short headers, 1 5/8 w/ 3"collector, and i installed the headers from the top down. i had no interference with suspension or steering and a/c brackets bolted back up

I REALIZE THAT THESE ARE OLD ENTRIES, BUT THEY HAVE ANSWERED SOME OF MY QUESTIONS BUT HAVE RAISED OTHERS. . . . LIKE IF I DECIDE TO PUT IN A 350CI CRATE MOTOR WILL MY STOCK 305-4BBL EXAUST MANIFOLDS BOLT BACK UP ? BARRY-MARYLAND

Yes they will bolt back on.

I have noticed that ALL your posts are all CAPS. We try to reserve caps for when you want to shout about something.

has any one had troube puting headers in a 68? and are headers just headers or is there a good brand to use. are ceramic coated worth the extr buck?

464 Elky - I use caps because it's easier than trying to find my glasses and I can't seem to figure out how to change the font size. . . . Any suggestions ? Barry

has any one had troube puting headers in a 68? and are headers just headers or is there a good brand to use. are ceramic coated worth the extr buck?

I have Doug Thorley Stainless on my 396 BB without fit problems. These are a couple years old and still look really good!

Have had several 3rd Gens and the Hooker Headers have gone on all 4 of them,I believe the part number is 2217 in the super Comp grade the cheaper hookers or anyone elses cheap sets are junk. On the hookers going into a 69 BB you have to message the A arm area on the passenger side and that is it no other places. :nanawrench:

My 78 has a set of Hedman headers on it,really didn't have a problem getting them on.

I re-powerd less than 2 years ago and put new Hookers on that where the same part number as the ones I had for 17 years on the 396 BB and I did not need to change them and the coating was still driver good, but I had the new ones so I buffed the old ones and sold them for $300.00 and they were that good.

I ordered a set of Hookers from Jet-Hot. I have not received them yet, but I am curious as to how they will fit. The coating is suppose to be guaranteed , so we will see about that too.
elamott

I got a set of fullsize headers and they hooked up easily

i was thinking about putting headers on my 79 elky but i think its gonna be a pain in the a$$, yeah elky are nice cars and cool layout but you would think they would make it easier to do stuff on it, to many metric/american crap and weird undercarrage layout as well. but i like a challenge.:smileyb:

Here's a little insight on headers. If you're going to do it, you better get "Hooker" brand b/c not only do I have first hand experience with them, there are a whole helluvalot fewer horror stories about them. But that's just the beginning. Now you need to figure out what piping setup you're using for your exhaust piping. "H", "Y", "X", "II", etc. My step brother, (also an '83, but Conquista w/ 350), installed headers and ran his exhaust straight back, dual all the way. And to this day I can't remember the last time he DIDN'T have an exhaust leak. The big problem with dual exhaust is (well w/ the 83's anyway) that your exhaust is always getting hung up on sh*t. My suggestion to those doing headers is PLEASE plan ahead. Study your cross-members, grab some pipe and hold it where you intend to install it just to get an idea. Be weary of height clearance. PLAN PLAN PLAN!!@#$%&%$%

I put on a set I got from a swap meet. had to remove starter on one side and it slid right in. Other side Had to lift up the engine, get a shorter oil filter, push the brake line out of the way and dimple the tube. After all that I had to use special 12 point bolts and still had to take an old wrech and convert it to a crows foot to get the bolt in enough and then use my pry bar to bend out enough room to use my closed in wrench on the inside bends. I/m gonna end up running 2.5 duals to mufflers under the rear floor pan(which will be modified for this purpose) and dump out right before the rear wheel.

I put on a set I got from a swap meet. had to remove starter on one side and it slid right in. Other side Had to lift up the engine, get a shorter oil filter, push the brake line out of the way and dimple the tube. After all that I had to use special 12 point bolts and still had to take an old wrech and convert it to a crows foot to get the bolt in enough and then use my pry bar to bend out enough room to use my closed in wrench on the inside bends. I/m gonna end up running 2.5 duals to mufflers under the rear floor pan(which will be modified for this purpose) and dump out right before the rear wheel.


Whew, that's a whole helluvalotta work! I'm gettin' tired of "making" things work. I've gotten to the point where my vehicle work history is a long blur, and I just have to have the right stuff now. I've been through the wringer a few times and nothing makes you smile like a true "bolt-on". However the old lady loves it when I get myself in a bind and start rantin' and ravin', :P

my 79 el has a set off ebay for all g body.they fit well and were easy to install.:You_Rock:

Hedman headers fit in my '85 Elky:
http://www.glennsplace.com/headers.htm

I got this kit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CMB-05-0061/ went on with no problems. I did have to modify the A/C bracket, move the oil pressure sender, and use short AC plugs with 90 deg wires, but that was all.

Well I have been having problems with getting headers to fit my 86 El Camino. I got hedman headers to start out with when I put my 396 into my El Camino. They did not fit at all and were to small. They were made like crap too and thecarstuff people screwed me. Then I went to my local speed shop and they told me to get hooker since they make headers for a small block to big block swap for malibus. They said it should if an El Camino since they are basically the same. Once again they did not fit and I ask the speed shop any other headers to get. They said the only ones they know of that fit were the hooker headers. They ask me a few question to see maybe I need to do something else to make it fit. They were shocked and they gave me a refund. So now I am stuck at a cross road and will end up having to pay 2000 yes I said it 2000 for custom headers for my El Camino. This is a shame :(

I have an 86 with a 350. Just installed the Hooker 2451K long tube header back exhaust sytem from JEGS (379.00). Had to cut away the edge of the passenger A arm to make it fit. Also had to cut away part of the cross member frame to make the 2 1/2 inch exhaust pipes fit as well as flattening them. I took the headers to a local ceramic coating company and they painted them a real nice looking light silver color. I strongly suggest this before installing. It cost an extra 150 bucks but they will not run as hot or rust out as much and will look terrific! So glad I did that.

you should never ever have to beat on a part to MAKE IT FIT. either the application is wrong or you have a mounting problems. i rum heddmann hedders on both my cars with no problems.:beer:

Yeah, if it's that hard you're doing something wrong.
At least that's my experience. I break less stuff that way..:smileyb:

Woody31, Was that on a 350 with no trouble? I plan on doing some engine(350) work this winter.

I just went thru the "what header fits" on my '80 EL C .... followed the advice of members on this forum that recommended Hedman Street Headers - Summit 68316.

Just finished putting a very healthy SBC & 5 speed into where a V6 - 3 speed used to be..... So I did have to install BRAND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS which eliminated any possible problems caused by using older motor mounts that has been mentioned before.

The Hedman headers fit good.... had to jack up the engine (passenger side) to get them in ..... got rid of the mechanical clutch and went to a hydraulic one - engine has a MSD mini-starter which also gave me some extra room. Not sure if they still would have fit without these changes.

Of course I modified the stock tranny crossmember so I could run TRUE duals right off of the headers. Some of the best money I spent at SUMMIT was for their X-Pipe kit.... it made fabbing the 2 1/2" exhaust system with THRUSH Welded mufflers much easier..... great fit & even BETTER sound!!!

I have something on my driver side that looks like it'd just barely hanging down in the way of mid lengths(I don't want to deal with longtubes, I have worn shocks and I'd probably scrape). I have no idea what this thing is, looks like a line and filter of some kind. Its about mid way on the block right there near the back, a lil line and then something the size of like a fuel fliter? and then some more line. Anyone know wth this thing is? It's a 1986 350 SBC, not the 305. and do I need to keep the EFE valve? I could just attach it under neath the car lol, but I doubt it even works. Anyhow, what's the fit like for mid-lengths with this w/e it is. I'll probably get Hooker Comp's good brand, I could always get the Headman's on ebay too, I might go crhome just for kicks, get a lil shine.

Instead of headers, has anyone tried Rams Horn exhaust system? Just curious. I have headers on mine that fit well, but I also bought it (recently) with the headers on it, so don't know what kind. There's enough room that the tubes are wrapped with insulation.

That part sounds like the oil pressure sending unit for stock gauges !!

I use long tube headers on mine & you can't even see them !! I gone over hundreds of speed bumps !!
Have 5 in my Neighborhood !! Never hit anything with them !!

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g413/87next2last1/war/war003.jpg

Does it have black rubber hoses? I think it may be the hose to the vacuum brake mine is a 84 and I moved the black filter thing up toward the top and out of the way. Mine also has the oil pressure guage right above the oil filter but it only has a wire that goes to it. Might try and take a pic of it and see if it can be identified.

The title says it all. Hooker is blaming ProComp for the fit problem. The big problem is the drivers side. I've already dimpled one tube to clear the DS lower A arm..now the tube around the frame is too long, and keep the 4th pipe from reaching the head. That's an easy fix, but it's so close to the frame I may have to dimple this one too!!! ARRGH!!!!
In addition, one triangular exhaust flange has it's "point" going up (good) but the DS has it point pointing down (who need ground clearance !!

I put a set of hooker short tube and they fit perfet on a 1985 elky

I put a set of hooker long tube on a 1985 elky and all I had to do was trim the a-frame a tad and do a 90% turn on oil temp sending unit