SBC header modification

[cockerstar]

Hey guys,

 

This isn't for my Z, but I figured that a fabrication thread with some decent pictures is enjoyable so I though I would share none-the-less.

The driver's side header on my old man's '69 camaro was constantly scraping over the smallest of bumps ever since the 2" drop spindles were installed, so my friend and I decided to remedy the problem. Here's what we came up with, and a few pics of the process

 

I'll admit, there are some gaps between what we did along the way. I got a bit caught up in the work, but remembered to grab the camera every once in awhile!

 

 

 

Here's what we were looking at for ground clearance before:

 

Driver's:

 

Passenger's:

 

 

 

1. The passenger's side is decent and only scrapes over large bumps, so we decided to only modify the driver's side for now.

Clearance came out to be right around 2.25", and the frame rail sits right at 3.5", leaving us a goal of removing 1.25 vertical inches from the header.

 

Header clearance:

 

Frame rail:

 

 

 

2. Started out by cutting all of the primaries in half, while removing the #1 primary to aid in welding. Tacked the #5 primary together and dropped it in to test fitment.

 

 

 

 

 

3. I was pleased with how it turned out, so the tacks on #5 were welded solid and then ground down, and then we started the process of heating and bending to get the other primaries to fit as they should.

 

(I'm in the green, and my friend Colby has the torch, just in case you're wondering who is who.)

 

 

 

4. After #3 was fitting as it should it was welded solid and ground flush we well. Here you can see us working on the fitment for #7.

 

 

 

 

5. I missed the #1 primary, but it took a very minor amount of cutting, and dimpling in one place to clear everything and sit flush.

The collector flange was pretty messed up from scraping so much, so we decided to chop the tube and replace it with a spare Colby had laying around in the shop from his truck.

 

 

 

 

 

6. We groud down that weld both inside and out, since we could get to it, and here they are done and waiting to get sand blasted.

 

 

 

 

I'll get some pics of the new clearances and everything installed as soon as I can. I'm off at school again, so I don't have immediate access to the car.

 

The purple hornies that are on there have to go, and we're considering replacing it with something like this, but with super 44 mufflers and the headers are on there now.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Hooker-Headers/520/2131-1K4/10002/-1?parentProductId=759933#moreDetails

 

You guys have any suggestions for the exhaust that won't break the bank (under $400)? I priced the above system out for $385 with free shipping from Jegs without the headers.

Edited May 17, 2010 by cockerstar

[ModernS30]

You could build a custom exhaust for under 400, especially if you can do that to a header.