Im buying either these headers or those headers.

chillin014

Trying to go the cheap route I decided to buy summits Dynomax blackjack painted headers which as far as Summit says the only fitment issue will be a new bracket for the a/c compressor. Here is a link of the headers in case yall are unfamiliar with them.
blackjack headers

now the black jack ones were full length which I'm assuming is better for performance but the next set up in headers as far as price goes, are the Hooker AND Hedman shorty style headers.

HEDMAN street SHORTIES

HOOKER competition shorties

and then some HEDMAN full lengths...all for 150 bucks.
hedman full lengths

ULTIMATELY i'd like to spend as little as possible and go with the black jacks, but if anyone can tell me or convince me why some of these other ones in my price range would be better i'll probably go with them.

thanks.. i need guidance.

JDCamino82 · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

i don't see a reason why not to get the blackjack headers unless you can afford ceramic coated headers. the paint will burn off in the first 15 minutes the motor runs Sad

, I bought a pair of headers real similar for my el camino when i put a crate motor in it and if I could do it again i would spend another 100 bucks or how ever much to get ceramic coated headers. the others rust and will eventually rust through. DO NOT put that header wrap around them they'll rust even faster. i would not get shorty headers unless there is no way for full length to fit. comparing just the blackjack full length to the hedman full length you listed the blackjacks breath a little better 1 5/8 compared to 1 1/2. i would get the blackjacks

chillin014 · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject:

69 tremec · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject:

yeah the paint will come off tho... mine came off in bout 3months. shortys are more building torque and tight spaces and full length are horsepower thats what my machinist told me
_________________
tim fraley

chillin014 · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject:

all well. I ordered the headers and then some "down pipes" to come off them but haven't decided which route to go as far as rear exit, or side exit. I'll probably do rear I just need to figure out what headers to get.

Oh yeah, I am gonna get some cut-outs as well.

I ordered a long aluminized exhaust pipe from summit 2.5 inches diameter, man that thing was heavy...I dont see why it needs to be that heavy.

anyone have experience with this new a/c bracket that is needed apparently?

and does anyone know what to use for these funky rear end header bolts?

69 tremec · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

your header flage bolts? is that what you are wondering about?
_________________
tim fraley

chillin014 · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

eliselky383 · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

you have a single exhaust cross member you can modify it if you have the know how or you can buy a dual exhaust cross member going under can create ground clearance problem over the speed bumps it's your call
_________________
it's mine it's paid for and i'll smoke them if i want to

dougs85 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:16 am Post subject:

If you don't weld or have a welder you could take your cross member to a welding shop and have them modify your crossmember. Just have them make the right side look more like the left side.

click on this thread, there of a photo of a modified crossmember.

http://elcaminocentral.com/ftopict-19050.html

When I installed headers on my engine, using a hack saw I cut a section out of the air compressor mounting bracket to clear the header, did not seem to affect the strength of the mount.

Doug
_________________
85 El Camino 305, TH350, K&N, dual exhausts
87 El Camino 305, 2004R, K&N, dual exhausts
1964-1/2 Mustang conv, 260 V8, dual exhausts
2002 Jaguar XJ8, 2000 Harley Road King
Lakewood, CO

chillin014 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:17 am Post subject:

very nice!! thanks guys, thats alot more appealing than spending 200+ bucks on some aftermarket knotched one. I cant weld yet but should be able to find somebody.

chillin014 · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject:

Okay I got the headers today and i've been installing them for the past 3+ hours. I'm not gonna say the fitment is horrible because I know it could be worse...but this is pretty irritating. There is a spot coming off the frame that attaches to the control arm I believe and on BOTH headers one of the header pipes hits it. The instructions act like you can move the motor but its not like I can push it either direction since it hits on both sides. I will probably try to trim or grind the metal down on these spots hoping to get some clearance.

that is really the main problem besides the fact that I still have no idea how this a/c bracket is supposed to work...This product is too generic if you ask me but...hey..i guess thats how they do it for chevrolet products.

Al Camino

chillin014

chillin014 · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: need help

alright......i've been working on it all day. Its pretty frusterating spending so much time to fit the smallest things back in place. The dipstick and spark plugs were realll fun. Is it okay that the wires are practically touching the header tubes?

okay the headers seem to clear everything decently after bolting them up tight, at least the passenger side does. I have that side wrapped up and now I'm working on the driver side where i've encountered a problem. The oil pressure sending unit (i believe thats what it is) it looks like this..

I had to remove it to put the headers in but I forgot where it goes. I look in the general area I pulled it from and I see 2 holes that are threaded. One of them is accessible and appears that it would be clear of the headers but as I've tried to screw it in for like 20 minutes and looked at the threads they seem to be different....which might explain why its not threading in there. So i started second guessing and thinking it was the lower hole but it is very very low on the block above a flange and is completely blocked by the headers.
here is a picture of the UPPER bolt

If this thing can not be mounted (i need confirmation on what these holes are for) then I need to probably plug these holes...and live without the pressure gauge working. any advice on this???? kinda bummed right now, i wanted ot hear this thing run tonight..

chillin014 · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:21 pm Post subject:

okay i got some information from gbody forums. they respond very quickly over there.

apparently the lower bolt hole is the one and I'm going to need to plug it because there's no room to mount this oil unit.

I'm going to use the one on the back of the intake manifold for the gauge. i still need to figure out what that connection goes to though (coming off the intake manifold oil unit)