Author Topic: stepside exhaust trouble  (Read 8749 times)

Offline 1981 ss chevy

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stepside exhaust trouble
« on: February 04, 2010, 08:58:16 AM »
I just started to put full length hedmann headers on my 81 c10 stepside and after getting both headers in with ease i realize that the tranny cross member is only about 3ins away from the end of my header and once i put my reducer on it hits the crossmember making it impossible to hook up my exhaust what can i do?

Offline Da67goatman

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2010, 09:25:16 AM »
My buddy had the same problem and he ended up heating the headers with torches and bending them out of the way.  It's crude but it worked.
<Pitcrew>
1989 R2500 Suburban mild 350 TBI 700r4 10.5" 14bolt 4.10 w/ 33s
1992 fullsize Blazer 4x4  35s no lift, 4.10s, Hella driving lights, TJ Flares, Huge bumpers, Snorkel, custom interior

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2010, 09:58:10 AM »
How low is your truck? DO you have pix? You can modify or move the crossmember or buy a dual exhaust crossmember. What trans do you have?
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Offline 1981 ss chevy

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2010, 02:59:34 PM »
My truck is stock height it has a turbo 350 trans, sorry i can't get pics for you

Offline 1981 ss chevy

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2010, 05:42:59 PM »
if i heat them up wont the pipes want to kink them i'm out a set of headers

Offline 1981 ss chevy

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2010, 07:00:47 PM »
nvm guys i just cut the collector off and took out 4 inches which gain me enough room to put in an z looking bend lol but im pretty dang proud of myself!

Offline Donut

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2010, 11:33:38 AM »


iirc, one of the companies made an offset collector also.
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My plow was half price if i took the truck with it.

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Offline 1981 ss chevy

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2010, 01:10:29 PM »
sorry i cant get pics donut

Offline 355shortbed

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2010, 10:00:23 PM »
ino this is a little old but, i just put the exhaust back on my 84 stepside. the crossmember is closer to the cab floor on the pass side of the truck and i had to do some dumb stuff with the pipes. i have the flowtech cheap headers on and they are angled down a little and not straight parralel to the floor, i bought the s bend pieces of pipe from headman that come off the collector and over the trans member. i ended up just running a straight piece of pipe under the crossmember cutting an angle to bring the end of pipe connecting to the reducer,up towards the bottom of the crossmember and using the s bend to raise up enuough to tuck the muffler (super 44s) up under the bed. worked alright

Offline 1981 ss chevy

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2010, 08:17:46 AM »
355 short can i see some pics of what you did it kinda sounds like what I did

Offline Jacked85K10

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2010, 12:35:17 AM »
ino this is a little old but, i just put the exhaust back on my 84 stepside. the crossmember is closer to the cab floor on the pass side of the truck and i had to do some dumb stuff with the pipes. i have the flowtech cheap headers on and they are angled down a little and not straight parralel to the floor, i bought the s bend pieces of pipe from headman that come off the collector and over the trans member. i ended up just running a straight piece of pipe under the crossmember cutting an angle to bring the end of pipe connecting to the reducer,up towards the bottom of the crossmember and using the s bend to raise up enuough to tuck the muffler (super 44s) up under the bed. worked alright

I believe he is referring to these. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-18804/

Offline team39763

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Re: stepside exhaust trouble
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2010, 01:50:55 PM »
I used those S-extensions and they worked perfect for my truck.  My crossmember was also clearanced by the previous owner when he installed some headers off a newer model truck....so I don't know if that affected the clearance issues or not.