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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Performance => Topic started by: Tad. on February 25, 2011, 12:37:30 am

Title: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on February 25, 2011, 12:37:30 am
Alright, guys. I really, really want headers. My problem is that I'm not sure if shortys or full lengths would be better. If I get full length, would they hang too low? Full length are a lot cheaper.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: lechez71 on February 25, 2011, 01:39:38 am
if your gonna spend the money get long tubes, and if there cheaper even better. if your truck is lowered quite a bit you might have a problem, my truck is lowered 2" and had long tubes never had any clearane issues. LT's sound way better than sort style headers IMO. my headers didnt hang no more than 1" below the fram rails if any that i remember. you have a bigblock or small block?
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: acefoxx on February 25, 2011, 09:30:17 am
Long tubes for sure. I have a 5.5" drop in the front and have no clearance issues.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: mats1985gmc on February 25, 2011, 09:39:02 am
same here I have long tubes and a six inch drop. the first thing to hit is the control arms or the cross member.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on February 25, 2011, 10:54:38 am
I got a 350 in her and she definitely ain't lowered. I just don't have an idea how far they'll hang down. Thanks, gentleman.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on February 28, 2011, 03:15:50 pm
Will a mod please delete this? I want to start a new thread and it'll bug me if I got 2 threads on the same page. Thanks.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Captkaos on February 28, 2011, 03:44:47 pm
Why delete it?  If it is the same topic just keep adding to this one.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on February 28, 2011, 11:11:18 pm
Well, I ordered headers and they came today. Summit was telling me that I might need to buy the Alternator bracket they sell. I was just wondering if anybody has had to use the bracket after they install their headers.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 01, 2011, 08:44:05 pm
Anybody??
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: 4x4orbust on March 01, 2011, 09:30:32 pm
you mean the bolt for the power steering brace?    you may need a spacer on the drivers front bolt of the header.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Grim 82 on March 01, 2011, 09:48:19 pm
Never heard of needing one for the alternator... If this is the case post some pics of your setup, but I'm also going to guess that you mean power steering pump. If that is the case you can use spacers like mentioned, or build your own. I wasn't able to find a new bracket for sale that looked like it was exactly what I needed, so I made my own out of extra brackets from a parts truck. This would only work if you have removed your AC compressor.


Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 01, 2011, 11:38:22 pm
Well, I think I'm gonna end up taking her to an exhaust shop instead. I really do appreciate the help though, gentleman. If I do send her out, what should I look for(mistakes) when I get her back?
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: beastie_3 on March 02, 2011, 02:10:24 am
With what? What are you going to have the shop do? just exhaust or install the headers too? Answer the bracket questions other members asked.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: thirsty on March 02, 2011, 06:01:47 am
Tad if you look at your power steering bracket you will see that it is also attached to the manifold. When you install the headers the bracket won't fit against the header because the header is so much thinner than the manifold. I just made a bushing to take up the difference and used the manifold bolt.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 02, 2011, 11:44:00 am
Tad if you look at your power steering bracket you will see that it is also attached to the manifold. When you install the headers the bracket won't fit against the header because the header is so much thinner than the manifold. I just made a bushing to take up the difference and used the manifold bolt.

I see about the power steering. I'm gonna use this idea. The shop wants 250 to install the Headers. Yea right! It's funny how I get a quote yesterday for 220 and today I get a quote for 350. I'm gonna have the shop install no cats or mufflers. I want them to turn down right before the axle.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: bowtieman82 on March 04, 2011, 11:25:12 pm
go to summit racing and buy this (SUM-340100) i have it on my 82 and it works great.  and you can buy this bracket for your alternator (SUM-420100). that way all your bracket will match.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: ToddN on March 05, 2011, 07:38:48 am
Don't take it to a shop man.  Problem solving and doing it yourself is half the fun of owning these things.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: 1LOW4X4 on March 05, 2011, 07:51:07 am
go to summit racing and buy this (SUM-340100) i have it on my 82 and it works great.  and you can buy this bracket for your alternator (SUM-420100). that way all your bracket will match.
Yeah if you've got $200 to spend on simple bracketry
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: bowtieman82 on March 05, 2011, 09:23:01 pm
you dont have to buy them both at the same time.  and its worth the money in the long run. i tried to make a stock on work but all it did was bend the bolt that came off the header. it fixes the problem fast and right. its better to spend a little bit of $$ the a lot later on. do it the first time.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 06, 2011, 10:12:46 am
I would love to do all the work myself. I just don't have a welder nor the experience welding.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: bowtieman82 on March 06, 2011, 04:56:51 pm
so how are you going to fix it, if you cant weld. are u going to pay someone to doit. And then the bracket will look like crap. like i said if you want it to look nice and be strong, then spend the money one time and do it right. so it don't look like crap when you pop your hood.  i know doing thing one your own is good if you have all the right stuuf do get it done but if you cant you have to pay for it. and some time it looks a hole lot better. and you know it will hold up under the pressure  of the pump.

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Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 06, 2011, 07:09:39 pm
Installing the Headers myself. I absolutely do not have the money for them brackets. A simple spacer will do for the time being. I'm 18 years old and heading to MEPS on the 15th of this month. I'm not a 20 year experience mechanic. I bought my truck on whim (fell in love with the 86 when I was 13 years old and hit a stroke of luck on finding one!) when I turned 18 with a loan from the bank. Never worked on anything a day in my life till I bought her. If I'm gonna make mistakes, so be it. I guess I'll learn from them! I really do appreciate you linking me to the brackets though, bud. Something I'm gonna have to buy further down the road.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Grim 82 on March 06, 2011, 07:48:57 pm
A spacer will suit you just fine for the time being. The biggest cost or obstacle will be getting the rest of the exhaust system fitted up to the headers, but it sounds like you have a shop lined up to do that for you.

heading to MEPS on the 15th

What branch?
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: beastie_3 on March 06, 2011, 08:16:10 pm
Hopefully the best one...USMC
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Grim 82 on March 06, 2011, 08:32:07 pm
lol, ok, here we go  ;D
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: txchainsawgogi on March 06, 2011, 10:16:10 pm
i'll install 'em for 50$ 8)
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: Tad. on March 06, 2011, 11:02:05 pm
Army.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: bobcooter on March 07, 2011, 07:56:20 am
I'm not too sure about an 86 but when I put headers on my 79 I had to buy an A/C bracket and then make a spacer out of some 1/2 galvanized pipe to bolt up with an exhaust manifold bolt.
Title: Re: Header help!
Post by: thirsty on March 07, 2011, 08:50:13 am
I think my spacer used to be an old altenator spacer. I just had to cut it to fit and paint it.