I have a 400 sbc in a 78 malibu classic. Trying to install Hedman #68310 long tubes. Am having fits getting starter back on. Inst. sheet says starter will slip on with header in position, can't make it happen. I get header in and start to work starter up but can not clear tail of starter to fit into bell housing, hits pipes. Called Hedman, tech was befuddled. Said they had have had no issues with those headers in my car/engine. Anybody had experience with this install? Any suggestions appreciated, I'm really stuck.
hedman headers in 78 malibu
- Thread starter cny78
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From experiance from having a set, I had to unbolt fron the head to pull the starter when it when bad. I'll saw leave it off until the headers are on, get the pipes lined up, unbolt at the head &then put the starter on. Best fix is a smaller body starter. Still easier than the original install of the headers when I did it. You are following the instructions on which on installs from above & below.
When the car did have them I had the full size starter (which I guess you have) & I just unbolted them from the head & used the avaliable slack in the exhaust to move the header out of the way. This was also done with limited ground clearance cause of where I was living at the time. But I still would recomend for the next started to be a smaller body one to ease it in between the header & block.
Yes, headers slip in and I let them lay loose for wiggle room. But just can't get starter to clear.
Yeah, I thought a smaller starter would be nice. This is a stock one. They make smaller ones? Did not know this.
Yeah, tried every configuration imaginable. Tore up all the nice paint job I put on the headers. Am going with the small starter. Thanks for the tip, much appreciated.
Yeah I had to leave the header loose with a lot of wiggle room get the starter up in there an bolt it on then then header but dnt take the header all the way out cause it will never go back in with the starter in place
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