Problems with Hedmann headers on SBO

[79loserbluebu]

Test fitting the longtube Hedmann's on my father's 403 Olds on the engine stand, the passenger side header fits absolutely terribly. The driver side was a bit of a hassle but we adjusted the mini-starter and clearanced the starter and block to get it to fit. Attached is both a picture of the headers, and the starter and we are just looking for your opinions. We aren't really sure if we have a defective header, or for some reason they are supposed to be like that.

 

[hunter_alexander]

They are like that. I have never had an issue with headman's.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Looks normal to me. For some reason they make olds headers funky, the collector on one side pointed down and to the side, the other pointed kind of up and *almost* straight back. Not to mention they are staggard defferently, so pretty much no matter what your exhaust looks cobbled :lol: . Mini rant sorry 😳 , maybe expensive headers aren't as slapped together, but the hedman ones do actually fit in the car (big plus!) which is more than I can say for some, haha.

 

[joe_padavano]

Looks normal to me. For some reason they make olds headers funky, the collector on one side pointed down and to the side, the other pointed kind of up and *almost* straight back.

That must be a G-body thing, because every single set of A-body Olds headers I've ever seen had the collectors parallel to each other and parallel to the driveshaft.

 

[joe_padavano]

By the way, the reason the headers are "staggered" differently is because what matters is the length of the primary tubes and the length of the collectors. Depending on how the tubes have to be routed, the collector flanges may or may not end up in the same place, but that's irrelevant. For performance you want equal length primary tubes.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Looks normal to me. For some reason they make olds headers funky, the collector on one side pointed down and to the side, the other pointed kind of up and *almost* straight back.

That must be a G-body thing, because every single set of A-body Olds headers I've ever seen had the collectors parallel to each other and parallel to the driveshaft.

Definitely a G body thing, I have yet to see a cheap set that was straight, parrallel with one another or driveline (I guess I should have been more specific). I have put cheapies on older A body cars as well that were as you describe parallel with driveline. Staggared doesn't both me I understand why that happens (equal length the key), I just don't don't get the walleye collectors, it can't be for clearence, there is plenty of room to make them parallel with the driveline (I've thought about cutting them up and rewelding the collectors).

 

[DrRansom442]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... 1682660462


I know it's hard to see and if it wasn't pouring outside - I'd consider taking new pix when I got home. I got full length Hedmann's on my SBO .... they don't come out perfectly parrell to the frame/driveshaft. If you follow my passanger side tube, just past the collector .... you will see there is a SLIGHT bend in the pipe ..... it doesn't look as drastic as the your test fit .... are those torqued down on the stand?

 

[jrm81bu]

By the way, the reason the headers are "staggered" differently is because what matters is the length of the primary tubes and the length of the collectors. Depending on how the tubes have to be routed, the collector flanges may or may not end up in the same place, but that's irrelevant. For performance you want equal length primary tubes.

And not to mention that one head is farther forward(or behind) the other.

 

[jae]

I know it's hard to see and if it wasn't pouring outside - I'd consider taking new pix when I got home. I got full length Hedmann's on my SBO .... they don't come out perfectly parrell to the frame/driveshaft. If you follow my passanger side tube, just past the collector .... you will see there is a SLIGHT bend in the pipe ..... it doesn't look as drastic as the your test fit .... are those torqued down on the stand?

I'm also running Hedman full-lengths on my SBO 350, bought through Summit (HED 58070-6) and similar to DrR there is a slight bend in the pipe. Comparing driver to passenger my driver-side comes out slightly longer or past the passenger but I didn't have to do any clearancing and I'm running a "full-size" starter, with heat wrap. Other than that fitment in the car was a dream compared to some others.

 

[adam6640]

I have an 85 Cutlass with a 307 olds and I have Flowtech Headers from Summit the they are straight and parallel ! nothing funky about them, But I did try to put 2 different small high torque starters that were adjustable and would not go in,tried every way possible, made some calls and found out Mondello is the only one that has a small high torque starter that will work on a gbody with an Olds V8 with Headers, I tried 2 different ones from summit.
Good Luck