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Headers for '60....advice needed

firstgear

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2003
Messages
1,895
Location
Norwalk, Ohio
Corvette
15 Z06, 01 Vert, 63 SWC & 60 ALL RED
the normal exhaust system for a '60 exits out through the rear bumpers at the corners. I would like to get some headers for the car, does anyone know a good mfg that makes them that would fit a 350 cu in chevy motor? and then after I have the headers in place, what would everyone recommend as a way to "hush them" so that I am not the target of the local law for noise.....should I still exit the exhaust through the bumpers?

What has everyone else seen as the way it has been handled?

thanks in advance for the comments.....
 
After your headers you should be able to continue back with a standard exhaust system. This will quiet it down (but the headers will still sound good), and looks allot nicer than than having the pipes hanging in the back. (JMHO)
 
I built and installed a 383/425hp motor in my 60. I used hooker headers with Brodex aluminum heads, great combo tons of power. Actually to much power for a street machine, having driven it on the street for 6 years.

I had to modify the headers to get a good fit and I had to use a couple of stubby spark pluggs with heat boots on the plug wires but mostly that was because the heads were angle plug heads. I do not know if straight plug heads using headers would have solved this issue?

Hope this helps
Andy

1998 3x black
Working on new 60 project at this time
 
andy60 said:
I built and installed a 383/425hp motor in my 60. I used hooker headers with Brodex aluminum heads, great combo tons of power. Actually to much power for a street machine, having driven it on the street for 6 years.

I had to modify the headers to get a good fit and I had to use a couple of stubby spark pluggs with heat boots on the plug wires but mostly that was because the heads were angle plug heads. I do not know if straight plug heads using headers would have solved this issue?

Hope this helps
Andy

1998 3x black
Working on new 60 project at this time

Andy, When you say you had to modify the headers, what did you do? Did you have to cut them? and then re-weld them? Must have been painted not ceramic coated....given all the types of headers that they have, how did you figure out which one would work the best?

Did you get someone from Hooker to get you the closest?

let me know....Herb
 
I put Doug Thorleys on my '59 many moons ago and they dumped about 1/2 the diameter of the collector too low. My plan of routing exhaust through the stock holes in the frame went out the window. I just ran glasspacks and pipes out the side in front of the wheels. When I got tired of the crappy look I put 2 1/2 outlet rams horns on it with factory off road exhaust.

I guess what I'm saying is don't buy anything unless you are sure they don't hang too low. Then you should be able to have pipes bent in the factory configuration out of larger stock. When you get to the rear just have them bent to dump below the rear valance. We used to do this back when to keep the exhaust off of the chrome. I don't think you can get anything like 2 1/2 inch pipe through the trunk tubes or the bumpers.
 
I hate headers. I had them on my '62, and I spent more time screwing around with fixing header problems than with the rest of the car that needed a complete restoration. Nothing but constant work. I'm told they're better now, but I'm not sure I believe it. If you're determined to proceed, consider that the pipe size that the headers will feed into is limited by where it passes through the frame, the mufflers, and the outlets in the bumper. I realize that the exhaust gasses shrink as they cool as they proceed downstream. But you're talking less than 2" in diameter at those 3 points.
 
Tom and Critchie, good comments all the way around...what I have read at the Hooker site is that if ceramic coated headers are to be used on a NEW or REBUILT motor that needs a break in period, do not put them on the engine until after the break in period, so to me this means that I have time with the stock exhaust manifolds to sort out what to do....the plan right now is to take the car over to my friendly garage and they are going to pull the motor next week or early the week after...I will take the motor to the speed shop to get it rebuilt with a nice cam and some pistons....while it is out getting upgraded, I will attack the engine compartment.....thanks for the comments.....Herb
 
Herb,

This was about 7 years ago and they were ceramic. I had the help of my brother in-law who builds NHRA chassis. He had to cut/move 2 of the runs, I just can not remember which ones but it was not that hard. Cut them with a saws all (sp?) and twisted them and re-welded. But I have talked to many other guys who had not had any problems with headers.

I sorry I could not give a great answer but it was too long ago.

Andy
 
They are a bear to get in with the engine in the car. You have to lift it ect. I put mine in with the heads off and took them out on a lift. Since you are going to have your engine out I suggest you buy uncoated raw headers and set them in the chassis before you put the engine back in. Then lower in the engine and bolt them up. Now you can mark and do any mods to the headers you need. Recheck them for fit and send them off to be ceramic coated.

Now when the engine is broken in you know they will fit without having to ruin the coating to modify them.

Tom
 
Tom Bryant said:
They are a bear to get in with the engine in the car. You have to lift it ect. I put mine in with the heads off and took them out on a lift. Since you are going to have your engine out I suggest you buy uncoated raw headers and set them in the chassis before you put the engine back in. Then lower in the engine and bolt them up. Now you can mark and do any mods to the headers you need. Recheck them for fit and send them off to be ceramic coated.

Now when the engine is broken in you know they will fit without having to ruin the coating to modify them.

Tom

Tom, If I put the headers in before the engine goes in, how do I get the headers back out? Do I need to pull the engine again? and then when I get them coated, do I need to pull the engine again? I was looking down in the engine compartment and you are right there isn't a lot of room in there, although once the current exhaust manifolds are off it does seem like there is more room.....do you have any pictures of your headers as well as how the exhaust comes out the back of the car? Any pictures underneath the car that shows the routings etc?

thanks, Herb
 
This is my car before restoration with headers. The exhaust went through the stock X frame openings
 
You can't get them in with the engine in the car. The engine has to come out to remove or install them. This is what I mean. That's nuts. That's headers. The secondary consequences were just enormous. And you can't wear sneakers because the heat'll melt your rubber soles. Don't go on driveways. Engine missing because of burnt spark plug wires. Never quite figure out how to do the generator and overflow tank. They sound cool for about 5 minutes until they start leaking and then they have that exhaust leak/"spitting" sound. Park on hills because the heat'll kill your starter, and with headers in the way, you won't be able to replace it. The list goes on.
 
I had the heads off when I put them on and had to lift the engine up high and one side at a time to get them off. Also had the car on a lift because they needed to be verticle and several other angles before I got them to slide out. I don't have any pictures. It was too long ago. At the time I just had a stock 4 bbl 283 in the car and, open, they really woke that engine up. We put them on a 61 with a built 301 that we were going racing with (before we set in the engine).

Tom
 
critchie said:
I hate headers. I had them on my '62, and I spent more time screwing around with fixing header problems than with the rest of the car that needed a complete restoration. Nothing but constant work. I'm told they're better now, but I'm not sure I believe it. If you're determined to proceed, consider that the pipe size that the headers will feed into is limited by where it passes through the frame, the mufflers, and the outlets in the bumper. I realize that the exhaust gasses shrink as they cool as they proceed downstream. But you're talking less than 2" in diameter at those 3 points.

I'm with Chris - if you LOVE constant maintenance and melted shoes, you'll just LOVE headers; if you enjoy driving the car, use stock manifolds. :)

:beer
 
I forgot about the heat thing. I can remember one mid summer night when it was pouring down rain. I had the hardtop on and I couldn't open the cowl vent or even crack a window because it was raining and blowing so hard. I think I must have lost about 10 pounds in that sweat box that night. I can afford that now but back then I needed all the weight I could find. :L

This would be a good time to put in one of those heat barrier kits that go under the carpet. There will be one in mine before I drive it again.

Tom
 
heat shield

GM did offer a heat shield for the starter when using headers. I don't know if it is still available or if the aftermarket starters(accel)eg: are better in this regard for heat
 
Several sources including Summit have different types of heat shields for starters. The wrap around blanket seems to cover it the best.
 
I had the same issue with headers as Tom on my 62. They just hung too low. I was always bouncing them off speed bumps, or even small dips in the road. A couple of weeks ago I finally replaced it all. Installed ram horn manifolds, stock 2 1/2" preshaped pipes, off road mufflers. All "plug and play" from Corvette Central (except manifolds). Toughtest part of the job was getting the headers out of the car! Then trying to get generator mounted "properly" after it had been "rigged' to mount with the headers.

Glad to be back to "normal"!

Hal
:w
 
Toy4Hal said:
I had the same issue with headers as Tom on my 62. They just hung too low. I was always bouncing them off speed bumps, or even small dips in the road. A couple of weeks ago I finally replaced it all. Installed ram horn manifolds, stock 2 1/2" preshaped pipes, off road mufflers. All "plug and play" from Corvette Central (except manifolds). Toughtest part of the job was getting the headers out of the car! Then trying to get generator mounted "properly" after it had been "rigged' to mount with the headers.

Glad to be back to "normal"!

Hal
:w

Do you have any pictures that you can share?
 
studiog said:
This is my car before restoration with headers. The exhaust went through the stock X frame openings

Was there a picture?
 

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