This may be a longshot, but anybody have any experience installing Hedman (intermediate size) Hedders in a stock '69 SS 396/350 Chevelle w/ 4-spd? The RH side header slightly contacts on the front brake pipe where it is held against the frame with a hold-down clip. I called Hedman "Tech Help" and they told me to "loosen the motor mount bolts and push the engine over with a sissor jack against the frame". Yea, right! I hate to try and bend the brake pipe as it would have to be bent quite a bit. And I hate to hammer on the header pipe, but I do have a nice 5# leather hammer. How far away from the brake pipe do I need to be? They also pass close to the starter on top, but I have an aluminum heat shield on it, so should be o.k.. I am surprised that these are not bent a little better to clear these parts, especially for the price they get for a pair.

hedman headers are cheap because they don't fit very well. they are made to fit several applications with the same part number. if you want off the shelf headers that fit you need to get the Hooker S/C's, other than that it's custom made job. the Hookers are worth spending the extra money on.

Thanks for the advice. I really don't want to bend up my nice original brake pipe. I will have to find out what these fit and sell them to someone who can use them. They are really a beautiful looking header and are brand new. Thanks, Chuck S.

Used Heddmans on my 69 with an automatic,2 inch tubes and they were a little tight by the steering shaft but otherwise fit perfect!! $200 brand new on E-bay,and they are coated. Better get some $5 or 600 Hookers!! :rolleyes:

might as well get equal length tubes and the best construction quality, since the Hedmans he has aren't gonna work by the sounds of it anyway. 2" S/C's fit my car with a column shifter stock starter, stock brake lines, no steering shaft probs either. btw, i gave $50 for mine used then sent them to Airborne for another $200. like new headers that fit perfectly for $250 plus shipping of course. those deals aren't out there everyday, but you can catch them cheap every now and then. basically i'd rather have a used set of Hookers than a new set of Hedmans. :rolleyes:

The Chevelle I'm trying to use these on has front disc brakes and the brake PIPE comes up over the frame rail (from the engine crossmember) and is held to the rail with a steel pipe hold-down. Right where the pipe comes up and bends over the lwr rail is where the header contacts the pipe. Did you have to move any brake lines or anything else? Thanks, Chuck S.

mine did not have any interferance with it, but mine had factory drums on the front. it has disc brakes now but not sure if what you have is different or not. :confused:

Mine is the same as yours with an automatic,yes it has discs,no interference with the brake LINES.Check the part number and makesure you have the right ones.

Thanks all for your replies. I decided to go with the hammer rather that re-route the brake lines. I also found out the LH side contacts the engine cross-member, so these things are just a bad fit and I would have felt bad selling them to someone else. I will probably use these until I find some stock manifolds at a swap meet (or some nice Hookers (the exhaust type)). Chuck S.

Also, I'm not sure of the boiling point of brake fluid, but being next to the header pipe can't be good.

I have ceramic coated Hedman Elites 1 3/4" on my '71. Not one problem with the fit. As a precaution we removed the front bolt on the brake preportioning valve and tack welded the valve to the frame. The front bolt only had 1/8" clearance on to the header. Removing the bolt gave us almost 3/4" clearance. My '71 is factory 402" BBC, Front discs, Automatic, Power brakes, and airconditioning.

Regards,

I'm curious now about something, don't all 1969 SS396/350 4-spd Chevelles (with front disc) have a RH front brake pipe that passes over the top of (and clamps to) the RH lower motor rail like mine does? This car is supp :confused: osed to be stock and original and there were alot of them made. Anyone who has this brake pipe and has headers may be familiar with this problem. If there are a set of headers out there that will stay at least 1/2" away from this pipe and not pass too close to the starter, I would like to know which ones they are so I can get a set. And my LH header touches the top of the engine crossmember and the frame where the upper control arm mounts.