i got a 64 el camino. it has a 355 and hooker compitition headers. with those headers, is it normal for them to hang down further on the drivers side? and also the passanger side is longer, is that also normal?

i just got it done and took it on its first road test yesterday and it bottoms out on everything. it is lowered, like 3 inches in front and 2 inches out back, which is the height it was when i purchased the project. the header on the drivers side is 2 inches off the ground while the passangers side is at least 3 1/2 to 4 inches off the ground. ride height is even from side to side as well.

What i really want to know would it be better to put in shorty headers or raise it back up? i want it low, but my findings of headers/lowering springs are not that great. any help with companies or places that sell shorty headers and/or lowering springs would be appriciated. i have already looked through Summit and Jegs, but there is not much for the early A-BODY. Thanks

Been there,done that. How was the car lowered? Lowering springs from a quality manufacturer or stock units that have been cut?

Some intermediate headers like Patriots or Sandersons would cure the ground clearance problem.

the front springs have been cut and are factory, the rears are actual lowering ones. Patriots are good headers, but sandersons are ugly. what i am thinking of doing for now is that im going to get some stock replacements and cut to the desired height that i want, because i plan on putting it on 'bags it later this summer, so....

I know people with tight budgets cut their springs but it's such a hit & miss proposition,I don't like to do it. Talk to Coil Spring Specialties at www.coilsprings.com/ (http://www.coilsprings.com/) about building you a pair of lowering springs.

Sandersons ugly? Can't say I've ever heard them called that but there's always a first time for everything. They are a better quality header than a Patriot,though.

64 elcamino my dad had sandersons and loved them you got it backwards partiots sucks more sanderson

now were you guys talking about the cast iron Sanderson headers? now those are ugly but the others are probably better than most brands out there, I have always used Hooker headers and this is the first problem that i have had.

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/images/QP1000.jpg WTF?!?!

I had a pair of the cast iron Sandersons on my 40 Coupe streetrod with 355" TPI. However,I wasn't referring to them for your El Camino. Check out the model CC-10's at http://www.sandersonheaders.com/pagesbypartnum/cc10.htm

OK I to frist CUT new springs front 66BB-Air speings t oget the desired ride hight..i ASSUMED that the stiff HD BB springs would have enough "spring rate to make up the the shorter
over all lenght... WRONG graemlins/angry.gif as usual. the headers would drag as I hit a compression dip and bottomg if I threw it into a Hard turn..
I fixed this by going to after market springs
(Hotchkis) on all 4 corners..
I am, not saying there the only spring out there
Many good Co. Speciality Spring, Eshbach, just to name a few.. OPG even market there own lowered springs....

I had the same problems you are experiencing. I used 1-1/2" Hotchkiss lowering springs and had some cheap full length JR headers that would drag on any speed bump, even if I crawled over them.

I changed to a set of Heddman Elite (ceramic coated) shorty headers and was able to tuck the exhaust system up tighter to the floorpan. That cured my problems and the headers can be removed without raising the engine if needed. Check Heddman web site under the Elite category. I believe they also have non coated ones that cost less than the Elite ones.

I have a set of Sanderson's but they are the first proto type for use with Fast Burn heads.

Essentially they are the same as thier CC12 but with a flange made to fit the FB head.

GREAT HEADER!!!

They have the best flange (http://www.sandersonheaders.com/dino.htm) on the market!

I agree,Cardiac.