[66dream]

Got my headers in Dougs jegs pn 0776D369
to fit my zz 383 in 66 chevelle.
passenger side header hits the firewall.
Anyone have this problem also?
Cant find a web site for Dougs.
call Jegs they are send a new pair but I'm afraid they will be the same.
Every where else looks like good clearance, just the passenger side tube is right on the firwall.

 

[NOS327]

can you post pictures? Dougs stuff is usually awesome...

 

[66dream]

yes I will try to get some pics tonight. The fit is good everywhere else. Just the firewall on the passenger side.

 

[Harold Sutton]

Got my headers in Dougs jegs pn 0776D369
to fit my zz 383 in 66 chevelle.
passenger side header hits the firewall.
Anyone have this problem also?
Cant find a web site for Dougs.
call Jegs they are send a new pair but I'm afraid they will be the same.
Every where else looks like good clearance, just the passenger side tube is right on the firwall.

You might check your "frame mount" locations as compared to where they are on other same year Chevelles (64s-67s). Has your car ever had a big block in it? I think big block mounts put the engine in a little different place in the engine compartment, either ahead off or aft of where it is now. There is a slight amount of play in the frame mount holes if that isn't the case. The motor mounts may be somewhat different too, especially in the height department. The engine could be sitting too high in the engine bay too as i believe the firewall curves rearward near the bottom of the body line.

 

[66dream]

You might check your "frame mount" locations as compared to where they are on other same year Chevelles (64s-67s). Has your car ever had a big block in it? I think big block mounts put the engine in a little different place in the engine compartment, either ahead off or aft of where it is now. There is a slight amount of play in the frame mount holes if that isn't the case. The motor mounts may be somewhat different too, especially in the height department. The engine could be sitting too high in the engine bay too as i believe the firewall curves rearward near the bottom of the body line.

If you look at the header there is no room to move forward to gain more clearance in the rear (between the fire wall and header tube). Also, there is no room to move the motor down without binding the header on the frame crossmember. One tube is very close to the lower A frame almost touching.
I did however get under the car with the front supported on 6 ton jack stands and put a pry bar in hole of frame and hole in body. It looks like the body may be about 3/16-1/4 inch too far forward. ( I dont see a hole on the drivers side frame to match up with though)
Looked in the service manual but, it only gave info for the corvair and chevy II.
I will look at it some more tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Mikeys69]

Don't know if this will help you out. It's a 69 Chevelle SB.
Installed motor/trans and headers tonite...No problems with clearance.
Did have problems with plugs and angle heads...
Anyways...Heres a picture of the motor mounts.

 

[NOS327]

Sorry, off topic, but big_red, what did you use to seal around your heater core spuds at the firewall there?

Thanks.

 

[66dream]

here are some pics of the area the header is hitting.
Spoke with the tech at Petronics. Basicly he could not offer any solution, except send them back and he would have them checked to the jig.
I tryed moveing the body with the body mounts loose on the passenger side. I think I got it to move about 1/8" to the rear, which will help, but still would like more clearance and hoping that the body will not suck back to the previous position after I tighten the body mounts.
Any ideas?

 

[Yelcamino]

First off, those headers look real nice in there!

Back to topic, did you have the body off the frame at some point? If you did, maybe the entire body isn't on the frame quite right. When I got my Chevelle the previous owner did had the paint and body done off the frame. Whoever put it back on didn't line it up right because the entire thing needs to scoot over to the passenger side at least a 1/4". I figured that out when I installed my bumpers and the gaps on either side were significantly different. Something to consider.

 

[Dave427]

If it was me and there is no other clearance issues, i would mark where it is close, and use a large socket and put a round dent in your firewall. Are those headers 1 3/4?

Dave

 

[66dream]

If it was me and there is no other clearance issues, i would mark where it is close, and use a large socket and put a round dent in your firewall. Are those headers 1 3/4?

Dave

Yes, 1 3/4 primary headers

Not sure where the body needs to be, I can only find 2 alingment holes and they are on the passenger side only

 

[cv67]

Should be the same as yours.
I wound up moving he body back just a touch. Hope the front clip lines up...

HOW did you get the pass side in anyway? I slid mine in with the body off and dont see how you coulda gotten them in. Think the headers are super high quality but I hope they never have to come out.

Fwiw my pas side, I did a touch of grinding on the lower control arm and put a slight dimple in them so they wouldnt hit it or the brake line either . D.S. was best fit ever.

 

[blumont]

Those look to be identical to mine. That tube ended up about 3/8" from the firewall. Both sides tucked up nice and tight underneath. They did however not line up with the arced portion of the tranny crossmember. I built offsets in my 3" pipe to cure that. One tube also just barely hit on the passenger side near the motor mount, a small dimple fixed that. Drivers side hit the control arm mount. Once again a bit of grinding on the mount and it clears. The starter(mini) on mine can only be installed/removed if the header is unbolted at the head and collector to swing a bit out of the way. Oil filter is also very tight getting in and out. They clear the kickout oil pan fine. Passenger side I can get in in and out with the starter removed, but not easy. Drivers side is impossible, I had to lift the engine a bit to get it in. Al in all a big pain in the arse, but what isn't

 

[cv67]

yes, 369s I believe. As one person said abov ethe "side to side" measurement in how the body mounts on the frame can make a difference also. Take your time and take measurements in several places. I was surprised how far off mine was even though it "eyeballed" . Makes a difference in firewall clearance.

 

[Tom Mobley]

looks like some kind of equal length tube race car header. Sometimes there's something to said for plain old convenience headers.

Why did you choose 1&3/4 for that engine?

 

[Dave427]

here are some pics of the area the header is hitting.
Spoke with the tech at Petronics. Basicly he could not offer any solution, except send them back and he would have them checked to the jig.
I tryed moveing the body with the body mounts loose on the passenger side. I think I got it to move about 1/8" to the rear, which will help, but still would like more clearance and hoping that the body will not suck back to the previous position after I tighten the body mounts.
Any ideas?

Looking at your 2nd picture you can see a header tube going inward, I wonder if that tube would cause inteference with my wedge style oil pan.

Dave

 

[66dream]

looks like some kind of equal length tube race car header. Sometimes there's something to said for plain old convenience headers.

Why did you choose 1&3/4 for that engine?

Thats the size they say to run.

 

[NOS327]

So it appears that the Dougs headers are just a shameless copy of the Hooker Supercomps? Tube configuration, that one primary that swoops in at the starter, crossmember interference below, etc..

And Dave427, yes they will hit your wedge style oil pan:

 

[66dream]

So it appears that the Dougs headers are just a shameless copy of the Hooker Supercomps? Tube configuration, that one primary that swoops in at the starter, crossmember interference below, etc..

And Dave427, yes they will hit your wedge style oil pan:

Mine on the passenger side will require radi the size of the header tube about a 1/4" in on the lower a frame to clear also.
For the money these headers cost, you would think they would fit.
Thanks for all the pics guys. At least I know it IS a common problem, unlike what the tech guy at Petronic told me. " Ah no, we haven't had any problem with application on that header at all"
By the way, do you guys use anti seeeze on the header bolts that bolt to alum heads or lock tight?

 

[NOS327]

anti seize and some sort of lock washer.