[driveshaft-texas]

68198 coated in a 66 BB car. The headers touch the lower control arm frame bracket on both sides . I know it voids the warrantee to modify, but a dimple on both sides will solve this problem. Question ; how to dimple without cracking the coating ?

 

[MarkM]

Cross your fingers.

I put a bunch of tape on them first.

 

[blown496]

I used a side grinder and trimmed the brackets on both sides on my blown bb 66.

 

[OLDED]

I have had to trim the A arms a bit (1/4") or so on a couple of BBC header installs to get the clearance needed. Just don't get too close to the bushing socket. Used a reciprocating saw after the install was completed.

 

[driveshaft-texas]

How much clearance is needed ? ? I have 3/16" on left side -no gasket-by grinding the lower corner off the control arm mount. The right is a different story, grinding the mount was not enough. I dimpled the tube 1/4" to get the 3/16", still no gasket, that I hope is enough.I pulled header and supported it on a block in the vise and used a copper/rawhide hammer. I'm sure I have damaged the coating but it did not crack and fall off. Brake line is closer than preferred also-1/4" at one spot- but it has the coiled protector that should act as a heat sink. These cars were not built by robots so some variation is to expected .
I called Hedman and as expected, the reply was "they should fit, don't know what else to tell you". No surprise to me, I have installed maybe 50 sets of headers over the years , mostly on pickups , and nearly all required some tweaking.

 

[oktunes]

What good is the warranty, really?

 

[driveshaft-texas]

What good is the warranty, really?

exactly ! If they made all the welds, I'm good. They look to have a good fit everywhere else but I'm not done-plugs,wires, dipstick tube will just have to work.
Another set would fit just like these, I really have no choice ,short of rebuilding the control arm mounts, and I'm not up for that....yet.

 

[OLDED]

If you run the Energy Suspension mounts - they are pretty rigid - only 3/16" or so is good on the drivers side as that side rises under acceleration.

 

[jvoiles]

I had to grind on the passenger side a arm. Not much though. you don't need much clearance.

 

[phocksphyre]

I had to grind on the passenger side a arm. Not much though. you don't need much clearance.

Exactly - the engine rotates away from this under load. Did you try it with the gasket? It might lower it a touch.
John