[stubnosebrock]

I have a 74 with a SBC with aluminum angle plug heads. I bought some Hedman Hussler headers for it, and they fit like garbage. The right side fits ok, but the left is horrible. It hits the steering box, and the motor mount, and the collector angles out toward the subframe . I tried making them work which was a mistake because they still wont work and now I cant return them.I think the left header was bent wrong from the factory, or got bent afterwards. So im looking for some new headers. Of course the cheaper the better. My car does not have a/c or power steering. Anybody with angle plugs, what did you run, and how did they work out? I wanna do my homework before I waste more money. Thanks, Brandon

[Big Dave]

Welcome to the Team Brandon!

We do not tolerate vendor bashing here. Post your model number of header and the part number (casting number if GM) for your heads. and note whether you have replaced your motor mounts and your body bushings.

Big Dave

[stubnosebrock]

Headers are part number 65003. Heads are Patriot performance. Motor mounts and body bushings are all brand new.

[Big Dave]

Well I must say their on line presence is sadly lacking. Only thing I can find about your headers at their site is:

65003 Street & Strip Hedders

67-69 CHEVROLET CAMARO- 1-3/4”, 3” - HUSLER RACE HEDDER- STANDARD TUBE

1. Without smog injection or injection heads.
B. Not applicable or intended for street or highway use. Legal only for racing vehicles which may never be used upon a highway, check footnotes also.
D. Not legal for sale or use in California.

The information you require that states they will not work with solid motor mounts or raised exhaust ports is cleverly hidden in the unavailable foot notes.

Big Dave

[jp71ss]

I used a set of hooker super comps 1 3/4 I think 2131 part#. They fit good except they hit the rag joint a little when turning. I would probably go with the Dougs header next time. I also use the patriot head. Spark plugs are a royal pain on the drivers side (3, 5).

[stubnosebrock]

Big Dave, im using the stock clamshell mounts now, so I cant understand a problem there. Like I said, I really think this header was either bent wrong to begin with or got bent afterwards. The right side lines up super good, the left side is just all wrong. Even with the obstructions taken care of, the collector is still heading towards the subframe, it doesnt go straight as it should. Im pretty sure im out of luck with this set, or at least the left side. Oddly enough when checking out Summits website you can buy a single left side header like I have, but not the right. I though that was kinda wierd

[crapy67]

I also used Hooker super comps for angle plug heads and I to had problems with the rag joint and the pit man arm nut hitting. My body bushing and motor mounts are brand new as well. Good luck... Mark

[Big Dave]

Off the shelf headers are designed for a stock (defined as the way the factory made the car forty years ago) and all dimensions were established at that time with master patterns made up by Bob Hedman himself are still stored and have now been digitized so that a computer bends the tubes and a robot picks the component pieces up and welds them together. The robot is blind (probably from all of that welding without an auto-darkening welding helmet) so it may have messed up; but then there is another robot that checks the welds for porosity and fit.

So the header they produce should fit a stock headed SBC installed properly in a 1967-’69 Camaro or 1968-’72 Nova. If you change anything from that anticipated configuration such as using a raised port head with angled spark plugs bolted to a block that has been moved from were the head expects it to be due top a change in motor mounts, body bushings, or chassis lowering then it will no longer fit properly. You are describing a non-fit from some other reason such as shipping damage or the wrong part being in the box (no robots here: just your average hard working minimum wage human doing his mentally stimulating job hour after hour). That is a possibility and at that point you should have stopped and contacted either Hedman for a diagnosis, or your vendor for a return.. I know that is of no help now but for those who read this thread in the future it might help them.

Bob Headman’s claim to fame was not their excellent performance but in their fit for such a wide variety of end users. Everyone raved about how well they fit, and how long they lasted with Headman being the preferred header for the street crowd for as long as I can remember. Doug Thorley Headers were famous for Tri-Y headers that worked very well on the street, but a little more expensive than Headman’s. For performance everyone thought that the “best” header was made by Hooker. Even if you didn’t have hooker headers you had a hooker heart logo on your fender or window. Hooker’s philosophy was you needed headers, but you do not need fenders as no one races in the rain, so if something got in the way of the tube you cut it off.

There are other name brand headers such as Jerry Stahl or Lemons Headers which cater more to custom than off the shelf. If your car is unique and there wasn’t a mistake made by Headman in shipping you a header then you may need to buy a kit and weld up your own or go to a muffler shop and have them weld up a set for you . (Jerry Stahl, Bob Headman, and Doug Thorley were all racers who worked in muffler shops who became well known for making headers before you could buy headers off the shelf).

Big Dave

[Novaz]

x2 great post Dave

[PDQ 71]

I've used a set of Dyno Max Headers for my SBC '71 and they worked OK. I did still have to ding the tubes at the 3 and 4 cyl's I believe it was but not too much. They work OK. Angle plugs are a pain and headers are hard to find for them. Not too many out there but there are some.

[Philip]

Sad part of angled plugs is they do not provide enough benefit for the amount of headaches they cause.

[PDQ 71]

Originally Posted by Philip

Sad part of angled plugs is they do not provide enough benefit for the amount of headaches they cause.

I would definitely agree, with the technology of the chamber designs these days, they really are not worth the hassle. Now I like my heads, and they perform well, but I DO wish they were straight plugs!

[oneowner73]

I did run a set of 65003 Hedman Hedders on my 73 Nova. As I remember I had to cut a notch in the back side of the drivers side clam shell and the steering box only required a small ding to clear. Had to replace them when I moved the engine and put it on motor plates. Rear tube on the passenger side angled back into the mid plate.

[bullet]

I have the hedman Shortys on my Nova.
I dont like the headers pass the subframe, thats the only reason why i went with the shorty headers.
Had to make clearance on the steering box with a 2x4. I have one plug that is a pain to tightn. I use a closed short wrench from matco tools to tightn that one. My heads are the GM corvette alumin center bolt, angle plug. The motor is from scoggin dicky, lubock tx.
Thats the last time i buy angle plug heads. My recent set of heads i bought were for my 1986 truck. I bought them through RHS. Damm good heads, and i installed hookers on the truck, no problem with the plugs. Heaven!

[L48M20]

I've got a SBC with AFR 210's with angle plug heads. I believe the exhausts are .25 higher than stock.

My Hooker 2207 (1 7/8 inch head tube) fit fine with no dimpling. I can have the plugs out in 5 minutes...

Another data point...at ~$400.