I'M GETTING A SET OF HEDMAN HEADERS FOR FREE HOPEFULLY AND WAS WONDERING HOW TO GET BETTER GROUND CLEARANCE. THE HEADERS ARE ON ANOTHER 360 E-BODY AND HAVE THE OCCASIONAL ISSUE OF HITTING THE GROUND. AND MY CAR'S LOWER. LIFTING THE FRONT END UP IS NOT AN OPTION. I FOUND A POST ON AN X BRAND FORUM ABOUT SWITCHING TO POLY MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH APPARENTLY GAVE THE GUY A LITTLE EXTRA CLEARANCE. CAN THE MOUNTS BE SHIMMED WITHOUT COMPROMISING THEIR INTEGRITY? I'M THINKING THAT CUTTING AND RE-WELDING EVERY TUBE WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GO BUT A PITA... I WANT TO GET THE NICE TTI'S BUT THEY ARE TOO PRICEY RIGHT NOW. ANY RECCOMENDATIONS OR TIPS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS, MY KEYBOARD IS BROKEN... SINCE I'M POSSIBLY GETTING THEM FREE I MAY JUST TRY TO RE-WELD THEM FOR PRACTICE, AND TO DO IT LIKE THE OLD SCHOOL HOT RODDER'S DID, FABRICATING AND MODIFYING STUFF, HOPEFULLY I DON'T RUIN THEM LOL. DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE DOUG'S HEADERS? ANY CLEARANCE ISSUES? THANKS

We definately know where you need to spend some money !!!

Unless you car is SLAMMED and you are going to be driving over fields everyday you'll be fine. I've never had an issue w/ any header. Those that do must be play "Duke boys" or something.

Like Mr. Yuck, I've never dragged headers on anything during street use, even some relatively cheap SB A-body headers that hang down pretty low, or the Hookers on my Hemi RR. I HAVE dragged them on a trailer if the approach angle is too steep. Problem with modifying them is they're usually a pretty tight fit (steering, SB filter, etc) and one thing leads to another. If ride height were more important than max power for a given application, I'd consider shorties or stick with manifolds.

If you decide to get some Dougs you won't be sorry.

When I was 17, I flat-sided the bottom of my Hedman Headers on the way home from the muffler shop that installed them. Just took one modest dip in the road. Stock height '72 Swinger. I pulled the headers off and went back to stock manifolds.

Installing headers is a PITA, and it's something I'd only want to do once. I'd take stock manifolds over free Hedmans any day of the week. If you can't afford the Doug's or TTI's (maybe even USED Doug's or TTI's?), I'd save my pennies.

Good luck!

vm

I've never had an issue with header clearance with cheapie headers, but SB headers hang lower that BB headers for some reason. That and if you have lowered your car below stock ride height you are only making things worse for yourself. You may be better off just throwing on a set of HP manifolds instead.

I hear from both sides here: Some say that they have smashed their headers and others say that it hasn't been a problem for them. I take THAT as a testament to DRIVING style and road conditions. If you have soggy suspension, add that one to the mix. If you slam on the brakes on a bumpy road with 6 cylinder torsion bars, you are likely to be the one that crushes the pipes. If you have a stiffer suspension on a smoothe surface, you may be okay.
Something to think about.