I just got a call from a friend who is wanting to build one of his late father's cars, a 65 Valiant.
The plan is for a low deck BB and a 6 speed.
What are his header options? He is willing to use fenderwells if absolutely necessary.

Probally custom made only now At one time(a long, long time ago 1970/71)Hooker made some small tube chassis headers for that applicatiion, diffently not a race header If he is going to use a stock front suspension with the torsion bars he will find out that the BB in the pre 1967 A bodys is a real chore I am building a 1965 Dart 270 two door hartop back half race car with the torsion bars removed and a A arm front suspension from CAP, it will have a set fo custom made race headers, probally 2.0 to 2 1/8 or 2 1/8 to 2 1/4 with four inch collectors for a big C.I. race motor with a set of B1-MC heads on a race Koleno wedge block I bought a bunch of the headers parts I'm going to use from Hedaman, one of thier 2.0, one 2 1/8 and one set of the 2 1/4 prebent mandrel bends and collectors and flanges for my car, that should make it easier on the guy who will make my headers for my car Tell your friend Good Luck from me

small block for the win!

Custom built headers will probably be the only option, especially with clutch linkage. Fenderwells are about the only header I have seen on an early A/big block with the motor in the stock location.

He will also find the trans tunnel is a touch smaller than late A's too.

Heres my 62 valiant with a 400/727 with 63-66 scmacher mounts it fits like a glove.

Herb McCandless told me that the later Hooker super comp A body headers will work (#5215-1&7/8). At one time decades ago I mocked it up & the dr side fit but 2 tubes on the pass side needed to be cut/altered. Speedway mtrs has leftover pieces from header building for cheap or call your local ex shop (get the same gauge). Reportedly tire rub is the issue & 14's or low profile 15's are likely needed. An option I am considering is max wedge iron manifolds but they are pricey (but the headers are too) & I'm sure the manis would fit with a B & the 68-70 HP iron manis would for sure would fit & I saw a pic of a '66 A with a 440 (RB) with the max wedge manis & they fit. build tolerances in early A's were the worst ever but they are my fav & in some cases the 68-70 HP manis will even fit with a RB (steering col housing is the issue there) but you can shorten the housing (mock up & go from there). You'll likely need to remove the pinch weld in the sloping trans tunnell and in some case raise the tunnell (the tolerance thing again) & I have a JW ultrabell to adapt a 904 to a big block which will guarantee a no weld tunnell fit. Just need to find another good A body roller to work with & they seem to be gold plated these days. EDIT I have streetmaster spool swap mts (nice pieces) but not sure if they are even still in business

There was a member on fabo that was selling a custom header set for a early A
Im not sure if he sold them or not heres the link
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=301912

I built my own headers and its tight but mine are a upswept forward facing design

I agree. Why create more headaches? Build a stroker smallblock and put a good set of heads on it.

These days you can build a 427 or 440 inch SB without too much trouble so I'd go that way.

We have done it Down Under fitting a 440 into a Australian 1970 VG Valiant, I was well aware of the problem of finding pipes for it and for the cost reason we opted for Headman Hustler fenderwells. We only run 15x4 fronts and they still rub on the pipes when turning, not ideal but it is only a play car.

Thats not even as small compartment as the original poster is talking about, that is the later a body.

Don't bother, it is easier to build a 440 SB than it is to change the plugs on a BB early A.

I see that it can be done, but like a lot of things we do once you reach the "point of no return" the small block looks a lot more attractive

Advise your buddy to find a good header builder regardless of which way he goes, all the commercially available models leave much to be desired.

Fenderwell exit is pretty much the only option with the torsion bars in place.

I've got two examples of BB early A's near me, one a 65 Valiant, the other a 64 Valiant, and both cars worked extremely well.

Unfortunately, my 62 has even less room (at the firewall) so I'm forced to run a small block, or cut it up more than I'd like.

Don't let these guys fool you, a stroker small block will not fill that BB jonesin' we all get!

I know from 1st hand experience. My little 428 will run all day on pump gas, drive to the track and lay down mid 10's uncorked, then run 9's with a touch of nitrous. It has torque for days, and will slide you back in the seat regardless of what gear you punch it on the street! Give me an instant smile every time I lean on it.

But then you get back to the pits after whipping some rat, and pop the hood, and everyone walks over and say's, "It's only a small block?"
Then you have apologize and say, "Yeah, I wish it was a big block too, but this was all that would fit!"

Allmost have to have fenderwell headers for small blocks in early A-bodys. Big block not needed anyway. Here is a pic of an early A-body with a edelbrock headed sm block. 413 c.i. Picture is on the way up. Wadded up the rear valance at the top and destroyed the brand new oil pan on landing. This was first outing on new oil pan as previous outing killed the old pan.

This one has an edelbrock headed RB engine with similar prep as the above Tan Dart. Small block car a tenth and a half quicker to the 1/8th mile. Also should mention the red valiant is 2600lbs while the tan dart is 3050 lbs.

This one used homemade fenderwells made of old expipes!
Pics with smallblock but used to run a 498!

Here a pic of what i did im still in the mock up stage,but with some 180° bends and some creative with exhuast pipe,one could use something similar to what ive done

A member here has a 66 valiant w/a Hemi Denny frt end a 511bb w/2" Doug's b body's went right in,

500 years ago, HRM fit a 383 into a '63 Dart, and had trouble with the firewall at the wiper motor, needed minor surgery.

Once apon a time down Tucson Az way, there was a $100 bet made between two older gents who have now both passed on. Could you fit a 440 in a early A-body? Two weeks later there was a low rise duel quad 440 with 4spd, sporting Max Wedge manifolds between the fenders of a 65 Barracuda. Everything under the flat hood cleared even the small sandean A/C set up.