Hey Guys,

I have run into a problem. I am getting ready to reinstall my motor and rebuilt front suspension in my 69 bee. The motor is a 383 with eddy performer RPM heads. I have a set of ceramic coated Doug's Headers (#D451). The problems are that the headers seem to hit the mini starter i am using (which i believe i can fix) and on the other side, the headers are resting right on the side of the 727 tranny. Now, I have dinged the headers in both area and have trimmed the lip off of the tranny pan.....but each header still hits. The pass side header hits the tranny right before the collector and i have pounded that pipe with a hammer but to no avail.

Here is my question. Is this an Eddy head issue? And, has anyone ever used an extra set of header flanges (3/8") as a spacer? I think putting a spacer between the headers and the heads would solve both problems.....help!!!!

bump.....anyone?

The issue with the Doug's, and many others, is the one size fits all big block header design. They would just fine on a 440 block since the taller deck height places the header away from the transmission a bit. Are you using a deep pan? I had this issue a couple of times and cured it with a standard depth pan. TTI's are specific for B and RB applications. I know, $$$$$$$$.

That's odd, I have Dougs on 3 of my 'B' body cars, 2 low deck and 1 raised deck motors, no problems at all..? Close fit but no modifications were needed. 2 of the 3 have E heads and one of those is a '68 Coronet with a low deck.
I keep going back to Dougs because they fit well. That is strange that you're having a problem.

Thanks for the response. No, actually, i am using a standard pan and the issue is that the header hits right on the side where the pan meets the transmission. I trimmed away the rolled lip of the pan that sort of sticks out past the tranny....but it still hits....which is why i am considering buying a set of 3/8" header flanges from Jegs and using them as a spacer. Any thoughts about that idea?

Fits with Mopar mini-starter part PN. P5249644AB

Dougs has 151 and 152 part numbers--one for 440 and one for lo deck--and its that #6 spark plug that is going to be the problem

Quote:

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TTI's are specific for B and RB applications

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So are the Doug's !!!

http://www.pertronix.com/catalogs/pdf/dougs/2010/dougs_2010.pdf (page 9)

above is the link to the headers (D451). I appreciate everyone's input so far, but has anyone ever used spacers? I have spoken to the techs at Dougs and the advice i got was to use as big a prybar as possible (??!!). I don't even know what that means exactly. I have fixed the problem with the starter, but i have no clue as to what to do with the passenger side header hitting the tranny? My fear is boiling the tranny fluid through heat transfer.

Well one problem with your proposed solution is that the header flanges aren't flat. Using an extra gasket and an extra flange (spacer) is quite likely to cause things to bend more than usual and cause leaks. I don't like that idea.

basically what thet are telling you you is that their quality control sucks and they want you to put the header on then get something big enough to bend-tweak the header so it fits.

I used the Doug's D452's on my car and they were the best fitting headers I ever had
Gus

I put D452 Dougs on my 440 and had no problems at the starter or trans. I did have to grind 1/8" off the cast part numbers on my power steering box. Headers are always a pain unless the're going on a truck.

It has been a long time since I looked at Doug's Catalog so was not aware of the 451/452. If you are looking for larger tube size for a low deck you are still out of luck with the Doug's since the 451 has a 1 3/4" tube. I would be inclined to ship them back and tell Doug's to try again or give my money back.
I had the transmission pan clearance issue on a '78 Dodge PU with a 400/727 combo. Collector flange hit the deep transmission pan about 2" down from the pan rail. Using the stock pan cleared that issue up but so would having a collector flange that was not welded from the manufacturer.
Some guys are using the Hooker 5903 (?) Comp. header with Eddy heads with good results. 1 7/8" tube size, available with M/C coating, need to slightly ding two tubes for spark plug socket clearance, somewhat less than the Doug's and a whole bunch cheaper than TTI's. Zippy will back this up.

Ok guys,

Seeing as this engine is sitting on the k-frame which is sitting on a cradle.....i decided to try a little prying. with a pry bar, i was getting irritated that the pry bar was messing up the paint on the block...sooooo....i took a long handle (about 5 ft) for a post hole digger and slid it into the collect, placed my feet on the tranny and pulled liked a son-of-a-gun.....viola! I had an inch of clearance!

When morty and saul (the matzoh balls) stop aching i will have at it again.

Brute force and ignorance....go figure!

Nice pictures Lefty. I hadn't seen that shot of the Doug's headers before. Those headers sure fit better than the last set of Hooker headers that I tried to install on my car. The idiot who designed the Hooker headers had them running at an angle into the transmission.