Hedman sidepipe headers... anyone tried these?

Crash Dummy · 07-02-2003, 10:45 PM

I just got these today. Appears they may be a workable solution to hooking to my factory sidepipes on this new engine. I had already cut away the pipes going up to the old cast iron exhaust manifold, so hopefully it is nothing but cutting them again to the correct length... install the adapters... and bolt them up. I know it's not going to work that way, but this should expedite finally firing this motor up.

tshort · 07-02-2003, 11:47 PM

Barry - Glad to see you haven't given up on it yet. Hopefully I can get mine legal (and the new fuel pump problem fixed) and come over and help you finish yours. Once you start it up again I'm sure you'll wonder why the hell you were ever thinking about selling it.

427V8 · 07-03-2003, 01:15 AM

Yep ran them for years. But when the 434 was don I had to go to something a little bigger :cheers:

Crash Dummy · 07-03-2003, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Yep ran them for years. But when the 434 was don I had to go to something a little bigger :cheers:

427V8....

Did they bolt right up with cutting the existing pipes to length or did you have to do some pipe bending to match? Just curious. I'll attack this Friday and take some pix as to how it works out.

Travis...

I love these C-3's. I just don't think they like us amateur mechanics fukkin with'em. :cheers:

ED DINAPOLI · 07-03-2003, 08:41 AM

The Hedman sidepipe headers have been installed for 4 years on my 74 SB. They bolted up without any problem. They are a little tight on the power steering valve and the idler arm, but no mods were necessary. I had them matched up to factory style sidepipes, but did not like the sound and they were too restrictive. Made a 3 inch setup and it sounds great with no restrictions.
Ed

Twin_Turbo · 07-03-2003, 09:23 AM

I have a set of those too (somewhere). The hooker quality is better but i like the design of these headers better, I don't really like the collector at the bend (it just lloks weird to me, those 4 into 1 pipes)

Ed, can you take some shots of how the side pipe bolts up to your headers? Sounds interesting (how you fabbed the side pipes).

never had it on the chassis though, I ran a dual 3" system w/ borla's and early stule crossmember. I only use those for engine break in on the stand.

[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 7:27 AM 7/3/2003]

Barry's70LT1 · 07-03-2003, 11:23 AM

Hi Barry,
I have been using these for over 20 years. (On the Second set now).
No problems at all.
Barry

ED DINAPOLI · 07-03-2003, 12:31 PM

Twin_Turbo,
I dont have any pictures of the connections, but they connect the same way you would with the factory style pipes. I had a muffler shope make a collector connection on a 3 inch pipe, follow the route of the factory style pipe around the frame. Inserted 2, four inch round race mufflers and attached a 3.5 inch turnout on the end. The pipe is attached to the frame in a very similar manner as the factory style pipe.
Ed

Twin_Turbo · 07-03-2003, 04:26 PM

I don't have or have had factory side pipes and don't know from the top of my head how they look under the covers so anyone with a pic, please post it here

Crash Dummy · 07-03-2003, 06:08 PM

An update.....

I decided to attempt to put the driver's side header on this afternoon as I figured it would be the hardest. Since I had already cut away the pipes going downward from the old stock exhaust manifolds it made it alot easier. Installing the headers is a piece of cake compared to Hookers. Just raised the driver's side about 8-10 inches and slid the headers in. From the top I raised them up and they bolted right up. The only thing left was to measure how much more to cut off the existing pipes.... slide the adapter over and bolt them up. I still need a couple of muffler clamps and I will probably have the adapters welded to the sidepipes. I'll attack the other side tomorrow.

[Modified by bgrice, 4:09 PM 7/3/2003]

tshort · 07-03-2003, 10:52 PM

Barry - I hope your heads aren't angled plug design. If so, those headers will run into the plugs.....unless you can find the Accel shorty's that match your heads.

Crash Dummy · 07-04-2003, 12:03 AM

Now that you mentioned it I needed to go try the plugs before I went even further. The Dart heads are straight, but that would have really pissed me off to find out that there would have been interference. I have to admit that Sanderson designed things easy to work around and these Hedman headers take some time to align the plugs. Appears everything will work though. I'll put on the other side tomorrow and drop the mini-starter into a box for now. With these headers I can go back to the stock starter. The reasoning? I'm not sure what is going on, but I'm still having serious problems with the starter not dissengaging with the flexplate. It's a new flexplate... 168 tooth... maybe a bad one... I don't know. Either way I will not start this engine up this weekend. I will head out Saturday and get distilled water, fresh gas and the clamps I need.

Tomorrow evening? Get drunker than a coot for the 4th. :cheers: