67 RS Camoaro Big Block Header / PS clearance issues????

Hi everyone, I am looking into putting a 396 BB in my RS camaro and I was told there were clearance issues with the headers if you have power steering. I plan to put in power steering and power brakes. Can anyone tell me what needs to be done if anything so I can drop a BB in? Will I have alot of clearance issues. I see alot of cars with this configuration but want to know ifI need to do anything special. I know it needs motor mounts and there is 6cyl in there now. The whole drive trane is going to be replaced but I just want to make sure that I can get a BB in there without opening a can of worms. I am getting the motor for practically nothing and it is steering me away from a small block. If the headers are an issue, arent there and manafacturers that have made a set just for this application?

Thanks Gary

Reply to
TraxUnderground
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The pitman arm for the steering will have to be changed to the Pontiac style. It is angled such that it clears the headers. The stock pitman arm is no longer available stock, but a similar after market part is available from calssic Industries. The straight pitman arm will not work with a GM big block.

Reply to
Tarver Engineering

The simplest thing for you to do is give the folks at Year One a call.

If they don't have all the correct parts you need, they will help steer you to the venders that do. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

Thanks!

Gary

Reply to
TraxUnderground

You'd never see a set of headers on any of my F bodies....but..

If you're hellbent on putting them, try the major header companies out there and ask if they have a configuration for your planned setup. I'm sure someone else has done what you're looking to do and has solved those quandaries.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Reply to
Bigjfig

Even the stock GM exahast won't fit without the pitman arm change. (1st Gen)

Reply to
Tarver Engineering

if you use big block frame stands and correct engine mounts, it'll set the engine about 1" to the passenger side. the trans crossmember should also be for a big block, but you can get away with using a slotted trans mount to move it too. then the headers will work without issues. tight fit, and would be alot easier to install with front body clip removed. also the heater box issue can be resolved by getting a big block heater core and making an opening where they come thru the box. hth.

Reply to
®

Joe

Why would we never see a set of headers on one of your F-bodies? I can understand the Turbo car, and the 79 since it's a collectors item. But what about the 80 Project Car?

I know people who swear they will never use headers, I also know people who swear by them. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

Butt ugly, scrape, hit the ground, burn wires, make changing the plugs a nightmare, they loosen up, rattle, make noise, etc, etc, etc, etc.

You can get a set of good flowing manifolds (RA style) and they will look stock and flow about as good as headers without the headaches.

The 80 project car was given to me and it DOES have headers (4 tube style). If I were keeping the car, they would be sold. I sold the spare set that came with the car on Ebay :).

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Reply to
Bigjfig

quandaries.

I have had a lose header before. By the same token, I have had exhaust manifold bolts back out before too. AMC's mostly.

Collectors that are too low and scrape the ground are not good. Neither are sprak plugs that become a nightmare to change. Yet my 84 Chevy 1/2 Ton with the stock 305, with all the stock emmissions controls, and the stock exhaust manifolds is a nightmare to change plugs on.

I have thought about having chevy exhaust manifolds extrude honed before. For cars where a stock look is desired. Unlike T/A's, Different years of Chevy's require diffrent types of exhaust manifolds. Some of them have pretty small ports, and are restictive.

Some time in the next month Im going to put a Set of Headers on my 77 Chevy 1/2 ton. I paid $75 for the truck. It's missing a good number of parts, including ehaust manifolds. A buddy of mine parted out a 79 Chevy truck and gave me the hooker headers that were on it. The 305 that's under the hood of that truck is "supposed" to be good, Ill find out soon. If not the new spring packs with 9 leafs each on the rear end were worth the $75. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

snip....

quandaries.

Joe, I know you wouldn't run headers on your cars since you restore them but some of us do (and reduce the value of our cars by installing them). But plugs and wires aren't an issue with headers on a Pontiac engine due to the low exhaust runners. As far as the rest, you get what you pay for. A cheap set of headers will look bad and have clearance and leak issues. A quality set of headers ($600 - $850) will fit right, not leak and not loosen up. I get a lot of compliments on the ceramic coated headers in the T/A, you can barely see them since they are so low in the engine bay but they get noticed anyway. No clearance issues at all on my 4 speed car and they fit up close to the floorboards. They weren't cheap but they were definitely worth it.

I like the long tube header sound. ;^)

Uhhhh.....to a point. In a low horsepower application, the RAIII manifolds are a nice alternative to headers. Getting a good bend from the manifolds to the exhuast pipes takes a bit of work to get them to tuck up under the car. But at some point as horsepower increases, the manifolds will become more restrictive than a properly sized set of long tube headers.

What I hate is people that install headers on a 4 speed car and throw the backdrive rod away. Those things arre impossible to find.

Dave

Reply to
poncho462

Which is why headers are crap :). If you need to remove or modify anything, chances are the vendor doesn't have a clue or has never test fitted them into a car.

For $850 I can get a stainless steel exhaust for BOTH birds and never have to worry about exhaust again. LOL :).

If the manifolds were good enough for the HIPO cars originally(they were putting out some serious power), they surely work 30 years later :).

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Reply to
Bigjfig

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