Thread: installing headers

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Hey guys,

A friend of mine gave me some hooker compeitition headers for my 63 chevy truck. They came out of a blazer that he had purchased for the frame. We assumed they would fit because they are truck headers and a visual inspection confirms that to a point. I tried putting one on today with no real intention of taking everything apart to get it in there, I kinda wanted to feel it out so I can decide how hard of a job it will and allot the proper amount of time to do it since its my daily driver. My question basically boils down to: Should these be hard to install? I did a quick search and found an outline of the same headers (well, not exactly the same) being installed on on mustang. They disconeccted quite a bit of linkage, the dipstick tube, loosened the motor mounts and slightly lifted the motor to get them on. I don't mind doing this but I want to make sure i'm on the right track before I bust out the engine crane. Am I missing something? It seems right because the tranny linkage was in the way of the collector and the fattest part of the primary tubes wouldn't slide between the motor and the frame when I was trying to slide it in. The only other thing I can think of is to slide them in from underneath but I can't get my truck high enough to do that. Anyways, let me in on your header experiences. Thanks guys!

i cant tell by sitting here, but if it is a big block you might have a job on your hands, small block wont be too bad. i put a set on my sbc 78 truck with out a crane, just snaked them in, one side from the bottom and one from the top. one thing to remember though, since it is a daily driver. once you get them on you will have to run some type of muffler system, and will have to have that layed out before hand, i think that will be your biggest challenge, or the neighbors might complain.

Getting them to fit the engine should not a problem, getting them to clear your chassis might be a little hard.I bought a set of full length Hooker headers for my 65 truck for about 125 dollars brand new.Slideing one or two in from underneath has been done plenty of times also.If you use headers made for a different vehicle you can run into all kinds of problems with clearence issues.If you use headers that are made for a speciific vehicle things will go alot smoother for the install.Pull up the part number from Hooker headers and cross reference the headers you have, and the correct ones .Maybe you will get lucky.You can also make some phone calls to Hooker headers ,ask them if Headers from a Blazer will fit a 63 truck.I also have a spare set of headers,just in case .Blazer, are those shorty' headers?

I bought a set of headers for my truck thinking about the same thing ,They will fit or I'll make them fit. Well the passenger side went right in. The driverside however was another story. Sterering gear box trans linkage and I think somthing else was wrong. Ontop of that I had angle plug heads so I couldnt get to the front plug on the passenger side. I made a call and bought the right ones, seems Hooker is the only company that makes my combination.

I've got straight plug heads so I don't think that will be an issue, thanks for the idea on the part number, I hadn't thought of that and it should help me pin it down before I get crazy. Lets just hope the p/n is stamped on the headers . As far as exhaust goes I've got some reducers down to 2" and a pair of smithy glasspacks from summit, I'm planning on clamping them straight on and then when I get a chance probably after the holidays I will take it down to the muffler shop and have them run it out to the back with an x-pipe. I figure it'll be good and loud but still bearable to drive. Thanks guys!