73 rr header issues

[74roadrunner440]

i have a 73 road runner heres my issue im using headman headers 78038 headers and put a bb kframe in and this is a new enginge i rebuilt but my prob is the headers are hitting the gear box and so close to starter the the starter hets hot im using new generation starter high reduction or mini do they make one that aremature housing is closer to the block or do i have the wrong starter?? and on pass side the front two pipes hit the inner fender i know this was a 318 car but seen this done w/o issues ive seen cars this year even with the same headers installed but could the headers be bent or could they be the wrong ones thy say there right when i put them on last summer but starter gets so hot starter wont work i never though this would be that frustrating.:angryfire::angryfire: any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[RustyRatRod]

Get some better headers.

 

[74roadrunner440]

wats wrong w headman what u recomend

 

[Bruzilla]

Anytime you use anything but custom-made headers you're likely going to have fit problems. Our cars were made by guys working on a mostly non-automated production line, who were rushing to get cars out the door, so where holes were drilled and equipment went in isn't always the same from car to car, and headers that fit great on one car might not fit well on another.

Headers are nothing but pieces of steel pipe, and they can be bent. When I have fit problems, I mark off where the problem areas are and use a hammer or other tools to adjust the bends so the problems go away.

 

[rsd859]

That sucks, Im shopping for headers and Im already frustrated, My pockets arent very deep so the high end ones are out of reach for me. And from what im reading is the affordable ones dont fit so well.

best of luck fixing your problem

 

[74roadrunner440]

whats the best way to bend them or give me more room being there so hard i big pry bar might work idk tryed b4 w no luck

 

[rsd859]

Can you heat them and then try to bend?

 

[74roadrunner440]

i realy dont want to ruin the coating

 

[rsd859]

I feel for ya man, That is a huge pain in the *** for sure! I didnt realize you had the coated ones.

 

[ga66mopar]

I had the same problems when I installed headman elite headers on my 66. Here's what I did. I pulled off the steering box off and slotted the two mounting holes at the top (of the steering box). I slotted the holes about a quarter of an inch. I didn’t have to slot the bottom hole. It tilted the steering box away from the headers. That was three years ago. It worked perfect. Make sure you use lock tight on the steering box bolts. I had to install a mini starter which solved the starter issues. It's been three years and I have hot any issues with the headers. Make sure you use a good header gasket and get the longer header bolts. I also used Mr. Gasket high temp lock washers to keep the bolts from backing off.

 

[WP29440SE]

i realy dont want to ruin the coating

I posted in your other thread but I am using the hedman 78030 which are basically the same header with out the coating. the steering box clearance is tight, so I put one little in that tube and it clears fine. I am also using a full size starter with zero issues. they fit really nice for me. perhaps some pics of where they are hitting might help us see what exactly is going on. I put mine on without the steering box and they both went in from the top very easily

 

[74roadrunner440]

ill send pics tomorrow when i get out to car i called hedman and there going to get me the updated headres for this application the guy i talked to sais it will be better for my high horsepower engine and for the car and told him all the issues and he said he hears this alot and have a new design on a 440 in there shop and had them make these for a while now i guess u dont know unless u call summit didnt know anything about this though i realy dont know how no one lets cusomers know when there is a issue with a paticular product thanks all