Headers too close for comfort...

[LuckyDSquared]

Hey all. I’m swapping a 350/350 into my ‘62. I went with Sanderson Patriot headers because that’s what my buddy has in his ‘60 with a 327/350 combo. Anyways, the passenger side is awfully close to frame rail and drivers side is awfully close to motor mount perch.

Do you all think they are too close for comfort? Should I apply some heat to the bends and “persuade” them to fit better? What are y’all ideas?

[pholmes350]

Nah, my passenger side is touching the frame. I gotta fix that.

[SkinnyG]

I like to shoot for a finger-width of clearance, you could get away with half a finger-width. Probably depends on how much the engine moves. I have polyurethane mounts in the stock clamshells on my '77 daily, and the motor hardly moves at all, so I can be a lot closer with the exhaust. I will likely do the same on my '61.

[MikeN]

I don't think you'll have any trouble with that. Worst it can do is give you a little vibration inside the cab if it were to settle to the point where one side or the other were actually touching. If that happened, I'd grind a little bit on the frame for clearance. On the other side, I'd gently ding the header tube.

[The Rocknrod]

I call that clearance.

[cj847]

Any further from the frame rail, puts it closer to the starter.....so I think it's plenty of clearance.

[demian5]

That is plenty of room.

[MikeB]

I'd say you want a 1/2" minimum, depending on how much engine rock you have when you blip the throttle. Or install some polyurethane mounts and the engine will rock MUCH less.

Also, make sure the header tubes have a few inches clearance to brake and fuel hard lines. if not you can wrap the lines with a heat reflective material.

Here are some that use velcro, so you don't have to disconnect