headers for my 61

[xextr3m3]

a month or so ago, I bought some of those summit brand headers on sale with my coupon for $60.

They were the 67-whatever truck headers.

problem is, my 61 has a 283 with SM420 and mechanical clutch linkage

so nobody really makes a "bolt in" header for me so...
# 1 shows over all fit in engine compartment

[xextr3m3]

#2 shows, that I now have a serious problem with clutch linkage routing:p

[xextr3m3]

and here you can see the light massaging I had to do to the collecter to make them clear the crossmember so I could bolt up last 2 bolts

My overall impression:

I would have kept looking for a better header

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

had the same problem with the headers i put on my 65............i had to take the clutch arm and move the bottom arm and reweld it..........................works good but it would have been simpler if you could find the right headers............didn't have any frame clearance problems ............HEMMIT

[xextr3m3]

what kind of tranny are you running?

[rodnok1]

i am running hooker headers on my 64 with 350 now, they still needed massaging even after z-bar mods too clear all the rods. Make sure you have enough room or when your engine moves they will bind and or hit the header tubes. I am running angle plug heads and have to run shorty Accel plugs and still required massaging.

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

i'm running a muncie m-22......................HEMMIT

[highboy_04]

surely you had to expect them not to fit perfect since they are headers for a 67-72 truck.

[xextr3m3]

Originally posted by highboy_04
surely you had to expect them not to fit perfect since they are headers for a 67-72 truck.

of course, but I was hoping they wold fit a little better.


Well now at least somebody in the future might see this and not do the same thing

[highboy_04]

they dont sell headers for a 61 with a v8?

[xextr3m3]

Originally posted by highboy_04
they dont sell headers for a 61 with a v8?

oh they sell headers for a 61 all right.

2 that I found were:

1) 58-68 SBC (excluding Torsion bars)

2) 60-66 V8 (excluding M/T)



This kinda leaves me up **** creek because I have both torsion bars and a Manual Transmission.

I didnt try block huggers, but they all look as though they would be in the way of the clutch linkage too. Most kinda come down and merge in the middle and those would probibly interfere with the main clutch pivot that goes from frame to block and the rear exit block huggers would exit too far back and interfere with the linkage also

[highboy_04]

well sorry to hear your frustration.