header installation

[71green go]

1971 charger 440.....engine already dropped in engine compartment...I have new hooker super comp headers......
Do I need to lift engine to install headers?......there is no way they are going down through the top......what about from underneath?........how high do I have to jack the car up?.....

[71green go]

Anyone?

[BIGBLCK11]

I have a 2nd gen., so prob not much help.  But, I def. had to go from underneath with the steering box in.  Also, I had to slide the starter and header up together.  A mini-starter would help a lot usually.  I tried the 92? Dakota starter swap, which was great, due to size and weight.  It is like having a factory mini starter for less, but the solenoid hit my Doug's headers on a 383, so I had to manage getting the regular starter in.  Just a couple suggestions, hope they help.  

[404NOTFOUND]

I can't speak for a '71 but, I recently did my  '69. I think it would be the same. Forget going in through the top. I had to raise the car pretty high on large jack stands. I undid the motor mounts and loosened the tranny mount and jacked up the motor. I removed the starter and the center link. I still couldn't do it so I took the slightly drastic measure of removing the torsion bars. I put the starter back in as I raised the headers. Hookers have a reputation of being harder to install than other brands. Good luck with your install. The power gains will be worth it in the end.

[bobs66440]

I know it doesn't help you now, but for future reference, the Hedman shortys are really easy to work with. They leave all kinds of room to access plugs etc. and the engine went in with them installed no problem.




You will probably see a little less HP than long tubes on the dyno, but I doubt many will be able to feel the difference on the street. 

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes you have to remove the engine mount bolt & lift the engine , you want the car 2' off the ground minimum , they will not go in from the top .

[justcruisin]

I fitted 1 7/8" hookers to my 71 charger and yep, you have to install them from the bottom. You will need two feet under the sump and pull the bolt from the engine mount on the side you are fitting, it will need to come up 2 inches, fit the starter and left side header together as the starter wont fit once the header is in place and the header wont fit with the starter in place. Drop the engine back down and refit the bolt, pull the engine mount bolt from the right side and lift the engine 2 inches and fit the right header. I had my steering off at the time so you may need to disconect the steering link.

[jlatessa]

What about 1-7/8 super comps already on engine, will a RB drop in from above on a 70 like that?
W/O  trans?

Thanks, Joe

[71green go]

Thanks EVERYONE!.....I raised the car 22", lifted the engine a few inches....and the headers went in easily up the bottom......gotta say these supercomps fit Perfectly...no dents, no clearance issues......I left the drivers side loose so I can get the starter in...
I want to buy a mini starter while in Carlisle.......so I have lots of other stuff to do until then!...
thanks again for all the advise, it was bang on!

Steve

[firefighter3931]

Headers are worth the trouble. 

Sounds like yours went in reasonably easy 


Ron

[john108]

Simple Question

When you say lift the car 22 "  to 2 feet, I am guessing you mean the frame or bottom of the engine.
I have ramps that can be placed under the front wheels that lift the wheels about 10 - 12 inches.  The combined distance may approximate 22" to 24".  Is that enough or do we need more??

[71green go]

I had about 22" to the bottom of the oil pan/Kframe area......the more the better......Also had to lift engine up It was still attached to tranny when I lifted it up
then simply push engine to the side a little.......I would imagine would be way easier with two people one grabbing header from above as u pass it up......I have a small bungie I used to hold header up until I could crawl out from under car to grab it an secure with couple bolts...then did same to other side
I dont think ramps will work for enough height

[Highbanked Hauler]

 Can't say all headers are the same but with my used "rogue" brand headers  I removed the T-bars and starter,jacked the motor up  and it is a whole lot easier..

[Dino]

Since I need to replace the gasket on the drivers side I will want to move that header out of the way as much as possible.  I do not have a mini starter. 

I think I would probably want to lift the engine to get some more clearance so how do you guys do this?  Put jack stands under the frame, put a jack with wooden block under the oil pan, loosen the motor mounts and jack it up a bit or am I missing the picture?  I've pulled engines completely but I've never done anything like that before.

[404NOTFOUND]

Since I need to replace the gasket on the drivers side I will want to move that header out of the way as much as possible.  I do not have a mini starter.  

I think I would probably want to lift the engine to get some more clearance so how do you guys do this?  Put jack stands under the frame, put a jack with wooden block under the oil pan, loosen the motor mounts and jack it up a bit or am I missing the picture?  I've pulled engines completely but I've never done anything like that before.

That's exactly how I did it. Don't forget to unbolt your fan shroud or your fan will break it.

[Dino]

Since I need to replace the gasket on the drivers side I will want to move that header out of the way as much as possible.  I do not have a mini starter.  

I think I would probably want to lift the engine to get some more clearance so how do you guys do this?  Put jack stands under the frame, put a jack with wooden block under the oil pan, loosen the motor mounts and jack it up a bit or am I missing the picture?  I've pulled engines completely but I've never done anything like that before.

That's exactly how I did it. Don't forget to unbolt your fan shroud or your fan will break it.

Woah thanks for the warning, that would've been a bad moment.

Any thing else I need to unbolt?

[71green go]

Since I need to replace the gasket on the drivers side I will want to move that header out of the way as much as possible.  I do not have a mini starter. 

I think I would probably want to lift the engine to get some more clearance so how do you guys do this?  Put jack stands under the frame, put a jack with wooden block under the oil pan, loosen the motor mounts and jack it up a bit or am I missing the picture?  I've pulled engines completely but I've never done anything like that before.

I used my engine hoist to lift engine......Be careful on the oil pan not to dent it up...or you will be taking that off to hammer it out!

[Chryco Psycho]

What about 1-7/8 super comps already on engine, will a RB drop in from above on a 70 like that?
W/O  trans?

Thanks, Joe

No the engine will not slide in from the top with headers on .

[Dino]

I used my engine hoist to lift engine......Be careful on the oil pan not to dent it up...or you will be taking that off to hammer it out!

Yeah as soon as I posted it I thought twice about it, I'm not taking the chance.  I don't have a hoist or lift but I'll find a way to lift it up a bit.

[jlatessa]

Thanks Chryco, I was thinking that was the case,
I'll bring them up from below as I lower the engine.

Joe