My Headers Don't Fit

[Bill D]

I have a set of ERA headers for my RCR GT40. Unbeknownst to me, my Victor Jr. heads have raised exhaust ports (.130) which is causing the pipes to not fit into the collectors unless a tremendous amount of force is used. What would be the best method of getting them to fit? Heating them up to relax the bends? Cutting them and adding small extensions?

Thanks
Bill D

[Gregg]

Why not see if ERA will take them back and then buy the proper set?

[Bill D]

I didn't buy them from ERA. I bought them from a private party that didn't use them on their ERA

[Rick]

I think a small amount of judiciously applied heat would allow each individual pipe to be tweaked as necessary. They will also "relax" when heated by engine exhaust heat.
Good luck

[Jac Mac]

Bill,
Your going to have to cut them, unless they are coated or chromed. Save yourself a lot of grief & sell them to someone with a std port arrangement on their car, and buy/build a set to suit your application.

Jac Mac

[Jonathan S]

Sell your heads on ebay and buy different heads.

[Bill D]

The engine is already built.

[Ron Earp]

A head swap is far easier than re-making those pipes or having new ones made.

Ron

[FRPGUY]

Bill, if you change heads, don't get the GT40 P heads. They are nice heads, but the exh. ports are too close to the spark plugs and finding the correct wires and boots is a must.

[Jac Mac]

Whats so hard about building a 'New' set of headers, hell they are all just sitting up there in a virtually open space, sometimes I think you guys get it too easy.

Jac Mac

[MBelcher]

Bill:

Try calling Tri-C engineering [661-295-1550]. Rick Cresi is the owner, and could probably modiy them quickly, and at a reasonable price. Rick does some very nice work. If you want to see an example, e-mail me and I will send you a photo of the headers he did for my car.

Michael

[Bill D]

Mike
Your email is blocked.

Send some pictures to dlm_racing@hotmail.com

[Big-Foot]

holy crap Bill!!!! That's the pits!!!!!

Now I wonder if my RCR headers are going to fit with my 331 with DART-170 Heads!!!

[Big-Foot]

So - With the ports raised - that also places them further apart (left for right) - By how much?

[Chris K]

Bill, save yourself alot of trouble and swap the heads, I know someone (name not needed to be mentioned) that went through an almost identical situation and spent over $2K to modify the primaries to be able to use a $1K set of heads.

FRPguy, P heads ('96- Explorer) require headers made just for those heads, the spark plugs come straight out (not at an angle), but you are talking about iron production heads, I have these on my '65 Mustang with tri-y's made especially for the P's, BTW mild porting with a bit of pocket porting will make those outflow FMS "Y" heads, but if you use them swap out the valve train for something better and you will still be dollars ahead of FMS aluminum heads, Central Coast Mustang in Temecula, Ca. was a good source for P heads (all in, at the time @$500).

[MReid]

AFR 185s have the ports in the stock location. I think with a 90 degree V8, each side would be further apart by .707 of the raised amount. So .130 raised would equal .092 per side or .184 farther apart. Don't be fooled though, this is significant. Either cut to fit or replace the heads. I would replace the heads.

[Chuck]

Randy:

I have the Dart Pro 170 heads and the headers supplied by Fran seem to fit. I have not yet bolted everything down so this is a preliminary assessment. They are a bit tight around the left valve cover, but I do not anticipate any significant problems. So I would not be too concerned if I were you, at least not yet.

For some reason my response to your PM was blocked.

Chuck

[Bill D]

I'm going to install them tomorrow with gaskets and do a full test fit. I'll post pictures.

See ya tomorrow

Bill D

[Big-Foot]

Chuck - Thanks for your message.. I've no idea why my PM box would block your response as it was not full. I've done a little cleanup there also to give it even more space. RE: Your header clearance - It appears that the tube for Cylinder 7 was mis-positioned as there is room to get it a little more cozy to #8. I'll take a look at mine when I get out into the shop later and report back..

Bill - I'm wondering if you can assemble the tubes into the collectors and splay the header flanges just slightly while installing them as a unit?

[FRPGUY]

Chris K, Did all that ! Pretty good heads for the money. I used them in my Daytona Coupe.