Header hitting block

Yes guys, I have a big block car. The world doesn't revolve around turbo cars.:Brow::Brow: It just looks up to them.

I recently pulled the right side header due to a blown head gasket. Rob Chilenski destroyed it while making a few passes at Cecil County (he redlighted 3 straight times):laugh: :laugh: . Anyhow, the header has been digging into the block. Fortunately, it has not created a hole in the tube.

A couple of things I was thinking about doing. 1. Take a BFH and dimple the header. 2. Take a grinder and trim the block. 3. Buy a new set of Earick Headers.
Has anyone else run into this clearance problem.

 

The point of contact.

 

Another option. Very similar to #40 of boost in the V6.ou:

 

What a coincidence - I recently blew a right side header gasket making a few passes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jim Burek says to cut them things off in his chapter of Dove's book. Now you've got me curious if I'm hitting there on mine too. Guess I'll be laying under the car again tomorrow.....

 

Call Gessler and get a set of Manifolds for it.....:Brow:

 

When I dry fitted my headers (engine out of the car) I noticed the same problem. I cut those blocks off of my engine. No problems yet.

 

Cutt'm off John, those "pads" are used only for when the block was going down the line having the original machining done, if you cut the pads off you will have a much easier time putting the headers on as well, you'll find they bolt up much nicer,(and its probley the reason the header gasket blew anyway, from not being tight against the head to begin with) Later

 

SAWZ ALL

looks like you had some small exhaust leaks on each port too. you might want to run a quick pass with a belt sander across the flange.

J

 

Cut `em off.. here's a link to demo it for you:

http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/Buick455HeaderInstallationTips.htm

 

NO MORE EARS!

Pulled the starter and wacked the pad with an air cutter then finished the SOB with a grinder. Lots of room now.

 

Yeah, I used a cut-off wheel then painted the block. Here's the view from the the bottom.

 

The collector flange on the passenger side of my shorties hit the side of the oil pan on my 455. Could have been because I had the exhaust side of the head and the header flange both shaved and cleaned up during the buildup, but judging by how much I had to dimple the pan and grind the flange, and by the number of exhaust leaks I had on that side it was probably like that from day one.