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72 Pontiac 350 Headers ARGH!
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Hi,
I have a 72 LeMans (350) That's being completely reworked:
complete rebuild + perf. cam (malt shop/lope), intake, valves, bored over 40, pipes, steel crank... the list is getting crazy... so was the bill.
The "crazy" thing about this project is that this old "LeMans" has stock disc brakes, stock performer rear-end (torsion bars), and a bunch of other perks; the Vin number is weird, may have been an employee car...
But, the nail in the coffin is that the headers (hooker comps. 4901) match up, all except the 4 outside bolts have nothing to bolt into (no metal). All of the other bolts match the bolt pattern perfectly, but the guy who rebuilt the engine is scratchin' his head (with 35 years in the industry as a race engine builder), and the exhaust guys were baffled... I have the right headers, for the right engine (on paper)... but I don't want to risk an exhaust leak, but now, I don't know what to do with her. :confused: Any pointers? -
Thanks for the feedback Phil!
Unfortunately, there's no metal there to even tap into. The bolthole for the actual header hangs off the block. I found out that the 72 LeMans (Sport) is a very rare car. The heads (7H1 cast) are sought after because of their compression ratio. But, the actual pipe is on the end of the block with nowhere to go, I can tap on the inside of the outermost pipes/ports on all four outside corners, but the headers would still break the seal without outside bolt placement.
On the other hand, the guys at Doug Thorley stated that there is no way I should let anybody touch the engine now because of the rarity:eek:... I have to use the manifolds. It's gonna' be a low end torque monster... with no headers.
*fin* -
Hot rodding can be a bummer at times. I hope you can find someone who makes a header for your car. However, it sounds like you will still have a very fast car even with stock manifolds. I once witnessed a Studabaker Avanti go 178 mph at El Mirage dry lake. When I looked at the engine I could not believe what I saw. It had the most restrictive stock cast iron exhaust manifolds I ever saw. You can be thankful your manifold is alot better. It might be possible to drill holes into your stock manifolds and insert your new header pipes into the drilled holes flush to the head. Then weld the pipes to the stock manifold on the head side and braze the outside to fill the gaps between the toobs and the manifold. Grind or mill the welds flat for a nice leak free system. Then it will bolt to the block securely. You would have a one of a kind header system that will not leak like most header flanges do. Good luck with your header system. Let us know your final solution. You might contact HEADERS BY "ED", INC. at www.headersbyed.com or by phone 612 729 2802. Or by FAX 612 729 5638. He is probably the most knowledable header builder there is. Good luck.
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Thanks Lee!
That is the best suggestion that I've come across. The Pontiac from hell will be finished on Monday (with the stock mani intact), but instead of sending the headers back to hooker, I'll keep em.
I'll give Ed a call and find out how this will pan out. I've got nothing but time now. I really appreciate the feedback, thanks again.
R.I.P. PMD
