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In this Discussion
- EmacRx5 March 2009
- Oldcar_Mechanic March 2009
71' Lemans Sport Header clearance
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Hey everyone, new to the forum and restoring my first car, hope I can find some help!
I bought some Flowtech Headers (#31170) for my 71' Lemans Sport... Pontiac 350 motor, TH350 tran. The installation instructions point out that you may have to raise the engine mount 1/4 - 1/2" for header to crossmember clearance. The problem I see is that adding a spacer or washers doesn't raise the engine. The mounts bolt into the bottom of the block at a 90 degree angle to the floor. There is no angle to work with.. Am I missing something here? The car sat at at my brothers house for prob 10 years, so I'm sure there is plenty of sag. So my questions... Can these mounts be spaced (I don't see how)? Will new mounts give me a 1/4 - 1/2"? I don't want to get new ones and have the same problem. Are there other taller mount options out there that i can use on this car? The headers look like they will fit nicely, just need the clearance. Thanks
Evan -
I've never heard of having to raise the engine to make the headers fit. I have heard of having to raise the engine to get them in place.
The only possibility would be to get the entire mount raised up from the frame member that it is attached to. Raising the engine higher from the mount and putting a spacer in between the mount and the block will not work as you will not be able to bolt the mount back on because of the angle change.
Does Flotech have a hotline? A website? Maybe you could talk to someone there.
OR, buy a set of headers that will fit without the hassles.
Ron -
I called Flowtech a couple weeks ago and when I asked the tech about it he was like.... Really? I haven't heard of that, then when he pulled up the part number, he said wow, the instructions do say that you may need to raise the engine. He didn't really have any insight on a solution.
You make a good point, because when I tried to check the fit of the headers i didn't have the engine jacked up. I have it raised now and the mounts loose so I will try a mock up putting the headers in place then lower the engine to see if they still hit the crossmember.
What do you think about the new mount idea? I mean how much do they sag over time, can it be as much as 1/4" to 1/2", seems like a lot to me for an enine mount?
Any suggestions on hassle free headers, sounds like an oxymoron to me.
Thank you
Evan -
You know, mounts are a pretty hard rubber product and unless they are damaged, I can't see where they would allow the engine to drop that far.
I think you have a great idea with the mock up. At least you will actually see what's what.
I had Headman's on my Cutlass many years ago. You had to jack the engine up to get the one side in, but they didn;t need anything else nor any other modifications to the engine area.
Keep us posted as to what the outcome is. I'm interested in what you find.
Ron -
Sorry I haven't gotten back. Silly thing called work has been getting in the way. Interesting stuff. I did the mock up and was excited to see that the Flowtech headers didn't hit the crossmember when I snugged them in place! Next thing I realized that I may have to relocate a brake line slightly on the driver's side, not a huge deal. The other side however is the problem! The oil filter mount that I had to take off the block to get the header in will not fit with the header on.
So I thinking just use a remote oil filter mount. The remote oil filter mounts look like they screw on to the stock mount where the oil filter originally went to make a bypass, then hose over to wherever you mount the new oil filter. My problem is that the stock mount doesn't fit with these headers. I called Ames Performance and asked about an aftermarket oil filter mount. Not a surprise they don't make a part like that, obviously not much market for it. The guy said he had heard of this problem and it is why they recommend Doug's headers that are supposed to fit this application with no problems. No problems except they are more than double the price
So doesn't look like I will get away with a set of cheaper headers on this car unless I may be missing something again, or if you've used a remote oil filter mount and they don't actually have to have the stock mount to work like I'm thinking?
