I'm looking for full length header recommendations for a 55 Chevy PU with Heidts suspension and a 383 SBC. TIA
does it still have the bell housing motormount cross member? my truck has a second generation camaro clip, a small block, an early car bellhousing that rests on the cross member, and a muncie with no rear mount. since the cross member drops down pretty good, camaro headers don't work. the headers on my truck are off a 69-91 full size blazer.
The truck will be converted to T400 automatic. Bell housing crossmember removed and replaced with Heidts motor mounts and rear transmission crossmember for t400
i called jegs and summmit and had them pull headers and give me measurements. the jegs people didn't really seem to have a problem with it. took a day to get back to me. depends on how high up you have the motor set to how much of a drop the headers need.
When I had a 1955 Cameo Pickup with a SBC ... I just bought a set of headers for a 1955 Chevrolet car. They fit perfect ... cleared the bell housing mounts and the steering. Just bolted them on. They were HEDMAN HUSTLERS ... a full length header with 3 or 3.5 inch collectors.
Headers for 55-59 Chevrolet trucks are usually "angled" down somewhat, meaning the exhaust tubes just before the collectors are not level with the pavement. My younger brother had a 55, LONG box, with a stock 283 (other than a Holley 2 barrel adapted to the intake), Muncie 4-speed, and stock rear end gears. He had 36" glass pack mufflers located at about the step on the box, with full length tail pipes. It was the coolest sounding exhaust. It seems to me the headers were Hedman Hedders. This was a stock front suspension truck. I'd like to have a 55-59 to replace my 82 Silverado. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Thanks for the great replys. Some site who shall remain nameless always gives you the advice of what you should do instead of answering the question. Right On to the HAMB and its members.
Please name the site and get it out in the open! I for one here try my damndest to give good advice is why I ask. pdq67
This probably doesn't answer your question, but on my 55 (2nd series) with TCI MII IFS, I'm running block hugger headers. Clears everything just dandy.
I have some old Blackjack (when's the last time you've heard that name?)ones for a 69-71 era Chevy pickup on mine. My engine is in the stock location, located with the stock manual bellhousing with the rear motor mounts cast in that bolt to the crossmember there in conjunction with front mounts. They just clear the steering box. I have turbo header mufflers that had a length of tubing on the front that gets the muffler body behind the crossmember. I had to flatten them out some as the headers don't really drop enough to let the tube between the header and muffler body to clear that crossmemebr. I will never remove that crossmember as there's too much connected structurally in that area - cab mounts, spring hangers, steering box, stock brake pedal are all near there - brings out the engineer in me. The 55-57 car ones would probably work well as they would come down the middle of the block and in front of the steering box but I am not sure how far they drop down and they also block the use of the side mounts. If you are going to do all new mounts and not necessarily be in the stock location I think you have some flexibility to get more clearance. That's IMHO.