Does anyone know what fenderwell headers will fit my Henry J (SBC)? It looks like, maybe, Chevy II fenderwell headers might work, but I don't want to order them without knowing. The Henry J has a stock frame and firewall but the wheels and axle have been moved a few inches forward.
it really depends on how the motor is mounted and where, most of the time the chevy two will fit if the front is high enough and forward a couple of inches..
Another fender well header that use to be very popular is for the 55 - 57 Chevy, I have used these on several different cars running SBC's years ago, 38 Ford coupe, 41 and 47 Plymouth's. The Chevy 2 headers arched up too high for the cars I have built, the 55 -57 type raised a small amount from the exhaust ports on the heads, then came straight out and made a 90 degree turn towards the bottom of the firewall. If I can find an old photo of them on one of my cars I'll PM you tomorrow. Hope this helps!
Thanks folks, I already have a set of the fat fenderwell headers from Speedway but they interfere with the firewall and floor. It looks like to modify the collector I would be cutting in that complicated area where the four tubes go into the collector. The set Von Hartman is running on his Henry J (pics on this site) look like the trick because we are both running small blocks mounted in about the same place but he doesn't know or remember what his were originally for.
Tri 5 chev and early nova fenderwells are very forgiving as for fit and quite flexable as to fit ...... but heck with a beam axel your good to go with anything
All the major header companies make fenderwell headers or engine swap headers to fit a J with a small block. it is a popular swap. Try Hooker or Heddman engine swap headers and loose the guess work.
Hmm i used Hooker headers for an early Nova It did not work they were about 2 inches to wide I cut all the tubes and moved the collector in about 12 hours of work, Would have been easier to just build a set from scratch
Thanks for the heads-up Earl because the Nova headers would have been my best guess. The Speedway Fat Fender headers I've got would need modifying too but I think I could get away with shortening the puny collector they came with and welding a larger 3 1/2" collector flange further up where they are wider and doing so at a slight angle. It looks like any other alternatives would be another $500 bucks and a gamble at that.
I know this thread is old but figured Id bring it back up for any other ideas or updates. any help is greatly appreciated. Our motor and firewall is pretty much the same as "The Abomination"
I've come to the conclusion that It will be easier to go from scratch especially since I moved the engine back quite aways. The front exhaust port is very close to the frame and the super long ladder bars interfere with the headers I thought were going to fit.
mine is set back 4.5 inches with solid axle looking for wheelwell headers for blown small block rear tube has to come forward on the bend
I believe these are Chevy II that I got at a swap meet. Turned out to full of cracks around the flanges so I didn't use them. I ended up using some swap headers from Advance Adapters for putting SBC in a Land Cruiser. Gary
The Jalopy Journal
