the first time you beat a set of headers onto a car

[eldubb440]

we all remember......

my first time was a pair of either Black Jack's or Headman's on my AMX, before it was my AMX....... probably 1984......it was an all weekend event if I remember correctly

I put together a couple Chevy's early on, never even thought about bashing a header....... was unaware it was commonplace ........later in life I'd tell people, "I built a couple Chevy's, then I graduated kindergarten"

 

[beanhead]

It was Saturday night, damn near 34 years ago to the day....I remember 'cause we were still engrossed in the news of the SF/Loma Prieta earthquake that had happened a few days before. Praying our friends were safe and out of harm's way.
A set of Hooker Comps took the brunt of some emotion that night I'll tell ya! (I still have them up in the attic btw...)

 

[eldubb440]

It was Saturday night, damn near 34 years ago to the day....I remember 'cause we were still engrossed in the news of the SF/Loma Prieta earthquake that had happened a few days before. Praying our friends were safe and out of harm's way.
A set of Hooker Comps took the brunt of some emotion that night I'll tell ya! (I still have them up in the attic btw...)

Pepperidge Farm remembers

 

[WileE]

Over a decade before you, but I never "beat" ... Very rarely, I'd "finesse" them in. In the garage, we'd do Hooker, Blackjack, Hedman, Appliance, Casler, Doug Thorley, and whatever. Hookers were, by far, the best and easiest installs. Although, I don't recall ever working an AMC car ?

 

[eldubb440]

Over a decade before you, but I never "beat" ... Although, I don't recall ever working an AMC car ?

trust me, I beat it enough for both of us

building an AMC in the 80's was a character builder, it made me a better man

 

[WileE]

trust me, I beat it enough for both of us

building an AMC in the 80's was a character builder, it made me a better man

I guess I would've remembered such an experience ! Not many AMC's in Brooklyn, although my cousin had a Rebel (nice car), but I never worked on it, he didn't have it very long (wonder why). Just did the usual GM, Mopar, Fords, etc.

 

[qkcuda]

I stuffed a 400 in my Barracuda with Hedman B body headers. They required some engine repositioning and a fair amount of bashing. I later switched to tti's and they just dropped in. I wasn't used to anything fitting the first time.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

First was Blackjacks on a 383 69 Super Bee... Around 1976... Then Hookers on a 440 68 Charger R/T... Then Cyclones on a 390 69 Cougar.... The Mopar's were easy compared to that Cougar.... Only Cougar that ever put up much of a fight....

 

[WileE]

I stuffed a 400 in my Barracuda with Hedman B body headers. They required some engine repositioning and a fair amount of bashing. I later switched to tti's and they just dropped in. I wasn't used to anything fitting the first time.

Interesting... headers in a 383 were a common install years ago, Hedmans were also a pretty good install.

 

[WileE]

First was Blackjacks on a 383 69 Super Bee... Around 1976... Then Hookers on a 440 68 Charger R/T... Then Cyclones on a 390 69 Cougar.... The Mopar's were easy compared to that Cougar.... Only Cougar that ever put up much of a fight....

Fords were my "least favorite".

 

[eldubb440]

I don't think there was the consistency in the manufacturing process that there is today....... like every set was somewhat unique

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Fords were my "least favorite".

Windsor motors were pretty easy... Clevlands were a little less easy.... FE motors were a downright PITA

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I don't think there was the consistency in the manufacturing process that there is today....... like every set was somewhat unique

I had a buddy who grew up in Pomona, worked at Hooker after school, cutting pipes....No two were exactly the same...

 

[kiwigtx]

Boy....you guys are all animals....beating headers to make them fit.

I did however 'finesse' the inner lips of the rear wheel openings with a small mallet to fit a set of over-sized Hoosiers on for my first experience drag racing in the GTX back in 1998. I ended up paying the price by having to fork out more cash in subsequent year to have a panel guy straighten them out again.



Photo taken by a workmates wife....recent immigrants from England - it was a new experience for them to watch the drags.

 

[WileE]

FE motors were a downright PITA

Yep. and that's what seemed to roll in .

 

[WileE]

I don't think there was the consistency in the manufacturing process that there is today....... like every set was somewhat unique

You could say the same about the OE factory's as well !

 

[Runcharger]

Hedmans and Blackjacks on BB B and E bodies. Neither were too bad. Then in 1980 I discovered the Hooker 5210 (Hemi B or E) pieces of junk. I changed gaskets probably 10 times before discovering the huge port mismatch that needed 3/8" of welding and then a surfacing to correct.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

For me...late 80s, my brother and I installed used A body small block headers on a 72 satellite. Remembering beating on them, but not to bad. Also remember seeing how fast the car would go the same night.

 

[1967coronet]

First was Blackjacks on a 383 69 Super Bee... Around 1976... Then Hookers on a 440 68 Charger R/T... Then Cyclones on a 390 69 Cougar.... The Mopar's were easy compared to that Cougar.... Only Cougar that ever put up much of a fight....

Cyclones !! He'll yeh
Dbl, gaskets and a pair of thrush round header muffs. Lol.

 

[eldubb440]

forgot about Cyclones!

I was cleaning up the other day and came across a set of "Sonic Turbo" mufflers under one of my carcasses