I managed to get hold of some shop soiled Black Jack headers for my 67 326 Firebird very cheap off Ebay UK. They have some paint scratched off! I started the job today and I managed to get 11 of the 12 exhaust manifold bolts undone. 4 from the front cylinder bolts from the top and the rest from under the car as I have it up on ramps and axle stands.

I can't get to the driver side bolt that is right up against the steering box, my car has power steering I undid both engine mounts and jacked the motor up as far as it will go then forced it over a bit and jammed a hammer handle in there to give me some access to the bolt. I have stopped for the today as it is too dark to work now! I will start again tomorrow. The car is in the garage also so I can take my time doing the job.

When I had my yearly MOT check my buddy said my exhaust manifold was touching the steering box so I got new motor mounts & fitted them but it's still touching the steering box! once I get the headers fitted there will be more clearance.

Anyone else had this problem and does anyone have a solution?

I wish I had a fix. I have a '69 with a 400. My doug's headers are touching my steering box. I do have power steering. When I did the headers I had to get new engine mounts. The only 2 ideas suggested to me were to shim the engine mount on the driver's side, or possibly replace the body mounts. It may raise something higher for clearance. I haven't tried either, but those were the only ones suggested. Hope you find a solution because I could use it also.

Ken

i had dougs three tube headers on a 4 speed 69 firebird back in the early eighties . i had to take a hammer and beat the tubes to adjust for clearance on both sides . they hung low underneath the car , bolts on the block would vibrate loose . i would have to tighten them once a month. i was not happy with them. unless i was using my bird for racing events they are not for me i will stay with the pontiac manifolds. a lot less head aches .

My more recent Dougs (4-tube) Headers clear the power steering box with lots of room to spare and don't hang any lower than the subframe.

Factory cast iron long branch manifolds are the way to go. Headaches are all I experienced with aftermarket headers. My 2 pence worth.

Well I got this done in the end, I jacked the motor up about an 1" out of the mounts and levered the motor over towards the passenger side and put my hammer handle in the drivers mount to keep it pushed over. I then let the motor down slightly to force the motor over to the passenger side when the driver side mount came down on the hammer handle. This gave me enough room to get a 14mm ring spanner on the bolt next to the steering box.

When I fitted the Black jack headers there is enough clearence to just miss the steering box. Th passenger side header was closer to the floor than the drivers side so I put a pipe in there and used the chassis rail as leverage and a trolley jack to bend it away a bit more. I started the car up and you can feel the increased power.

When I removed the passenger side factory manifold I found a spring loaded valve which was shut not alllowing the exhaust gases out. The lever on the outside was not attached to anything to open it as something must have be broken off!

That will cure a lot of problems.

The spring is heat sensitive. If the valve rotates freely in the manifold outlet and closes again when you let go, there is likely nothing wrong with it.

Bimetallic springs, ingenious things. You can test it with heat if you are curious. It will start to open with relatively low heat levels.

I agree 100%. I've had both and there is nothing like LBMs!

I have heard the repo long branch cast iron headers are better then factory. Does anyone beleive that to be true?

Ah! bimetal spring I never thought of that! It does rotate freely. So I guess it was working ok! Anyway I could feel the increased power as soon as I fired her up. My car also has duel exhausts all the way down. Am I right in saying the 326 250hp Firebird would have had a Y pipe making it a 2 into 1 system.

So I must have made quite a fifference to the power output by going 4bbl Edelbrock and duel plane Performer inlet and long headers with a duel exhaust.

I wanted to add cutouts for when I go drag racing but there was'nt enough straight exhaust pipe before in bends in and follows the prop and goes over that floor brace that the convertible has. I may tackle this later on and some straight through cherry bomb type exhaust on there. My next 2 major mods will have to be a higher stall TC and those 2.56 rear ends gears and open diff!

picture of my new headers

Are these troubles with headers limited to Pontiac engines? I have a Chevy 305 and I just got a hold of some Hooker headers that I want to put in.

Nah. Everything is MUCH easier on a Chebby.

I have Hookers on mine. No issues.

Does the wife know?

I think that was Tiger's last comment to his wife before the 'incident'.

LOL.

LOLOLOL

Pics Please! (LOL!)