70 Nova BB header fitment
 

Anyone have any knowledge on 70 Nova 396 header brands that will work with the stock or modified back drive linkage?

Would shorty headers work?

Want to use long tube.

Umm what is BACK DRIVE LINKAGE??? I've never heard that term before?

Linkage for the steering column.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2.../backdrive.jpg

Hooker Comp (not Super Comp's) will fit, and if you have P/S, you will have to dimple the tube that will hit the steering box. You have to "finagle" them in (jacking the engine off the mounts helps a lot). Your back drive rod will no longer fit/operate (at least on a 4spd) header tube is right in the middle of its path

Headers on a BB Nova..
 

The modern Hooker headers will most likely require the use of an offset back drive setup...Shiftwork's sells a good one. Older vintage headers may work with the factory linkage depending upon the brand.

-wilma

I couldn't find a set-up from Shiftworks for my application. Its a 4 speed.
I did hear back from Hooker and they stated that their headers up to but not including the 2.125 primary tube versions will work with the backdrive.
It states only in the instructions for the 2.125's to remove the rod and bellcrank.
We'll see.

We put Hedman Headers on Benjamin's '69 Nova, they fit very nice - haven't tried the backdrive linkage yet, but at first glance I can't see how it would fit with 4 tubes in the way....

My 69 built 70 L78 Nova with an automatic turbo 400 column shift has Hooker comp long tube headers.They were on the car when I bought the car some 17 years ago.Bob

This is what I'm thinking. If a column shift set-up fits so should the back drive.

I just put Hooker 2457 coated headers on my 69 Camaro. Replacing the set I installed in 1993. They did not fit the same around the steering box. I had to dimple 1, 3 and 5 ( the most) to clear it. I put a straight edge on both headers old and new and measured. The newer sets tubes didn't curve back into the block as much. I do not run the back drive.

Are you using the factory BB engine mount stands that shove the engine over toward the passenger side 3/4" ?
Hooker states that the 2457's will fit without modifications.

OK -- there are those on this forum will cringe at what I am about to say. In the past, I have had the same issue with BBC Camaro (69') and BBC Nova (70') i.e., interference with the steering box. After installing the correct frame adapters for the BBC -- issue was still there.

Sooooooo -- I ground the lower portion of the header flange slightly removing less than a 1/8" ... made sure all surfaces were even. WaLa -- clearance at the steering box.

If you decide to try this -- Don't grind too much off the flange or you'll put the header tubes into the side of the block ... TAZ

Yes, the 1993 hookers went in without a hitch, the car is an original L78 car and had the tall mounts. When I pulled the motor a few years ago to freshen it up. I replaced the chevy BBC mounts with Energy Suspension poly ones, and used the same headers that were in the car..again they fit without denting a single tube. The new set is absolutely not manufactured on the same jig. I put both driver side headers on the ground next to each other, put a ruler across the tubes in the same spot and measured to the floor. The tubes on the new set were 1/2" taller (aka into the steering box). The passenger side fit in fine up front. But was 1" longer. So I had to cut the reducer off to fit in the car. Than on top of all this, the collector bolts on the new ones are indexed completely different that the old set. So what should have been an easy afternoon swap, replacing a part with exactly the same part was a nightmare. Hitting the new coated headers with a socket and hammer sucked. When I told this to Hooker. They told me that they are the exactly same. I told them about measuring them..they said I was wrong and the car was off. Sooooo...they are in, they look good now, you can't see the dents. But all of this voids the warranty. If they last another 23 years I'll be fine.

"The car is off" is a lame excuse from Hooker. Hooker told me there hasn't been any complaints about fitment.
Messaged Dougs Headers also, they never got back to me. I guess they don't bother with Nit Pickers.

So you angle milled them?

I've heard the fitment with Dougs is good. As well as headman. The guy who runs the counter at my local speed shop,just used headman 2" on his 67 454 Camaro with no issues. I didn't ask if it was a power steering car.

And yes, The car is off is lame. However, I'm can see sometimes it is the car or installer with the issue. But when I said the two parts with the same part number are differen. That should have been red flag for them.

Angle mill/grind -- yes ...

Hooker moved some, or all, of their production to Mexico 25 years ago and the new headers are different. I had trouble with sbc headers that were purchased 10 years a part and the ones stamped "made in Mexico" did not fit correctly. I have friends with bbc cars and their Hookers fit poorly too. I have since went to Stahl and Lemon's with no issues at all.

For the record they use/used the same jigs and equipment in Mexico as what was being used in Cali but its the workers & experience that were the problem.. I cant tell you how many calls I had to take on Hooker & Flowtech exhaust when I worked for Holley.. Fortunately I no longer work there.

Found out Stahl's are NLA and spoke to Lemons and their set-up for my application requires a mini starter,9" brake booster and no room for the back drive.

I think that I heard that Stahl was purchased by someone else and they use the same jigs and methods of manufacturing.

Another thing about the new Hookers. They do not have a flat flange on them. They have raised welded in O ring on each port. So the copper gaskets I've always used..leaked on every port. A lightbulb went on..when I was in total disgust over the headers once again. I noticed the gaskets they included were a crushed graphite type. I swapped in a set of Remflex gaskets and the seal is perfect.

A C P
Harrisburg, PA
717-232-2800
Has acquired many of the Stahl Headers header jigs, benders and equipment as well as our
Lead Fabricator

A C P's "Stahl Headers"
is up and running and Judy Stahl is ready to take your order for
quality assembled headers, kits, and accessories.

Hooker was purchased by Holley Performance in 2009 when they moved ALL the factory and even some personal to Miss. During the move they did not bring the fixture these headers are built with plus they no longer had the master sets of F & A body headers anymore..I was told this by Miguel who overseen manufacturing in Mexico..Any 67-72 F-body header built after 2009 will require a dent on #5 tube to clear the steering box.Anybody wishing to contact this guy to confirm this....pm me..

Holley bought Hooker way before 2009 (1999 IIRC). I worked there before that and it was already in Mexico. Flowtech is in Aberdeen, Ms.. In 2009 Holley moved Hooker to Aberdeen where Flowtech were being made. Now that could be the reason the tooling was not sent back to the US. After my time so I can not confirm. No need to contact him; I remember the name.

Stahl. Back when I was a pimple faced kid, I would dream of having the "cool" stuff for my car. Stahl was a racing header, as guys on here know. A great high quality piece. Like Lemon today. I wanted a Stahl Jones-Motorola tachdrive tach and headers. Really did not care what brand, just wanted the top quality stuff you would see on your favorite racer's car. Those parts were priced beyond a kid's pay. So, I had to settle for basic Headman Hedders at $40-50 bucks new. Being a "race header, ie: tuned, I doubt that Stahl gave a crap whether a back drive / lock-out would work with their header, IMO. I have messed with BB Camaros (Novas) almost 40 years now and have never seen a full length header, cheap or expensive, that would clear that mentioned linkage.

Well with some more digging I think I will try the Hooker 2205-1 set. The instructions do not state removal of the linkage. While others do, including the Comp models.
Jegs says returnable for any reason.

Steve I will almost bet you wont be able to use those with the linkage..

Me to Darrell. But if no go I'll try to re-invent the bellcrank. Someone told me ages ago they cut and flipped the BC and made it work.
I figure if there is room for the column shifted auto linkage there is hope.

Well it turns out the backdrive fits without any problems with the Hooker 2205-1 set.
But had interference where I didn't expect it.
The clutch adjustment rod hits the tube and the clutch release bellcrank will have to be modified.
And on the pass side #4 tube is touching the top pivot of the idler arm and will have to be dimpled.
Also the pass header had to be bolted up and the collector bent upward and to the center line of the car. It wouldn't line up with the hump in the cross member and was pointing downward.

[QUOTE=L78steve;1353074]Well it turns out the backdrive fits without any problems with the Hooker 2205-1 set.
But had interference where I didn't expect it.
The clutch adjustment rod hits the tube and the clutch release bellcrank will have to be modified.
And on the pass side #4 tube is touching the top pivot of the idler arm and will have to be dimpled.
Also the pass header had to be bolted up and the collector bent upward and to the center line of the car. It wouldn't line up with the hump in the cross member and was pointing downward.[/QUOTE

That's the problem with a lot of current production headers, they do not fit. I would be very disappointed if I had to do all those modifications to get a set of headers to fit a car that they are supposed to fit.

Glad I was wrong on this one.. :beers:

Sorry the rest didnt work out.