Hooker headers on 360

[iron6]

I bought a set of Hooker 5901 HKR's to put on my Challenger with 340.  How the heck do you get the two bolts in slots next to the pipes in front and rear? The pipes are so close to the bolts they won't thread in the holes without cross threading. Do you have to ding the pipes? HELP!!!!! Frustrated and having a beer and looking for a big hammer.

[Rob74dodge]

Man I feel you're pain. I've been installing a set of Hookers on my 360 Challenger this weekend.
I got the rear one in but it took backing all the others out. The front one I think I'll hack down a bolt shorter to make fit.
Yeah these ere a intense pain.
I posted a question for who makes the headers that do not require the steering linkage going through and have a longer collector that gives no problems w/ shift linkage. The ones I took off were much easier but I can't find out what brand they are.
Any how hope this helps if you are still jackin with it. Best of luck. Tylenol helps the back a little

[cudamax2343]

Yea they are a pain in the ass. Here are a few tricks. Try putting all the bolts thru the holes in the headers first and holding them about an inch from the heads and start all of them at once a few threads at a time or if you want to place the headers up to the heads and just start what will go- yea you'll have to dipple a few spots in the tubes and what ever you do don't cut the Flanges. P.S. here is a trick to get the perfect collector lenght.

Warm her up with some fresh plugs that don't turn white or black tipped after 1 run. Then take a blast as if your going down all out, like at the strip. Have the collectors too long not hooked up to mufflers and after you run your run quickly get collector temp or just look at them. You need to cut them off right at the spot where its temp goes from real hot to cold. Sometimes some real cheep paint will do that don't really stick. Cause right where the collector is cold if cut there will give ya some extra horses

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I use two 3/8" studs and hand tight them into the outer most holes. This holds the header and gasket in place for me. Slide the header off the head enough to get both inside bolts (the pita ones) in. Thread those first, but before they are tight, get the others in and snugged. Then tighten with a wrench.

Stud trick is a life saver!

[cudamax2343]

Yea Studs are the Best way. Good one.

[71chally416]

I use two 3/8" studs and hand tight them into the outer most holes. This holds the header and gasket in place for me. Slide the header off the head enough to get both inside bolts (the pita ones) in. Thread those first, but before they are tight, get the others in and snugged. Then tighten with a wrench.

Stud trick is a life saver!

I do the same thing, but with the stock 5/16" studs