Header fitment and shimming engine/motor mounts

[KillerBee]

I've been doing some searching and reading on the many posts of header fitment.

I just dropped a 440 Sixpack engine in my 71 R/T Challenger and am checking the fitment of my headers.

I am fortunate that I don't have power steering to mess with.

I've used Hooker comp 1 7/8" headers in the past on my other 440 powered Challenger and they fit very well only needing a little massaging around the steering shaft but the Hookers are staying with the other car.

I'm not sure of the brand of the current headers I'm using, they are older(still in excellent shape) possibly Blackjack or Hedman.
They are 1 3/4" pipes.
Maybe someone can ID them from the pics I posted.

They fit very well everywhere except they are rubbing slightly on the drivers's side torsion bar.

In reading some of the posts here people are saying they are "shimming" the motor mounts?
I shim the transmission mount to get the correct driveline angle but I've never shimmed the engine/motor mounts.
I'm using Mity engine mounts.
Can someone explain how they are shimming the engine mounts....post pics if you got them.


Sorry some of the pics aren't the best.

Thanks for any info.

[Moparal]

Not sure if you checked your pinion angle yet, but you can move stuff around a bit without the washers under the mount/bracket.  Your trans crossmember bolt holes allows you to tighten the bracket up or down inside of the 4 holes. The engine mount holes has some give up and down to.  tools required once the car is up enough to slid under is 9/16 socket and 9/16 wrench, 5/8 socket a slab of wood to put on a floor jack to raise and lower your trans cross member and shift the engine mounts to up or down through the k member. your drivers mount just may be setting at the bottom of the slot hole, or vise a versa.  You can also put a shim in the trans mount bolt spacer. where it bolts to the tail shaft. Remember if you have a vibration while driving , on accelerating or decelerating, you may need a 2-4 degree shim on the axle pads for your pinion angle.

[KillerBee]

Thanks for the info.

 After doing my nightly honey dew list I got a chance to go out in my garage and tinker with the car for a few hours.

I'm fortunate in that I have a 4 post lift in my garage, these are great for us old fat guys who can't lay on the ground and squeeze under our cars anymore.

I was able to use a prybar and get the header pipe away from the torsion bar but I'm going to keep an eye on it and if needed I'll dimple the pipe a little.

Drive angles look good so far, but the real test will be driving it.

These headers are a little close to the starter...I'm thinking of trying a mini starter.

[Moparal]

once you install a mini starter, you never go back to the big one

[67vertman]

I just installed my engine and trans (from the bottom) with the headers installed (TTIs) and yes they too hit the driverside torsion bar.  I left my engine and trans mounts lose, and try as I might, I could not move them over far enough to get even a 1/16 inch of clearances, so I dimpled my new headers a little to get some clearance.

I to, will be watching to see if it move back or rubs the torsion bar.

[KillerBee]

I just installed my engine and trans (from the bottom) with the headers installed (TTIs) and yes they too hit the driverside torsion bar.  I left my engine and trans mounts lose, and try as I might, I could not move them over far enough to get even a 1/16 inch of clearances, so I dimpled my new headers a little to get some clearance.

I to, will be watching to see if it move back or rubs the torsion bar.

Wow if I spent big $$$$ on TTI's and they hit just like the cheaper headers I wouldn't be too happy.

I never had a problem with my Hooker Comp headers hitting the torsion bars.

I'm sticking with these mystery headers because I already have a full exhaust system that are bent to fit with the headers.

I'm using the Mity engine mounts (for the first time) with no torque strap (yet), they might settle and move the engine a little after the big block stretches them a few times.

I'll be working on my wife's R/T Challenger next and her's has power steering and automatic tranny.
I have another set of Hooker Comp's that have already been modifed(dimpled) to clear the power steering so I hope they fit.