How is the "fit" on a Challenger Hedman 78038

[tommyg29]

brad:
nice pictures, but they look the same to me too, except for the raised flange. You sure can tell where they hit!!...just like my hookers. Good luck with them.
Cant say Ive experienced that with tools, but its 40 degrees and rainy here today...not used to that at all in Maimi.
You say you get down to Ocala? Have you been to Don Garlits place?

[brads70]

You say you get down to Ocala? Have you been to Don Garlits place?

Yep that;s a cool place! A man after my own heart, gun collection and cars (mostly Mopars)! I really liked the "rootbeer" superbird he has/had in there!

[tommyg29]

Ive never actually been in, just been by many times but never enough time to visit.
and me too...gun collection and Mopars.

[dodj]

and me too...gun collection and Mopars.

Guess they just go together..

[brads70]

Well I couldn't take it anymore so I tried to install the header yesterday.Had a somewhat warmer day!  It fit way better than the last header!    I was surprised! It looked the same as what I had. It still is just touching the steering box but nothing like he last header! Laying under looking at it I figured if I shim up the passenger side (as it seemed to be a little lower on that side?) of the motor than it would help things. So I made up a shim and loosened up the mounts and installed it. It worked great! It gave me clearance on both sides now.
 To recap the last header hit at the steering box, torsion bar, starter and steering shaft. Now it is just touching the steering box and I either will just dent the header slightly or add a shim to the drivers side. I haven't tried the steering column yet though?
But overall I'm very happy that Headman replaced the bad fitting header and am happy with the  much improved fit!

[dodj]

Good to hear they fit much better.
So are there two patterns of 78038's?  I wonder how I can make sure I get the proper version when I order?

[brads70]

  I wonder how I can make sure I get the proper version when I order?

Ya I don't know good question?

[tommyg29]

Chryco,
still waiting for pictures of your tti install and especially a look at the driver side clearance,
Sorry to hijack this thread Brad, but I am getting soooo tired of my Hookers rattling against everything. This past week I took my baby to a muffler shop to have the tti 3" exhaust tightened up, and they welded all the leaking and clamped seams. Now the rattling is even worse, since the exhaust system is so much tighter now. Sounds like someone banging away with a hammer, especially at anything near idle speed.
And my hookers arent coated, so thats another reason to make the switch.
Ive read all I can about header installs, and am thinking that tti is the way to go, even at nearly $900 ...ouch, and tomorrow I'm going to measure up my engine spacing per the tti website "how to".
Chryco, how bout it? Stop shoveling that white stuff for a few minutes to help me out down here in Miami

[brads70]

No problem Tommy! I didn't choose TTI's for 3 reasons, one the money, 2, I have read that yes the TTI's do fit the best, but they still are not perfect , and third I wanted to possibly use the fast ratio pitman,idler arm set up . I says on firm feels web site that TTI's won't  fit.

[tommyg29]

is that a part of the ff stage 3 setup, or is the pitman arm change optional with it, cause I was thinking about eventually upgrading.

[brads70]

 I know they have stages 1,2,3 on steering boxes but I thought that has to do with stiffness or feel,don't know if it comes with the fast ratio arm?

[dodj]

The arms are optional. You buy them separately. If you have a BB, TTI's don't work with the longer arm, don't remember if they work with a SB or not.

[tommyg29]

Heres a look at my just completed Hedman shortys that fit so well!!

Cant tell you how pi$$ed I am that these are marketed as a "good fit". Hedmans bought from Summit.
They hit in two places (badly) on the drivers side, and in two places on the passenger side, with the front tube having to be crushed in half, and the collector flange resting against the idler arm down below.
Buyer beware with all headers!

[brads70]

Oh wow Tommy....that sucks!!! I can see why your looking at cast iron manifolds! I had to dimple my warantee replacement header too...but not that much!

[Jim]

Just about done installing a set of 78038 Hedman Elites on a 71 383 column shift RR. This was a favor for a buddy, and going in I was definitely a bit leery.

Had to dimple the #3 tube at the PS box and at the T-bar. Also had to dimple the tube next to the mini-starter (not sure which #).

On the other side, we had to grind the corner of the block a bit (dimpling would have worked too, but this was while the motor was out) and the collector is touching the transmission.

Had the flip the column shift linkage upside down. Still have to tweak this a bit.

Haven't installed the plug wires yet, but we'll need a couple of heat sleeves for sure. Using Accel shorty plugs, and MSD 135 deg wires FWIW.

I'm contemplating trying a set on my 70 440 4 spd Challenger. I'm sure the issues I'd have on that car would be completely different due to the taller deck height and the clutch linkage. I'm closely studying the fit on the 383 to try to anticipate the issues on the Challenger. Of course, this all assumes fit is consistent from one set of headers to the next (it isn't).

I've been spoiled by TTi's in the past, but at half the price, I'll say the Hedmans aren't bad, particularly if you've experienced some REALLY poorly fitting headers.