Road Runner Nest

I've got a '71 GTX 440 with "Hooker Competition" 1 7/8ths headers and they are hitting in spots.

The drivers side is resting on the power steering box. Someones tried to hammer it out a while back but the muffler shop doesn't wanna touch it now as they are worried they will punch through the header if they work on it. They're not that rusty imo. Also the passenger side appears to be knocking on the torsion bar.

Ive done a search before posting this and see people are recommending Hooker Competition headers so I'm wondering WTF? Possibly there's two kinds, a power steering version and a manual?

Thanks.

PS: I just noticed there's some stock exhaust manifolds on Ebay. Do you think that might be a better way to go or would hamper power too much?

The engine is a mild build (dyno'd just under 400hp) with Edlebrock Performer 440 and Carter AFB Competion 750

If you're hitting the PS box, you might want to check your motor mounts. It could have turned itself into hamburger as they have a tendency to do.

you could check your mounts as mentioned i guess, but with my 440, i had great luck with regular hedman street headers 1 3/4"X3" collectors. there are a lot of people running 1 7/8" and 2" headers. i don't know that there are different versions of the same model headers, but there are certain brands/models that only work with certain items like power steering, some only with mini starters, some with only floor shift, etc etc.

when you look at your header configurations.
you can go to www.summitracing.com or www.jegs.com
when you look at the selections foryour make and model car and engine selection with the drop down menus
make sure the product is manufactured for power steering option.
they put the wrong headers on period.
they make one set for manual steering for race configurations and one for street with power steering.
whomever did that initial header setup put the worong part on period.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-5 ... refilter=1

this should show how that works in the application

Hooker competition headers are made for p/s applications.As with most big tube headers a little tweeking (with a hammer)is needed to clear.As mentioned above new motor mounts will probably help.

BRIAN