I'm having header problems and would like to hear from you guys with the Thorley Tri-Y's. My '68 is lowered so I can't have the collectors hanging below the frame or they'll be off in no time. I just had to send a nice pair of HTC'd Hedmans back to summit because they hung so low.
I have an old and very crappy set of intermediates that I had to beat the life out of to clear my new steering box. I have searched and read about headers on here until my eyes bled and it seems that for every positive experience, someone else has a negative. It seems the Thorley's fit very well but I'd like to know how low they hahg, especially from anyone who has a lower than stock ride. If these aren't going to work I'm going to have to go for shorties and play safe. The Hedman Tork-step shorties look quite interesting.
Any response is appreciated.

-Andy

[ 02-11-2004, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: withnail ]

I have had my Thorley's since '89 and have had no problems what-so-ever. They actually tuck ^^up^^ under and at no place on the header is it lower than the frame rail. Not even the collector flandge......

Since my car is a road racer, it is actually quite low.....meaning I have to lift the front of the car to even fit a low profile floor jack underneath the "K" member.

Best header for a lowered application, IMHO.

I'm running 375Y, Thorleys and have no problems whatsoever in my 68 convertible. However, my car is not lowered, but if it were lowered, I'd probably smack the subframe connectors before I ever hit the headers. Just my .02

Anthony,

I have not seen a 1st gen with Thorley's or Doug's tri-y's that hung below the frame rails.

Damn, that was fast. I posted, went for lunch and came back to a bunch of replies already. Thanks.
I would have gone with the Thorley's already but I wanted ceramic coating.I can't really afford to buy Thorley's and then coat them as cash is a bit tight right now. They come chromed don't they? How does this finish stand up?

-Andy

It stands up pretty well.

I normally (when doing builds) have the guys at Thorley pull a set off the line before the chrome and then send them to Olmpic Coatings in Escondido, Ca and they coat them for around $125.00ish. Its the best deal I have found so far.

How does that affect the price from Thorley?
I'm not even sure how the price direct from Thorley compares to Summit's current pricing.
$125 sounds like a very good deal for Ceramic coating. I've been seeing prices more than twice that when i've been looking around.

-Andy

It's been awhile, but it around $100.00 or more less.

You might want to call them for some info on it.

so, in the end, if you get Thorley's and have them send them out to be ceramic coated instead of chrome, it comes out to only $50 more than chrome?
the cheap ($120) Hedmans on my Nova only hang 1/2" lower than my subframe, and with 5" of ground clearance, i have never had them hit anything.

I will call both companies and see what's what.
Thanks for the help Tom, much obliged.
-Andy

If you really want a tuckin-in header,check out Sanderson's intermediates. I'm going with a pair of their BB units with 1 7/8" tubes and 3" collectors.

Yeah, Andy let us know. I dont know if the prices have changed or not.

Will do.
Clint, Sanderson doesn't list a small block intermediate for Camaros, only a big block. All the Camaro applications listed on their website are blockhugger shorties. I probably would have gone for them if they did have intermediates as they'd be a striaght swap for what I have now.

-Andy

Well, so much for that idea.
Thorley will sell me a set of headers raw and uncoated but their price is $502 compared to Summit's $319. Coated or raw the price is the same.
Olympic's price for coating a set of headers now starts at $195.

-Andy

Andy - Check Doug's headers out... www.dougsheaders.com (http://www.dougsheaders.com) Dougs is Doug Thorley, he lost the shop to his wife and partner in a divorce or something and opened up another shop. Most of the Thorley designs came about when Doug ran the shop. When I got my Dougs they put me in touch with a speedshop that carried Dougs products and everything went through them. I don't recall the total after coating being over $500... Might be worth the try...

Andy,
Summit will get you the Thorley Tri-y with ceramic coating. If I remeber they are $487. You just have to put a "C" at the end of the part #. Give 'em a call and see. I have a set but haven't put them on yet. I'll send you a pic someone sent me.
Guy

My, my.....how prices have gone through the roof.

Last time I had Thorley pull a set of headers (only a couple of years ago), it cost me $279.00 for bare headers.....and that was for a weird Pontiac 455 application.

I guess Olympic has gotten bit by the bug as well. I used to pay $165.00 for a full set of tube headers.....

WOW.....$502.00 !!

I think Dennis or Guy have the best direction though. I do know that Doug doesnt kill you for parts......like the ole X-wife does! But I guess I still have a viable "In" at the old shop from the years I have done business with them.

Well it seems I've got some some thinkin' to do.
I'm just not sure I can afford to blow $500 on headers, or anything else for that matter right now. I might have to forgo the ceramic coating.
The Dougs headers are over $600, so they are even more of a stretch. I noticed they are 1 7/8"
primaries rather than 1 5/8". Are the Thorley's the same size? I thought this was on the big side for most small blocks?

-Andy

Andy, I think the Thorley Tri-y is 1-5/8 into 2 into 3.
Did you get the pic I sent?
Guy

Yes I did thanks Guy.
They look great, I must say. I can't believe how much room there is around the steering box. Mine look like a train wreck in comparison. The Hedmans I tried and returned fit relativley well around the steering box but the collectors hung a good 2" lower than in your pix.
Just out of interest, whereabouts in La is Bogalusa? My wife is from Thibodeaux and will be flying down to visit her sister in Gonzales this weekend.

-Andy

What's the port shape and size on Doug's?

Not sure if the sale is still going at Summit but I bought the 376's on sale, nickle finish for $320. I figure I'll run them this way until the finish looks real crappy, then pull them and have them coated.

I think the sale was through the end of Feb. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by RickD:
What's the port shape and size on Doug's? Depends on what they are for... the tri-y's are oval, my shorties are oval.

Good clarification, Dennis. Thanks.

I have a set of Pro Toplines 180cc with rectangular ports to install so the hunt is on.