I'm having a new engine built for my 68 Camaro. I'm currently running a SBC 355 with 195 Trick Flow heads and Hooker Super Comp headers. The new engine is a Dart 400 "LIL M" block and will have 210 race ready AFR heads. I would like to reuse my current 1 3/4" headers but I don't believe they will clear my new power steering box, it seems to be about 1/4" bigger than my manual box. I've also been told by every performance shop (SUMMIT, JEGS, etc.) that the 1 3/4" hooker headers "WILL NOT" fit on AFR angle plug heads. How can this be true when they say the 1 5/8", 1 7/8" ,and 2" will??????? Can anyone with AFR heads tell me what you have done to solve these two issues. Your input will be appreciated, thanks.

I spent months trying to figure this one out, I was using headman headers, which did not work with the AFR 210 angle plug set up. I have installed a set of Hooker Supercomp 17/8" headers and could not be happier with the outcome, had to modifie them a little bit, seems each set is a little different. Make sure you inspect the headers before you install them, the first set I got from Jegs had a whole in the number one primary where the steel was streched to allow the bolt to go through the flange. Jegs fixed the problem but the second set didn't fit as well as the set I sent back.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d84/lowcamaro/DSC00084.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d84/lowcamaro/DSC00082.jpg

I have angle plug AFR 210's and Hooker 1-3/4" Super comps on my '69 and they fit fine. I do not have power steering. Maybe I can post some pictures of the areas you are concerned with? Let me know.

I asked AFR for info on the 195 heads in regards to headers when I bought my set of heads, because I read from Summit and Jegs that the 1 3/4 Hooker Super Comp. headers wouldn't fit the AFR 195 heads. The AFR guy I corresponded with recommended to use Hedmann headers and talk to a guy at Hedmann (forgot his name).
I heard that with Hooker Super Comp. headers the flow is not as good since they don't match the exhaust ports on the heads - don't know if thats true.

Bottom line: since all my parts has to be shipped overseas and through costums, I have to make damn sure they fit.

Thanks Steve69ss396, I'd like to see a pic looking right down at the steering box if you have one. I can't imagine theres that big of a difference between the 68 and 69, as far as the fit. And thanks to all of you for the reply, any help is appreciated.

Thanks Steve69ss396, I'd like to see a pic looking right down at the steering box if you have one. I can't imagine theres that big of a difference between the 68 and 69, as far as the fit. And thanks to all of you for the reply, any help is appreciated.


This is a pic of my '69 Z with manual steering and 1 3/4" Super Comps. As you can see the primary runs right under the steering box and pitman arm. My car has stock exhaust ports and there is zero clearance in this area. I do not see how you could use a raised-port head like the AFR 210 without modifying the primary.

Steve69SS396, if you have a similar picture of your car with AFR's I'd love to see it. Maybe the raised-port head alters the clearance in this area some other way than just moving the header up.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/515000-515999/515786_25_full.jpg

WOW!! Looks like if the ports are raised any the tube will hit. I also called AFR today and must have reached the same guy csn69ss got, he told me the same thing......by Headman. Maybe I should just give my current Hookers a chance. See if they fit my new heads and go from there. Headman also told me they only have one set that are ex. port matched (model 65019). The ceramic coated ones do not match the AFR exhaust ports. That means buying the reducer and going to a muffler shop for more work...@#%$^%&. Why can't things just go smoooooooooothly for once. Lowcamaro, would it be possible to get a pic over the fender straight down on your 1 7/8 Super Comps ? I was hoping to have this thing on the road by mid April, now I'm wondering. It might take me that long to "BANG" my old headers into shape:-)
Thanks again everyone for your help.

Here is the same picture of my car. I installed these headers about 10 years ago and the heads about 6 years ago. I believe I did have to have to slightly dent the tube for the shaft on the steering box.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/steve69ss396/IMG_0562.jpg

1) AFR 210's are not raised port.
2) Most header mfgs make these things for vanilla installs. When I ran angle plugged T1's I had to send my car to Dawsons Racing headers and had them made on the car. Then again I was running 1 7/8 - 2 - 2/18 stepped primaries but still... going to be hard to get a drop in deal with all the aftermarket mods.

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I thought just maybe there was a known easy solution. I think what I'll do, when my engine is done, is try my existing Hookers to see if they even fit my new heads and go from there. If they fit then new angled plug heads then I'll heat the "troubled" areas and persuade them to cooperate. Thanks again.

[QUOTE=67AfroMaro]1) AFR 210's are not raised port.
[QUOTE]


The exhaust port on an AFR 210 has been raised about .350". Most of the bigger port SBC heads have raised exhaust ports (Brodix, Victor Jrs., etc.).

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I thought just maybe there was a known easy solution. I think what I'll do, when my engine is done, is try my existing Hookers to see if they even fit my new heads and go from there. If they fit then new angled plug heads then I'll heat the "troubled" areas and persuade them to cooperate. Thanks again.


Also, ask AFR to give you the width and height of the port. The Hooker 2131 is approx. 1.5" OD width and is likely not as wide as the AFR port.

[QUOTE=Steve69SS396]Here is the same picture of my car. I installed these headers about 10 years ago and the heads about 6 years ago. I believe I did have to have to slightly dent the tube for the shaft on the steering box.

It looks like your primary runs more towards the inside of the steering box than mine. Mine is almost centered under the pitman arm nut. Maybe the heads raise the header up and in a bit.

I have AFR 195's. The ports are semi D or maybe better termed Egged round. I had my Hooker round port 2451's on them and they fit well but they became fatiuged after 15 years and were coated. I went thru the same hassel you did with Hedman, Hooker, then found out that Sanderson was making a header called CC H0 header style, but # 8 tube had such a bend in it that it hit my solenoid. I contacted Thorley and got a set of 376-Y1 C coated and they fit like a glove, stayed away from passenger fire wall and cleared PS steering box by large margin and fit under chassis and cleared Z bar. Cant say anything bad about these puppies but they were $500.

I took a few pic's for you, hope it helps.
http://photobucket.com/albums/d84/lowcamaro/

Thanks lowcamaro, a couple of those really help, that's waht I wanted to see.

Guys,

I have a 69 camaro with the competition package AFR 195s and the exhaust ports are the same dimensions as the race ready 210's. I use heddman huslers TIG welded by hand at heddman south (GA) part # 65019 and they match the EX. ports perfectly. I consulted both AFR, Joe Sherman racing & Mike at heddman south. I test fitted the headers, then I sent them out to by coated. Oh by the way, I sent the hookers back for my $ back!

did you know you can use header adapter flanges?
actually it tilt the headers in a bit toward the engine block more.
you can find them at JEGS and summit.
only downside is that the exhaust will need to be tweaked a bit to match up with the headers later.
here a few links:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=19849
summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?Ntt=header+adapter+plates&searchinresults=false&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&N=115&target=egnsearch.asp

nice car... do you have engine pic`s?

Nice shots lowcamaro! What did it run in that video? someone's big head was in the way of the scoreboard!

I also run the AFR RR210 heads and the 1 3/4 hooker super comps. I think by now you know that they'll fit but probably need a "tweak" or 2 near the pitman arm nut. I just bought a (used) set of 1 7/8 hooker super comps and have yet to try them. They were also dimpled in the same area. Other than that, they fit perfectly fine and my 67 ran 10.50's so you don't need to spend mega bucks on a custom set to go fast.