AMC V8 headers

I'm looking to buy these for my 360, any comments

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0436650205&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

no brand experience
but double check to see if they exit inside or outside the frame
inside the frame might interfere with factory clutch linkage
outside the frame exposes them to rocks and such
just random thoughts

 

I have a hydrulic clutch, so that shouldn't be a problem, don't get much rocks over here but take your point, will check with seller

 

okay
I'm sure others will have more useful comments
but those two issues seem to be the ones that pop up the most
if you can get straight answers to your questions from the mfr/seller, then all should be good

 

You have to trim the inner fender if they are outside the frame...and they look exactly like the type that I took off my 304...the PO had to trim the fender inside to make them fit.

 

I have read several times that the stock AMC exhaust flow pretty darn good. Headders don't give you a whole lot of increase. At least that is what I've come to understand from the masses that have tried them. and they are PIA to get to seal.

There are some quality headders out there. Doug Thorley's for one.

I'd just say research and make sure you want to try headders before you buy some.

 

The AMC manifolds are good for iron manifolds. Certainly headers will be an improvement in power, but they have some problems that the iron manifolds do not have. Aside from the initial expense, they tend to leak, they raise the engine compartment temperature a lot, and they are not as rugged as iron manifolds. Plus it seems like you get what you pay for. The more expensive options have a thicker flange that seals better, and a plain painted coating tends to rust out rather quickly. Stainless is good too.

Apparently the Edelbrock shorties are a good product, but they have been discontinued. There is still some stock - so if you want these, you need to order them right away.
http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-613.htm

Doug Thorley shorties are also available. http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-650.htm

Looking at the eBay link above, I would guess that those are fenderwell headers, and they exit outside the frame rail. That does not leave you with a lot of options for exhaust plumbing. The shorties can be routed inside the frame, if you hire a good exhaust shop.

 

If I were to guess they will interfere with your slave cylinder. I have the same hedders and they are inframe exit and I recently was trying to convert to a hyd. clutch and need to find a different slave cylinder as the factory one requires you to hammer in the tube to fit. Not what I will do. So far I cee Novak has a nice aluminum slave that is much slimmer and designed for this exact reason. Just have not yet got around to calling them to see what they think about my situation yet.

 

Suggestion: I took my small air grinder and dressed up all of the inner walls adjacent to all attachment points... this was to remove any excess material at areas just inside the corners and thru-flow area(s). Although it doesn't seem like much of a problem... but the flow-thru is important in the long run for performance and exhaust. Hope this was of some assistance!

Gunner

 

I ran heddman headers, both in frame and fenderwells on my 304. I only had to trim about an inch on the inside of the drivers fender, didn't affect the outside of the fender at all,(If that makes sence). once they were on I measured how much room I had from the collector and the rear tire and when to the store and bought the right lenght muffler, no problem, even had room to put on a turn out pipe so the hot exhaust wasn't blowing onto my rear tire. That was on a cj-7, I now have the same set up on a cj-5. Didn't have any problems with them hitting rocks or anything like that off road, and believe me I did alot. Timgr is right about them rusting, took about 4,5 years but the collector just fell off one day, thats when I went to the in frame headers. I liked them better because I could run a full lenght exhaust and it was quite as loud. Didn't have any trouble with either of type. (except for it falling off that one time).

 

I have the out-of-frame hedmans on my 304. I like them, but i never ran with the the stock manifolds though. I have the tail pipe dump out right before the rear tires. The only thing that I dont like about them is the bolts connecting the headers to the engine tend to loosen up a bit over time. No big deal to me, just have to snug them up a couple times a year. Usually just check them when I do underhood maintenance. Another suggestion, if you get them, strip the "shipping" paint off of them first and then repaint with high heat paint. I made that mistake when putting new ones on and the first layer peeled right off in the first weekend, had to take them off and repaint them.