Headers to suit 68 GTO 400 with Edelbrock 60599 heads.
 

My apologies if this has been previously posted and answered but I was after a bit of assistance in selecting headers.

I'm rebuilding the 400 in my 68 GTO and I've used Edelbrock 60599 heads. My understanding is that they are round port & patterned of 69-70 Ram Air 4 heads.

Does any one know if there is an off the shelf header that will fit the heads and the 68 engine bay?

Not a lot of info in Oz.....or at least not in my part of Oz.

I've used 1 suppliers tech services and I'm not sure I got the correct info back.

Cheers in advance.
Hoggy

Butler Performance carries Dougs Round Port headers for 67-69 FB at $789 ceramic coated or $619 bare. Summit may also carry them, don't know which would be easier to use for you.

http://butlerperformance.com/i-24453...tegory:1234810

Doug's are good, except get them for a GTO.

Ditto on the Doug's.

I have used Hooker with good results, but they are a little more expensive to use. Fit is good. Go with the 2" ones so the car will breath.

Thankyou very much for the advice gentlemen, I'll follow your leads and let you know how I go.

If you have an engine with less than @550hp, you may consider using the RARE exhaust manifolds. It will look factory, they fit perfect, don't leak as easy, and you can keep your locking rod assembly, for one.

http://www.ramairrestoration.com/rm-...oversized.html

Read the instructions with the Doug's headers if that's the route you choose to go. I think they comment on the lock rod and other mods that might be required.

I've seen where the Doug's also make contact with the passenger side lower control arm mount, can search it here, it kind of depends, happens to some, not others.

If the car is lowered, I wouldn't recommend the Hookers or the Hedmans, they both hang low on the passenger side. And if they cost more than Doug's, it's pointless to buy them, cost would be the only reason to buy anything other than Doug's.

Doug's fit the best, but they still aren't perfect.

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Doug's D567 Header installation notes:

https://shop.dougsheaders.com/doug-s...c-coating.html


Probably have to move the brake distribution block too. Some oil pans/starters may not work. No-go on column shift cars. Remember the column lock rod also controls the reverse lights.

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Agree that 1 7/8 tubes should be plenty big.

I have the 1 7/8" Doug's on my racecar. It is a 505 that has run in the 9's. You would probably be OK with 1 3/4", but the Doug's are still a good choice.

I have also had good luck with Maddog headers, have them on my race car.

The round ports only come in 1 7/8 and 2". But after looking at the 2", it appears they don't have the same restrictions on installation as the 1 7/8" versions do. Looks like the lock rod can be retained. Now I wonder which the OBX headers are modeled after.

https://shop.dougsheaders.com/doug-s...c-coating.html

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Really appreciate all the thoughts guys.

I have 1" unders in the front and it sits pretty low. The comment regarding header hanging pretty low on the passenger side worries me a little.

I thought I was settled on Hooker but I'll put a call in to a local fellow on Monday r.e customs.

If I buy shelf items its a bit of a risk for me if they don't fit because there is no stock in Oz so everything I buy is imported. Too pricy to return, and the process would be too lengthy if they don't work.

I'm thinking dropping the car off at the shop for customs might be safer.

Any thoughts?

Customs are not cheap, but if you can afford them, they are probably the best, depending on the shop of course.

Considering the information I recently realized that the 2" version allows for the backdrive linkage/shift rod, I think the D522 Doug's are a fine choice.

Looks like Jegs has about the best price at $760, plus free shipping. Sure that's only in the states, but it would at least be free to a shipping service, if that's what you plan on using.

As I mentioned before, depending on your build, the high flow manifolds from RARE are a good choice, they are almost half the price of headers (@$440), flow almost as good as headers, and bet the shipping is less too.

On a 498ci stroker, SD Performance dyno'd with both the RARE manifolds and a set of headers, and there was only a 8hp difference.

http://www.sdperformance.com/moreTech.php?newsID=39

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My second Gen F body 2" Hookers allow the column lock rod to fit. Not sure how their A body ones are.

On a buddies 462 640HP motor going in his 63 tempest he used some 2" hookers he modified to fit and we lost 40 HP when we tried my 1 3/4- 1 7/8 Step Hedmans on it. It liked the bigger headers.

That's what I was pointing out, after looking at the installation notes on Doug's website, the 1 7/8" headers, D567, require the lock rod removal, the D522 ones don't. I found that interesting, and haven't notice that before.

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Ok, got the estimate from the local fabricator........$3k AUD. Needless to say I required a little sit down.
I think this price puts me back into the gambling space on a shelf product.
From the feedback I've received from you guys I've dropped a note into Doug's for my own piece of mind before I finalise anything.

Thinking about it might also try & get a depth detail of Doug's to compare to the depth of the D port Hedmans I just took off. Might not be worth it, see how I go.

Any way if the response if right from Doug's might take the gamble on them.

HWYSTR455 thanks for the heads up on the install detail on the Doug's, greatly appreciated.

I'll let you all know how I go.

Worse case off the shelf you can tweak a couple of tubes vs buildiong a whole new set of headers.

My 1 3/4 Hedmans I wanted for the size on my TA hit the firewall both sides! We made two new tubes(paper towel tubes are great fro mock up:)!) and made it clear the lock rod also. And you can get to all bolts. Not real pretty welds but my RAIV 400 liked them!

Was thinking the same thing.......couple of hundred on a tweak & I'm sorted & still in front.
Haven't heard back from Doug's yet.

You need to talk to someone who has put a round port header in a '68 to get all the details. Someone on here has, you just need to find them.

i have a 68 lemans i put dougs roundport headers on #d567r.left side goes straight on after you remount brake distribution block on top of chasis rail.Right hand side requires a couple pipes modified or completely remade.Also you have to use a shorter oil filter.I think a couple hundred for the mods is wishful thinking.Are you in Sydney? Peter

Hey OZ68

I got Dougs on my Bonneville ,the coated ones and look and fit real good ,get Butler to send them and local shop to build rest of exhaust

John L. :ausflag:

Hey Peter, I'm in Melbourne bud. I read those mods you mentioned in the tech specs in a couple of fabricators sites. Appreciate the confirmation. not getting any feedback at the moment from fabricators. might have no choice but customs perhaps?????

Nice mate.

I have the 2" SC and have retained my shift linkage with back-up lights 70 GTO

On my TA I rally wanted 1 3/4 when I had the RAIV 400 in it. the 2" seemed a little sluggish.
Hedman made a set to fit second gen and early GTOs. Crap fit! both sides rear tube hit the firewall. Cut off 2 tubes each side used paper towel rolls for mock up and remade them to fit. Even get to all the bolt holes. Just needed some mandrel Us and Js-even could use some sections of the old tubes. Welds are not pretty but they fit good and picked the car up.

My thoughts on the cheap OBX stainless headers for round ports too, if they don't fit cut and make a couple for the price for SS hard to beat!.

Gents, thank you for all your thoughts and assistance. I've loved reading all your experiences. I've sourced a fella not too far from home that will build & install headers & pipes for me. couldn't get any of the commercial fabricators (US) to commit. The motor goes back in next week excluding valve covers & I''ll truck it to his place. As soon as I get it back & get the new valve covers on I'll drop a photo in to let you see how it went.............hopefully all good. Cheers Oz

I run 1 3/4" Heddmans- off of a 1965 GTO that were aftermarket ceramic-coated. Great fit on my O-port E-headed 1968 GTO. They fit better (and were already coated) than the 2" Hooker S-comps.

2" Hooker super comps here on a 69 GTO with Edelbrock round ports. Fits good and back drive linkage still fits.

Do those hang low on the passenger side, or has that been corrected?


I'm at this point, buying headers, and in the past have used the D567s. Was hoping to get some feedback on the D522s, pics of passenger side would be great too.

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Here's a ground level picture. They hang pretty evenly (driver to passenger)
The oil pan hangs lower. The headers are pretty darn close to hanging about the same as the lower control arm spring pockets. Hope that helps.

Wow, that's way better than they used to be, way better. And you didn't have to bang any dents in them around the lower control arm bracket?

Would still like to see some pics of some D522s, and if they need any hammer work. I know the D567s contact the lower control arm bracket.

I don't see any Mad Dog headers other than the ones Butler has listed, no 68-72 A-body ones.

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Everything clears fine. Actually shocked that the back drive linkage even fits without any problems.

Thank you very much for that info, very good to hear. They are $75 more than the Doug's, but totally worth it if they fit that well.

They look identical to the Doug's D522s by pictures. Would like to hear from someone who has them before I pull the trigger.

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Well, they are tight in places for sure, but they do fit and don't rub anything. Dad has had some comments on them already at local cruises, people wanting to know what they are. Those 2" tubes snake around a bit up top and look pretty cool.

Not a Pontiac but I do run a pair of Dougs on a SBC in our 69 Z, which kind of gave me some impression of Dougs. I just installed them a couple months ago. I run the 1 5/8 version hoping they gave a bit more room. They give plenty of clearance for everything, and of course a SBC in a first gen has plenty of room. I was only disappointed in one thing, the #7 tube comes down and interferes with the back drive linkage on the 4-speed. I was disappointed because there is plenty of room down there that they could have easily moved that #7 tube around that back drive rod and made it work just fine. It only needed about 3/4" either towards the rear or towards the side would have worked.

Anyway, I decided to make the #7 tube clear myself. I wasn't removing the back drive linkage. I got some looks from dad when I started modifying $650 coated headers, lol.

After that, works fine. No other complaints. But it just made me think, If Dougs didn't want to bother with a simple change to make the headers work with a back drive setup on a SBC Camaro that has a ton of room to play with, then what other issues do they have on other engines???

Well, I pulled the trigger on the D522s, I will post my experience. Was hoping to get more feedback, was on the wall with the Super Comps, we will see.

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Just wondering if you are in Australia is this car right hand drive? That's gonna make a huge difference in header fitment

Should have created a new thread, but felt the other thread I started would encompass the info, so just added it to the end.

D522 install with pics and install/fitment comments:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/....php?p=5796610

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