[Tim Corcoran]

I have a front plate and mid plate on my 65 LeMans Bracket car. I have a set of Indian Adventures 1-7/8 headers and I want to replace them with something that fits better. Because of the construction there is one tube that goes above and below the mid plate and you actually have to pull the engine and remove the mid plate to get the headers out on the drivers side.

I'm in the process of raising the engine up a bit to get the pan off the center link and lifting it in the back to try to get the engine more level with the chassis. I'm tired of these headers and once their off there not going back on.

I figure I have two choices. 1. Eliminate the mid plate all together and just use the front plate only. or 2. Get some headers that work with this set up on a 65 A-Body.

Any suggestions on how to proceed would be much appreciated. Any suggestions on headers that would fit with a mid plate.

[Dragncar]

I run a mid plate and multi piece Mad Dog headers with the rear cylinders having tubes that wrap around the frame. Still had to cut out a piece of the mid plate on drivers side. I run elephant ears in the front and still have Might Mounts locating engine.
But I can take it all apart without removing engine. I do have to unbolt the elephant ears so I can tilt the engine down to get the headers off.
Its kind of a pain and I will keep it all for the time being. See how fast I can get this car. The Steffs pan and Mad Dogs all go together now.
But I am keeping my Hooker headers around and my Canton pan. Because when I get old I still want to race and I might not want to deal with it all.
I ran just the Hookers and elephant ears for a long time and it was fine. I could work on the car much easier without the mid plate.

[Tim Corcoran]

I hear ya and I'm already old

[Tim Corcoran]

I'm getting a set of Dougs 1-7/8 we'll see if they fit with the mid plate. Hopefully I can get the correct oil filter in there.

[Tim Corcoran]

The Doug 1-7/8 headers fit nice and clear everything (except my mid plate) with no denting my nice ceramic coated tubes with plenty of room for the oil filter. The mid plate I have that mounts between the engine and trans does not allow clearance with these headers. I will need to get a piece of 5/16" steel fabricated to mount on the back of the cylinder heads and go over the headers and attach to the frame.