headders trouble! • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **rookie** » 20 Jun 2005 18:25

hi guys! i have to replace my headders and i`am woundering if i have to
take out the whole engine to change headders?? the car is a 1970 challenger and the engine is 440 cui

thanks

by **dave-r** » 20 Jun 2005 18:57

You have to unbolt the engine mounts and anything that will not allow you to jack the engine up and over to one side or the other. You will also have to remove the spark plugs and starter motor.

You need the car a couple of feet off the ground at the front at the very least. More if you can.

Cut the old headers off if they are trash. It is easier to get them off that way.
If you want to keep them whole remove the passenger side first and then the drivers side which is the opposite of the fitting instructions i am about to give you.

Jack the drivers side of the engine up and over as far as it will go. Then put the headers in from below. The starter motor will have to be placed in the engine at the same time.

Then jack up the other (passenger) side of the engine and fit the headers that side.

by **rookie** » 21 Jun 2005 14:28

ok i will cut them off beacause they truly are trash

thanks for the tip!!

another maybe a stupid question but im a rookie at this stuff!!

the engine is a 500 hp car with 906 heads comp cams 292h and demon carb 750 cfm!! and now the queston!!

im thinking of driving the car a distance of 500 kilometers on vacation ??

i know the fuel costs will kill me but how will a hopped up engine take a trip like that??

should i forget it or is it not a problem with road trips like that??

by **dave-r** » 21 Jun 2005 15:18

My car (similar spec to yours) takes trips like that in it's stride. When everything is working right that is.

It is not far off 250 miles to Santa Pod. I used to drive there and back with 3.91 gears. Of course now I have 4.30s and an overdrive which makes both the journey and the racing more fun. :wink:

I have also driven 300 miles to London a couple of times in it.

by **rookie** » 21 Jun 2005 15:27

that sure was a relife i have 3.23 gear!! how much fuel did yours take??

but i have a wicked hedder leak because of shitty home made hedders!!!! tryed all kinds of gaskets!! so it seems i cant make the trip anyway :rage:

by **rookie** » 24 Jun 2005 16:43

haven`t you tested how much gas your car takes on a long trip dave??

by **dave-r** » 24 Jun 2005 20:56

rookie wrote:haven`t you tested how much gas your car takes on a long trip dave??

Scared to mate. :lol:

It gets about 13mpg (english gallons - not US) on a long run the way it is now. I got 12mpg when I had the 3.91 gears and no overdrive.

The way I see it the faster you drive there the less time you have to burn fuel.

That's right isn't it? :roll:

by **rookie** » 25 Jun 2005 8:42

he he i wish!!