Speed Engineering LS Swap Headers Findings

[michael bustamante]

have you guys these for sale that are not chrome or shiny?

[gringoloco]

Speed tech crafts them polished. After a few heat cycles, they'll turn a nice, hazy bronze.

[67_ShortFleet]

They post right on their website to use MSD plug wires. What is the best stainless header bolt to keep them tight?

[AnotherWs6]

Speed Engineering has a lot of happy customers. They are a sponsor and have a long thread on LS1tech.com about their f-body headers. You can't beat them for the price. I am not surprised to hear that these swap headers are good units as well.

[zach_carver]

These things look awesome.. My bank account would appreciate it if I would stay off this forum! LOL HAHA

[67chevysupercharged]

bill1969camaro,

It's kind of a bad camera angle, but in the fourth picture I posted you can kind of get an idea of how low they hang. It's been a while since I've looked at it, but I don't believe it hangs down much more than 1/2-3/4" below the frame, if that. Of course I have the 1 3/4 headers, the 1 7/8 may be a bit more.

-Zak

[t300]

I bought the shorties - http://www.speed-engineering.com/fea...c10-truck.html .

So nobody runs into the same thing I did, stock plug wires will NOT fit, 3 of them on the driver side are pressed up against the headers. I was going to order the Accell 9000 series ceramic 135degree wires but some reports indicate they are not long enough and pull off the coils. So I ordered the Taylor TAY-76046 from Summit. Will see at end of week if they fit.

the notes for the long tubes indicate they are tight but vendor doesn't have the same warning for the shorties.

[burlapen]

I have them on my 63 with a t56 and ECE mounts. They fit great. Nice quality for the price.

[65Gregg]

I instaled the 5.3 in my 65 over the weekend and put the 1 7/8 long tube headers on today, they fit fine. I'm not sure if the following will be of any help to anyone but I'll add it anyway. I used the original V8 stands in the rear position with ICT Billet mounts from eBay. The mounts are in the second position from the rear of the adapters. This allowed my trans mount to match my crossmember location because I didn't want to mess with the driveshaft length. I had the driveshaft shortened in 2001 when I changed to a 700R4. The only problem this has created that I've found so far is the rear coil on the passenger side hits the firewall, not the end of the world. The drivers side has a ton of room but the primary for cylinder #4 is about 1/4" from the frame. The ground clearance is higher than when I had long tubes on the ZZ4 I pulled to the 5.3.

[Sturvin]

Anyone have pics of plug wires that clear the primaries? And which ones they used?

[coreyjhen]

Those collectors look like they're pointed directly at the trans crossmember. Did you have any problems routing the exhaust?

[65Gregg]

Originally Posted by coreyjhen

Those collectors look like they're pointed directly at the trans crossmember. Did you have any problems routing the exhaust?

No, there is about 8-10" on the driver side and a little less on the passenger side, the muffler shop put a couple on small bends in and was able to tie into my existing pipes. I'll post a picture in the next few days.

[65Gregg]

Pictures as requested.

[nastety92]

Those headers look real nice and fit well with the 5.3.

Are these the motor mount sliders that you used?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Billet-Engine-...%257Ciid%253A4

[65Gregg]

Originally Posted by nastety92

Those headers look real nice and fit well with the 5.3.

Are these the motor mount sliders that you used?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Billet-Engine-...%257Ciid%253A4

Yep, that's the ones.

[nastety92]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

Yep, that's the ones.

Thank you. Which motor mounts or brackets did you use?

[65Gregg]

I used the stock 65 V8 stands.

[coreyjhen]

Your exhaust looks great. Thanks for the posts.

[racecougar]

Just dropped a 5.3L/4L60E combo into the '65 C10 using the 1-7/8" headers from Speed Engineering yesterday. They fit exceptionally well. The only place where they're tight is to the starter kickout on the transmission bellhousing. Otherwise, there is plenty of clearance to the engine stands, frame, etc.

[nastety92]

Originally Posted by racecougar

Just dropped a 5.3L/4L60E combo into the '65 C10 using the 1-7/8" headers from Speed Engineering yesterday. They fit exceptionally well. The only place where they're tight is to the starter kickout on the transmission bellhousing. Otherwise, there is plenty of clearance to the engine stands, frame, etc.

Looks pretty nice. Which motor mounts did you go with?

[racecougar]

Originally Posted by nastety92

Looks pretty nice. Which motor mounts did you go with?

Thanks. We ordered Speed Engineering's mount plates along with the headers. The mounts are stock replacements for a '65 V8, and the stands are the stock '65 230 I-6 pieces.

http://www.speed-engineering.com/ls-...3-ls6-ls9.html

[65Gregg]

Racecougar have you tried mounting your passenger side coils yet? Mine hit the firewall, I swapped mine out for some off of a '11 truck, they are shaped differently.

[racecougar]

I haven't yet, but I'm certain that the passenger side coils/bracket would contact the firewall with where we've positioned the engine (it's set back pretty far). I don't plan to run the coils up on the valvecovers though.

[SC_Titan]

anybody tried these with Tejas mounts??

[jhuerta81]

Originally Posted by SC_Titan

anybody tried these with Tejas mounts??

Wondering the same thing.