1987 Gmc header swap problems

[James_Westwood]

Hey Guys, I'm almost gone with my engine swap from a stock 5.7(350) to a built 6.6(402). This truck has been a whole lot of fun to frankenstien together so far but I thought I was done with mods. Not yet unfortunately.

So here is the problem, I ditched my stock exhaust for a set of headman headers. While putting the pulley system back together I noticed that my PS and A/c brace bracket is mounted on the exhaust in my first 2 drivers side exhaust bolts. With the headers this bracket will not work. Because of the thickness of the stock exhaust the bracket naturally sits about 1 1/2 " away from the actual head. With 3/16 thick headers this makes for a problem. I can not, even if I wanted to, add a spacer to make up the extra 1". The way the headers are shaped the #2 bolt from the front of the engine is not allowed to come out that far. So what should I do? Short of buying a whole new pulley system, or hacking the bracket and fabricating a new one, I have no Idea. Someone said that a 67 nova or camaro PS bracket might work, for it only has one mount on the exhaust, this would be good if I DIDN'T want A/C.

Thanks for your time. Any advice would be nice.

-James

[GreaseDog]

cut them off of the bracket. that's what i've always done, and never had an issue.

[Doober]

Some headers come with a spacer.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-2452HKR/?rtype=1

A piece of pipe should work fine, you may need to trim a tiny bit to clear the header tube.

[James_Westwood]

@ Greasedog.... So you are telling me that this bracket will hold the PS and A/C with one bolt through it to hold it to the flat metal bracket that comes off of the head itself? That seems like it would be a weak link. I have yet to find online a person with the same set-up for this as what I have, which is strange to me. I'm trying to find my damn computer cord to hook up my camera so I can post pictures.

[James_Westwood]

@ doober.... Are you saying to trim the actual header itself to fit this piece of pipe(s) to install the bracket correctly?

[James_Westwood]

Here are probably too many pictures of how it is suppose to fit on the exhaust. These pictures are pretty self explanitory. But here it goes. Let me know if you have seen this before.http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1937_01.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1937.jpg Side view of brace bracket

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1936_03.jpg Front view of bracket

These next 3 are of how it sits on the stock manifoldhttp://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1936_02.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1936_01.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1936.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1935_01.jpg This is how it needs to sit, header in the way

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1935.jpg

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s419/James_Westwood/P280412_1934.jpg Flat metal bracket that bolts onto the head

[Doober]

More pictures = better. I think I remember reading it said to cut the rear bolt portion of the bracket, then use a spacer and a longer bolt for the front bolt. By trimming I just meant the spacer itself so it sits properly against the header flange, since proximity is so close between the bolt hole and the header tube. If you can manage to get a spacer/bolt on the back bolt, even better though.

[James_Westwood]

___Alright, I think I got ya. You are just saying to use the first bolt hole on the bracket itself that attaches to the exhaust, forget about the second one(cut it off). I was thinking about doing this but I have had trouble in the past (with different trucks) with leaving a fastener out as such. I eneded up snapping 2 brackets, one after another but on an alternator bracket. I guess I can try it out. I wouldn't be loosing anything if the bracket snapped, I could just make a new one with the 1/4 steel I have. Who knows maybe I will just fab a bracket to use both bolts or get rid of the exhaust mounted BS all together. Thanks for the info brother