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Spitfire anybody put a header on a late model Spitfire?

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t8nwa

t8nwa

Jedi Hopeful
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I have the manifolds and Cat off and a Pacesetter header in my hand. I cannot get the header in position as it hits the frame and the rear plate on the engine. The only way I can see to get the header in position is to jack up the engine and feed the header through the hole. Am I missing something?

Also, I am hooking this up to the stock exhaust and it does not seem to line up too well. What did you guys do to make it work?

thx!
 
Is your intake manifold and carb still on? Should fit right in without manifold.


Adam H.
____________________________________________________________
1973 Triumph Spitfire.
 
Which header are you using? I have a late model year 74 and things slipped right in. I'm currently using the stock muffler and will make a change at some point. I was using the Monza but removed it due to being a bit too loud.
Dennis
 
The DPO of my last Spitfire 1500 had installed a header, and had "notched" the frame to make it fit. Looke like it would be a difficult job, with the engine still in the car.
Good luck,..Bob
 
My 74 has a notch in the frame, I figure since it was a late build 74. They used what they had in stock at the time. 75's had the notch but I don't know if that was 75 and beyond. Can't say I know that much about build differences. I'm not sure who made my header it does look like the pacesetter in the VB catalog. I installed it back in 87 or so. I pull it off every couple of years to clean off the rust and paint it. Right now my spit is under going a restoration, replacing battery box, floor board, and then eventually a down to the frame.
From looking at the engine, my header collecter ( 4 to 1 ) drops below the level of the back plate/bell housing on the engine. So I don't have any interference there. I can try to post a picture of what I have if that's of any assistance.
Dennis
 
Thanks Andy, I thought thats what it was but I couldn't remember for sure..
Dennis
 
Yes, mine has the notch for the side to side fit. My issue is the front to back dimension is long on the header. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I would have to begin to question what headers they sent you. I have plenty of clearance with mine. The collector drops below and well in front of the back plate/bell housing, giving about a half inch of space between top of the pipe and the bell housing. As I think about it, I may have bought mine from TRF but I can't remember for sure...
Dennis
 
While I can't offer any advice about this header in a Spitfire, the Pacesetter header in my 1500 Spridget was awful in terms of fit.
I basically had to saw it apart and re-weld it. It was particularly bad in terms of alignment with the exhaust studs and ports on the head.
Others (here) have mentioned poor fit when using Pacesetter headers.
 
Pacesetter headers are not noted for good fitment. They even tell you in their literature that you should expect to have to make modifications to fit them up.

That said, the engine can be moved around quite a bit on its mounts. Loosen them and you'll see what I mean.

Jacking the engine to give yourself room is a common approach to getting headers on. Easily done and very worth doing.

As for the rest of the exhaust, you generally have to fabricate a pipe in order to fit things up.
 
Well, it is in, kind of...

Fit is not great. A little grinding had to be done so that the intake manifold would fit. Not a biggie.

Supplied gasket is a joke. Poor fit and cheap material. Will do until I get a good one on order.

The engine had to be jacked up a LOT to snake it in place. Both engine mounts had to be disengaged.

After getting everything bolted in place, Number 1 pipe is resting on the frame edge. Time for the adjustment tool, one large freckin hammer. Grrrr!

The collector is about two inches too long and will require some adjustment to the muffler pipe to get it connected. Double Grrr!

And it is about 35 degrees in the garage and I am done for now. Triple Grrr!

If I get ambitious, I will post pics.
 
OK, so I am attempting this now...don't have the pacesetter though...got a header that came with the car. I have been trying with just one motor mount removed. Have not tried both yet.

I have been jacking against the oil pan with a big piece of wood...I'm a bit cautious of jacking the engine up to the limit, as I don't want to crush my oil pan. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Please don't look at other parts of the engine compt...not ready to look at yet. No comments about duct tape battery box repair, either!

edit: picture removed to save bandwidth on my server.
 
A good idea when fitament of headers is tried. Have the flange checked for flatness. I wish I would have done mine before installation. But,unfortunately , I discovered this forum later.
 
OK, I managed to get the header in by disconnecting BOTH motor mounts. Even jacking the same amount as before allows the header to fit, as I was able to rock the motor toward the driver side.

Now I just gotta get it cut down and a compression fitting installed.

Len
 
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