Hi guys,

I have a 58 Mainline Star Model with the original crossover exhaust. I would like headers but I'm not sure which ones will fit the car as its a right hand drive and the US made headers are designed for Left hand drive cars. Its a very tight fit down on the drivers side.

Can any Aussies (or anyone else) recommend me some good headers that will fit my 58 Mainline.

Cheers,

Woody

I would suggest looking for a pair of ram Horns off a Big Truck if they are available down under as you will need to have the pipes made up any how. that way if need be the right (Passenger) could loop forward if need be. Actually you could use almost any "Y" dual manifolds and by reversing the sides have the pipes looped to the rear after reversing the sides with the manifolds. I have seen some pretty clean installations done that way here in the upper Mid West.

312T85Bird

What?

The Australian Mainline models are not really trucks. They are based on a convertible Customline body so like the US cars the ram horns don't fit. That's what I have read anyway. As you can see from the pic there is not much room to move in there!

Rams Horns won't fit cars, motor mount is in the way.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

How do you feel about fenderwell headers, or you might have to make your own or modify a set of sbc street rod headers.

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

I am considering short style manifold headers like Reds Headers 'Duel Tubes' or something similar that are similar size to the original exhaust manifolds. I will have a muffler shop fabricate down pipes to a duel exhaust. Would be keen to hear from anyone with a RHD 55 - 59 Mainline or Aussie Customline who has gone down this road.

Because of the column shift linkages, starter, clutch rod etc all on that side it is indeed hard to do. I used to make headers that fit perfectly but have not been interested in doing them any more. As mentioned forget rams horn headers in car! you could try reds pipe headers and modify outlet area. Cast tbird headers wont clear all of the above, if you cut rear flange area off the rh side and make longer down pipe with flange that passes everything, then that works.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Rick [ Rick55] has a set on his mainline Im sure... Rick ??



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Thank you all for the info. I have today received a return email from Chris at Reds Headers who has confirmed the regular passenger side header will not fit my 58 Mainline, HOWEVER.. he also advised that Reds Headers also make Duel Tube headers for Right Hand Drive cars!! Happy days!!

I am using a set of Reds Style Headers on my Mainline. Had them made locally in stainless steel. The only problem as Bill said earlier is that it is abit tight on the right side of the engine. The way I got around it was to turn the mounting flange on the end of the pipe around 90 degrees that way it does not foul any of the linkages on that side. I originally had fenderwell extractors fitted, but they caused issues with the turning circle and burnt the inside edges of the tyres I had fitted. Was running 265 T/A's at the time. Bill's suggestion of lengthening the outlet on the right side manifold will also overcome any clearance issues.My headers are similar to these - http://reds-headers.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=166&zenid=c353532da929617d457329d0538dd997
I particularly like the other variety that Reds offer but dont know how they would fit. http://reds-headers.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=138
Any half reasonable exhaust shop should be able to make the first set work.
I still use the column shift and manual clutch setup.
if you want I can send you some photos of my setup.
Hope that gives you some ideas.

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!