Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Clifford or StoveboltEngineCo headers?

Welcome all. I just recently had my 250 l6 from my 66 Chevrolet Bel-Air rebuilt and was wondering if anyone had any experience with either of these headers. According to their site, i would be required to use the shorty's because of having an auto with a column shift. I also wondered which intakes would work with these provided i went with a water heated intake. Will either/both work with a stock or offy 4x1 manifold? I'd rather not use the clifford intake cause i like my torque and the clifford is a little big. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm running the Clifford street rod headers on my 250 in a 37 Chevy. As you might already know these are sort of a block hugger design in that the collector flanges end about at the oil pan flange on the block. The rear header exhaust pipe runs sort of straight back on the left side and the front one I have the exhaust pipe running under the front of the pan and then a gradual curve to down along the right side of the frame. Since there is no crossmember under the oil pan this works. On a late model car with a beefy factory front crossmember I don't think you'll get away with that. Its mated to an Offy 4 bbl manifold and the only ache is the not too precise flange sides on the Offy. It required some file and die grinder work before everything fit the way it had to against the head.

Depending on how you can run the second exhaust pipe will be the final decision I would guess. The Langdon cast 2 piece exh manifold is a nice looking unit and appears compact enough for a good exhaust fabricator to work with.

Ah i see. Thanks very much for the input! Would you or anyone happen to know if there is any appreciable difference between the stovebolt and clifford peices in performance or exhaust note as well? Thanks guys!

kb, I can't give you that answer as I haven't run or heard the Stovebolt pieces. What I can tell you is the Clifford headers I am running don't have that usual tinny header sound. The noise around the engine is no worse than they would be with cast iron units. As far as performance goes on a street engine I doubt if any gains or losses from one or the other would even be noticeable particularly in a heavier car like your full sized late model. Go with what will work for you.

I had a set of Stovebolts on a 292 in a 66 Chevy II. Being a taller block may have made it easier, but they worked fine with the cross shaft for the clutch, so I doubt you would have too much trouble making them work with your shifter.

My 63 has Clifford headers and the only difference I can tell is they "appear" to pass more heat to the intake than the Stovebolts. Both sets have been thermal coated, so I believe it is purely due to the headers.