Has anybody found a set of headers that fit, other than what's offered by FM and BF?

Those seem to be good parts, but they are pricey. If you could fit some from, say, a '02 Camaro, it would save a lot of bucks.

 

BF's headers are Hooker Block Hugger LS headers with a crimp across the upper collector joint to clear the steering shaft. You could buy them in plain steel and add the dimple yourself if you really wanted to.
Other than BF and the two offerings from FM I have not heard of any on the market but I am sure there is someone out there who have done it themselves and might make copies....

 

That's encouraging. If the Hookers fit, then other block hugger type headers should also work.

 

There have been several Miata builds done with these.
Sanderson V8RLS1 header set for small block Chevy LS1 engines in 1927-Up car and truck applications. Including Mazda Miata with Chevy LS1 and LS2 V8 conversions

But are you restricted to Miata stuff with your build? Same thing with bigger primaries here.
The LS158 is designed to fit a variety of applications using the Chevrolet LS1 or LS2 engine. This is a larger 1-5/8" version.

Not cheap but the latest and greatest here:
Long tube headers

For 02 Camaro headers the cheapie stainless ebay headers are really pretty good stuff. I ran these on my donor Camaro and was quite happy with them.
Camaro Firebird 98 02 LS1 5 7L Long Tube Stainless Steel Racing Header Exhaust | eBay

 

Thanx. I'd bookmarked the Sanderson page in the past, but forgot about them. They have big enough primaries that they're my #2 choice. BBK are currently my #1.

The long tube headers from V8R and FM are not on my hit list, mostly because of the cost. But also because of the big dimple. I'm trying to avoid both of those.

I'v looked at the LS1 headers on E-Bay and other places. But they seem to be rather wide at the collectors, and then pointed straight back. If they came closer to the bellhousing, then I think they might be a better fit.

 

There's a couple of 1 5/8" blockhuggers shown here that will fit if the motor is moved over somewhat. There may be others. As I recall, the stainless ones need to have shorty "header plugs". I have a set of 1 3/4 Sanderson blockhuggers that look like they may work if the flanges were angle milled to tuck them in closer to the block. One of my future projects. Note the motor mount arrangement to offset the motor toward the pax side. Forgive the iron block mule motor. The aluminum block fits in the same space.

MiataV8 Conversion

Mike

 

Thanx for the pictures, Mike. Are those the Sanderson headers? I like how close they fit to the block. But I don't like the way they angle in towards the oil pan.

At the moment, the BBk's are on my short list. Mostly because they terminate a little higher on the block, and that gives you a little more room to run the pipes. I found this picture on another board. Obviously, these headers are swapped side to side, to exit in front of the engine for a turbo. But you can get a pretty good idea of how they exit.



Stock headers or shorty??? - Page 2 - LS1TECH

I'm also considering moving the steering shaft over an inch or two to avoid dimpeling the header tube. Or, not dimpeling it very much. But, again, without the chassis sitting in front of me, it's hard to design the parts.

 

This solution, although Ford, not LS1, shows how the mandrel bend "collector" replaces the flanges for a little extra room around the steering. Also, the configuration of these headers is very similar to the Sanderson 1 1/2" headers initially used by V8R and FM. The Sanderson 1 3/4" version which is mentioned on that site referred to by Jim in his previous post, do not fit in the same space at all, and not just because the tubes are bigger. They changed the configuration substantially.

MiataV8 Conversion: Ford Conversion Headers

It's hard to estimate from pictures, but it looks to me like those BBK headers may be a little bulky in the area of the steering shaft.

How are you thinking you would move the steering shaft?

Mike

 

The engine in the above picture is going in to a Miata. They should fit around the BF subframe. Probably.

I have a used steering rack, with a CV joint attached to the rack input shaft. I'm considering using a Mustang steering shaft to make a 3 piece steering shaft. In theory, that's fairly easy to do. In practice, it could be much more difficult.

One of my big goals is to not spend $600 on a set of shorty headers. Secondary goal is to eliminate the restriction in that one pipe. If I could find an off the shelf long tube 3/4" primary pipes, I'd probably buy those. I looked at Corvette headers. But they're made out of unobtanium, and are way out of my budget.