Modifying Hooker 6114 headers so as not to use that lousy drop bracket

[TS69GT500]

Has anyone modified their Hooker 6114's driver side header to avoid using the frame rail busting lousy drop bracket?
If I remember correctly didn't Jay Brown perform this mod for that exact purpose

Thanks,
TonyS

[Rory428]

The only way that I am aware of, is to eliminate the factory power steering setup,  as the drop bracket is required to clear the hydraulic  cylinder.

[cjshaker]

Ditto what Rory said. You'd have to butcher the header pipes, and even then I don't think there would be any way to get them through without dropping them under the cylinder so low that they would be road graders. That's why I used the power steering control valve eliminator and just got rid of the whole system. Only issue with that is the ratio is not real street friendly, and it takes some muscle to steer unless you change out the box and pitman arm to get the non-power steering ratio back.

[galaxiex]

I had a 68 Mustang 390 with the PS drop bracket and I drove the car for many many years and miles.

Never had any issue with the frame rail getting damaged in any way.
No cracking, buckling, etc.

In fact, the bracket was on the car when I bought it, for who knows how long/miles?

Granted this is an example of one.... but you don't ever, or often, hear about all the good ones, only the failures...
Can't calculate the percentage of "good" to "bad" if you don't have the numbers....

Maybe the folks that have trouble with this are over-torquing the bracket to frame bolts?

There is no question the bracket "must" put more torque/force on the frame rail due to the increased leverage.
But mine held up just fine.

How many that failed had weak, rusty rotted rails?

[mike7570]

I had a 68 Mustang 390 with the PS drop bracket and I drove the car for many many years and miles.

Never had any issue with the frame rail getting damaged in any way.
No cracking, buckling, etc.

In the ‘70’s myself and my friends combined for 5 cars with the drop bracket. Not a single problem, of course in the ‘70’s the cars weren’t that old so the frames and bolts didn’t have much if any rust or fatigue.

[cjshaker]

I ran my car for years with power steering and the drop bracket without any problems. I will say that I've seen a couple of cars in my lifetime that did have an issue, and it was always from the threads being stripped in the lower frame nut. One may have been caused by really bad roads, or abuse, but I believe the others were just ham fisted when tightened and made the threads weak. In that case, more serious work is needed to properly fix it.

[rockhouse66]

My 428 CJ Torino had one of these on when I got it and it came "loose".  I discovered that if you used the original bracket bolts, which were not threaded all the way to the head, the bolts would bottom out in the threaded insert in the frame before the bracket got tight.  The original bracket is much thicker.  I think if you use different bolts that will fully tighten the bracket it holds up pretty well.

[jayb]

I did modify a set of Hooker race headers for ground clearance, but that car didn't have power steering.  I've also used that drop bracket on a power steering car with no problems - Jay

[70tp]

My car has a drop bracket that was on it since almost new.   I found history of who owned it before I bought it.   At some point the bracket had issues and a long bolt was welded to it for support, that being done was the key as to actually had the car previously .  It never had an issue after that was done.    I used the power steering set up until I went with the big tube headers.   It’s going to get an integral power  steering gear next .   Done correctly, I don’t think the drop bracket is an issue

[My427stang]

The key is they need to stay tight and that doesn't always happen.  If it moves, you are done

On my Mustang, I didn't like the front upwards bolt over 30 years ago and was able to fish a nut on the back through a seam on the top of the rail.  That one of course tightened solid sandwhiching the bracket and frame and the rear tightened nicely, so I put the remaining bolt in and history has been good to me

[cjshaker]

On my Mustang, I didn't like the front upwards bolt over 30 years ago and was able to fish a nut on the back through a seam on the top of the rail. 

That had to be an exercise in patience! I've done stuff like that before, so I know how difficult it can be getting that bolt started with a loose nut on the backside. Just lining it up can be a challenge.

[My427stang]

Long enough ago that I remember it easy now, but it could have had a lot of swearing involved too!