Hooker headers

Install tips for ANY set of headers going into an A body small block, learned after 30 years of skinned knucles and a lot of cursing.
Plan on removing EVERYTHING listed here. Don't try to just remove one thing then fight with it for hours, only to remove another. Been there, done that.
Get the front end up high enough that you can manuever the headers around while underneath the car. Don't let your jackstand placement get in the way of that. Disconnect battery. Pull the steering center link first. Pull the starter. If coulmn shift or 4 speed, remove the shift link / clutch z bar. Drain the radiator - exhaust manifold studs on the ends are wet and will drain your coolant if you don't do it first. Carefully remove those 4 studs. Set motor to TDC on compression stroke. Pull the distributor - it will hit the firewall when you jack the motor up. Be sure you have a right angle oil filter adapter and extra gaskets, or just extra gaskets if you remove your existing one. Remove the oil filter or adapter. Plan on having a new filter and oil - sucks being on your back and trying to reinstall it with oil dripping out of it and onto your fresh gaskets with new silicone on it. Loosen the motor mounts - good time to change them if they are looking tore up. Use a floor jack and wood under the pan to raise the engine as high as possible. You might also consider removing the entire steering column as it will make it easier. Plan on the headers touching the torsion bars, steering box coupler, etc. and requiring some love taps with a ball peen hammer in spots. A mini starter not only makes more space, it may not require some sort of heat shield, like an older model of starter may. Plan on rerouting the starter cables to protect from heat. Install the headers loosely. Test fit your header nuts - some can be a PITA to install. Allen head nuts make this painless. Use silicone on the threads of the end header bolts. Don't wail on them while tightening and bend your flange. Plan on snugging them up again a few times as the header gasket takes a set. Plan on being creative with spark plug boots and plug wire looms to keep them from burning against the headers. Install the oil filter adapter after the pass side header is in place. Don't tighten it down til you are sure the angle it's installed at will allow removing/installing the filter. Expect any paint on the headers to burn off in the 1st 10 minutes of operation, unless you baked them on before install. Plan on rejetting the carb or else your engine may feel down on power compared to before, as headers will make your engine run leaner. Go easy over curbs and pot holes. Expect some road rash over time.... And now you know why real 340 exhaust manifolds are so pricy...lol