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Sanderson US56 Small Block Chevy Header Set, 1955-57

$459.00 – $664.00

-5%

The Sanderson US56 header set fits small block Chevy engines in 1955-57 Chevy cars using Unisteer rack and pinion with Ididit or similar steering columns.

Sanderson US56 Header Set
Sanderson US56 Small Block Chevy Header Set, 1955-57 $459.00 – $664.00
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SKU: SDH-US56 Categories: , Tags: , , ,
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Free shipping on most orders over $250 with destinations in the lower 48 states (Continental United States). Truck Freight is excluded.

  • 30 days easy returns
  • Most orders ship on the same day or within 48 hours
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Sanderson Headers No Gaskets

The Sanderson US56 is a full-length, 1-5/8″ primary tube shorty header for small block Chevy engines 1955-57 Chevy applications using a Unisteer rack and pinion conversion and Ididit (or similar) steering column.

  1. Fits straight plug, angle plug, and D-Port cylinder heads (when D-port is selected). Please review the “What is a D-port?” information tab.
  2. Angle plug cylinder head applications use a slightly different passenger side header than what is pictured.
  3. Compatible with automatic transmissions or manual transmissions applications using a hydraulic clutch setup ONLY.

Please review our 1955-57 Chevy header application guide.

Includes all hardware necessary for installation.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Engine: Small Block Chevy 265-400
Primary Tube Diameter: 1-5/8″
Collector Diameter: 2-1/2″

FEATURES:

  • 16-Gauge Primary and Collector Tube Thickness
  • 3/8″ Thick Flange
  • Patented Flange Design Requires NO Gaskets
  • Tightest Fitting Header Available Anywhere!
  • Made in the USA

INCLUDES:

  • Header Bolt Set
  • Collector Reducer Set

OPTIONS:

Sanderson’s Ceramic Coating is recommended for every vehicle application and is the default finish selection choice above. To meet high standards of quality, Sanderson applies a multi-layer inside and outside aluminized ceramic coating in-house and then polishes the coating to a high luster. This aerospace and military-grade technology adds excellent protection to your headers while offering the benefit of thermal control in your engine bay. It also improves cylinder scavenging of exhaust gases and increases the longevity of your header investment.

Additional information

Weight 19 lbs
Dimensions 24 × 12 × 9 in
Sanderson Header Finish

Silver Ceramic Coated, Black Satin Ceramic Coated, Plain Steel (Unfinished)
SBC Exhaust Port Shape

D-Port (true D-Port, not D-Shape), Standard (Round, Square or D-Shape)
Spark Plug Angle

Straight Plug, Angle Plug

Brand

Sanderson Headers

Sanderson Headers for street rods, classics, and muscle cars.
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Dimensions

Sanderson US56 dimension graphic

What is a D-Port?

We often see confusion in what is considered a D-Port cylinder head for small block Chevrolet engine applications. The problem originates in the technical understanding of what constitutes a true D-PORT versus a D-shape. The D-Port roof extends well above the centerline of the exhaust port, whereas the D-shaped port fits nicely inside what is deemed a standard port dimension. As shown in the graphic below, the d-shape easily fits within the common round or square port flange opening.

Small Block Chevy port shapes. What is a true D-port?

Where other header manufacturers use a typical flat header flange and gasket for sealing, the patented raised flange design of the Sanderson Headers requires different flanges for different small block Chevy exhaust port shapes. Other header flanges will often block the top of the exhaust port on D-port heads. When using a Sanderson D-Port flange the port is not blocked. However, using the wrong flange with a Sanderson header may expose open areas that will not seal, creating an exhaust leak.

Examples:

  1. Using a D-port flange on a common GM head (standard round, square, or D-shaped port), the header port flange open is larger (taller opening) than the sealing area around the exhaust port (additional details below, comparing two BRODIX Track 1® cylinder heads)
  2. Using a standard Sanderson header flange on a D-port cylinder head has a similar problem, where the cylinder head exhaust port opening may extend above the raised flange sealing area, again creating the possibility of an exhaust leak.

Here is an example of a small block Chevrolet D-port cylinder head that requires the Sanderson D-Port header flange.

GM ZZ4 cylinder head
GM ZZ4 cylinder head

Sanderson D-port head sealing

Vortec-Style Heads

NOTE: This issue concerns STRAIGHT PLUG Vortec-style small block Chevy cylinder heads, including the BluePrint heads

Vortec-style (and this includes some non-GM aftermarket) cylinder heads use a different spark plug location than common non-Vortec cylinder heads. Vortec-based heads move the spark plugs further from the center of the chamber and closer to the exhaust valve. This can cause a header clearance issue because it changes the spacing between the two center spark plugs, moving them 1/2″ closer together. On exhaust headers that have tight bends near the cylinder head (for example, the Sanderson CC158 header shown below), the dimpling of some tubes is required for spark plug clearance. Dimpling of other tubes is sometimes required on other header designs affected by the spark plug location and up-down angle.

BluePrint cylinder heads are based on the Vortec spark plug locations. However, the BluePrint heads are manufactured with a raised exhaust port exit. This changes the up-down angle of the spark plug in addition to the center-to-center distance of the two center spark plugs. Dimpling locations vary slightly between common Vortec-based and BluePrint header applications.

If unsure, please measure the center-to-center distance between the center pair of spark plugs on your heads. The standard distance is 4.5″ (11.43 cm) versus 4.0″ (10.16 cm) on the Vortec heads (See the image below). Additionally, one of the reasons we ask for the cylinder head brand, type, and the part number is that every Vortec-style cylinder head does not utilize the same spark plug location and angle. Having accurate information allows us to ensure that the proper dimpling is applied to the Sanderson header set for spark plug boot clearance during the manufacturing process.

For other header brands, it becomes the responsibility of the consumer to first ensure proper fitment and choose whether to modify the header themselves for proper clearance. Be aware that customer modifications of a header will likely void any warranty or the ability to return that product.

Small block Chevy spark plug spacing. Vortec-style vs standard

 

Tube dimpling example, Sanderson CC158 for Vortec:

Sanderson CC158-P dimple

Install Notes

  1. The Patented Leak-Free Design that Sanderson Headers offer you is the only leak-free flange design on the market … Do Not Attempt To Use Flange Gaskets! The raised flange on the Sanderson Headers will buckle the gasket during tightening and actually cause a leak!  Click here for the installation procedure.
  2. Sanderson Headers are NOT emissions legal on pollution-controlled motor vehicles. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to verify local regulations for compliance.
  3. Wrapping your Sanderson Headers with ANY thermal tape voids your header warranty. The best thermal protection for your headers is our Aluminized Ceramic Coating which is available for every Sanderson Header. Please read our tech article that thermal coatings and header wraps.

Sanderson Warranty

Sanderson Header WarrantyLimited 5-Year General Warranty

Sanderson Street Rod Headers strives to supply our customers with the highest quality parts and services available in the street rod industry. In keeping with this, we warrant and will repair or replace, at our option after an inspection in our facility, any of our products that are found by us to have failed due to defects in either material or workmanship.  This warranty is activated by the return of the Warranty Card enclosed with every pair of headers and is effective for FIVE YEARS * from the date of purchase as indicated on the original invoice.

This Warranty does not cover products that fail due to improper motor tuning, alteration, disassembly, or damage caused by racing, misuse, neglect, abuse, improper installation, and/or accident, or when used on applications for which they were not designed or approved. We are specifically not responsible for the costs of removal, installation, transportation, destruction of other components, inconvenience, loss of time, or other personal damages, or for any other associated costs including the application of aftermarket coatings applied by others. Sanderson Street Rod Headers shall not be liable for any and all consequential damages occasioned by the breach of any written or implied warranty pertaining to this sale in excess of the purchase price of the product(s) as found on the original invoice.

WRAPPING HEADERS WITH THERMAL TAPE VOIDS THE WARRANTY.

* Extremely compact header designs that locate the collector in close proximity to the exhaust ports are very sensitive to engine tuning. Improper air/fuel mix or timing of ignition and/or valvetrain can cause early failure due to excessive heat. For this reason,  part numbers CC2 and CC3 are offered with a two-year warranty period only. This includes header sets that utilize one of these headers as part of the set (part numbers CC4 and CC14 for example). The compact header side will hold a 2-year warranty. All other Warranty conditions apply.

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