Updated SPITFIRE HEADER INSTALL 63-66 A-body

Haven't been on this forum in a while...because I parked my Dart 4 years ago, expecting to get a leaking heater core replaced soon. But my busy schedule and life got in the way. The Dart is still where I left it when the leaking core made me park it.

My nephew is now asking if he can help to get it back on the road, so I am thinking about a number of improvements to get around the limitations that the car had, including a terribly restrictive exhaust.

I am fascinated by the fact that the A-Body parts and accessories industry has apparently matured in the last few years since my Dart was parked. A dearth of parts and accessories was one of the real liabilities of early-A ownership, since I started collecting and restoring them back in the mid-80s.

I've owned a number of very cool early A-bodies over the years, including my current Chrysler Compact, a 1966 Dart GT convertible, original 273 "Challenger" (4v) car with a 904 and 7.25 (wimpy) rear. It also has the Kelsey-Hayes 4-piston front disc brakes.

The car has never left Colorado (originally sold to a woman in Pueblo, CO in November, 1965) -- so it is very solid. It is also very much unmolested, having had only 4 owners - none of whom were teenagers, evidently.

I bought and sold many cars (including a couple of Commando 65 cudas), but never considered giving up my little powder blue vert. It has been in the family 21 years now and will likely be part of our estate when my wife and I check out of this life.

That said, the availability of shorty headers fascinates me. A few years back, all that was available were fender-well headers for these cars or the exotic (and VERY pricey) Doug Thorley multiple-piece headers as originally fitted on D-Darts. Now, it sounds as though at least 2 manufacturers are making headers that will fit Early-A engine compartments. The problem is that it is a power steering car.

My question is: Will any of them fit Power Steering cars? My guess is no, but I thought I'd ask. I'd hate to convert the car to manual steering, when it has been a P/S car since the day it rolled out of Hamtranck.