I have just test fitted a set of headers to my 350. On the drivers side they are about an inch from the oil pan and block, now im woundering what is to close and what is safe? Anybody have an idea?  Thank in advance for youre thaughts.  

Are these block hugger headers? What brand of headers? What kind of car are they on?

We need a little more info to be really helpful. Pictures are also a big help.  

The car is a 75' El Camino, I dont know what kind of headers they are, They came w/ the car and i cant find a manufacturer stamped in anywhere. Right now the engine is still on the stand and i am just mocking everything up before it goes into the car. The drivers side is about an ince from the block all the way down but the passenger side is atleast several inches farther out. these arent the best pictures but i hope they help. Thanks again for youre input.
 

This view might be a little better.

 

i cant see the pics for some reason. i have an 81 el camino that came with a v-6 original. long tube headers come very close to the ol pan especially on the drivers side due to the brake master cylinder and steering rod, motor mounts. I went with shorty headers and they are a little better. i wish i could see the pics i could give you better advice.  if you dont want to spend any more dough on a new set and there are no interference issues you may try a header wrap for the area near the pan. i assume you are concerned about the exhaust temp affecting the oil temp, right?  

yes heated oil is what im concerned about. hopefully you can see these pictures.
engine mock-up  

If you are worried about engine heat, buy some header wrap. It's cheaper than new headers.  

thanks. I'll try that.  

gord:
I have just test fitted a set of headers to my 350. On the drivers side they are about an inch from the oil pan and block, now im woundering what is to close and what is safe? Anybody have an idea?  Thank in advance for youre thaughts.

I'm not sure where you live, whether you need to pass inspections or not, but it sonds like you may have mismatched headers. I couldn't view the pictures, so I'm not sure as to what you mean by the headers being too close to the oil pan. You may have a set of headers designed for a truck or something, or it may not be a set to fit your specific vehicle. I have a 1980 Malibu and I went with Flow-Tech, which is a Holley Performance Brand, Afterburner headers and they fit the driver side far enough away to the outside of my oil filter. The only problem I ran into was clearing the passenger side upper A-Frame on the #4 cylinder tube. I had to beat it with a hammer to smash the tube flat on the bottom part that was overtop the a frame. My 267 gained a NOTICEABLE amount of power, moreso than the 4bbl 600cfm carb(Edelbrock 1406) and performer series intake manifold. I only offer that you use a set of headers like these, which are designed for a 283-400 SBC with auto trans, and will fit any 1968-1987 El Camino/Chevelle/ Malibu. There are many brands of headers out there with different effects on Torque and Horsepower, but if you buy a set for your specific application it'll eliminate the guesswork, and most likely help your engine perform better. My set of Headers were 179.95 without the ceramic coating, and I think the up charge was 150 bucks. That ain't too bad for headers, and if yu don't live in the "Rust-Belt," you won't need the ceramic coated ones. It's a 1975 El Camino dude, those are the coolest truck EVER produced, in my opinion. They had a unique style, and I would say no expense should be spared when tuning and upkeeping it. Automakers just don't build them like that anymore.  

I just whent through the same thing and they are prob hooker com headers and they suck