sidepipe header repair
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
sidepipe header repair
Say you have one tube that is well...mangled. Where would you take it for repair? Exhaust shop, welding/fabrication shop, chassis shop, etc? Its one of the down tubes and it has been squished to half its original pipe width.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Sounds like it needs to be cut and welded.
I would find a good custom exhaust shop and see what they think.
Maybe you could heat it up cherry red and pull it with a slide hammer,
but it will probably never be perfectly round with this method.
Are they hookers ?
I would find a good custom exhaust shop and see what they think.
Maybe you could heat it up cherry red and pull it with a slide hammer,
but it will probably never be perfectly round with this method.
Are they hookers ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Yes they are Hookers but they're for my '71 Firebird. Hooker no longer makes them but I like the look so much(I hang out here too much, lol) I bought a set used. They had been "massaged" around a factory starter. I plan on using a hi-torque mini starter. I plan on having that tube replaced, having them media blasted and Jet-Hotted. The pipes are still nice and strong, just surface rust on them. I figure if anybody would have done this it would be you guys. 
I just have a fear that some doofuss at Midas(or somewhere similar, not to pick on Midas...) will really mess up the positioning, I'll do the rest of the work and find out that now hits the frame or something. I just want to make sure I put the most capable hands on the project but I dont know who that would be.
I just have a fear that some doofuss at Midas(or somewhere similar, not to pick on Midas...) will really mess up the positioning, I'll do the rest of the work and find out that now hits the frame or something. I just want to make sure I put the most capable hands on the project but I dont know who that would be.
Last edited by BlkBird; May 10, 2006 at 05:58 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
.. still think a good custom exhaust place is best ... family owned, etc.
they will have more experience than a "welder" or a chain muffler shop.
Also, since you are concerned with final fit, I would try to get the car there, too.
they will have more experience than a "welder" or a chain muffler shop.
Also, since you are concerned with final fit, I would try to get the car there, too.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
I have had good luck fixing headers. I removed the header and made 2 plates for both flanges. It is quick work with a plasma cutter. In the plate for the collector I drilled a hole and installed and air chuck. I then both both plates on using gaskets. Regulate my air compressor somewhere between 10-20 psi. I then use a torch and heat the dented areas. You can usually get them almost 100%. I learned this from repairing the exhaust on my old 2 stroke dirt bikes. It works great, takes a little work, but you can usually save the header. I would rather do that than try to cut and patch.
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