"dinging" ceramic coated headers
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 49
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From: Denton TX
"dinging" ceramic coated headers
Anyone had any experience with having to dent ceramic coated headers? I have added Flowtech headers to my 77 with vortec heads and the number 6 plug (with the special short Accel plugs) still barely misses the header pipe. I can't put a plug wire on it without the boot contacting the pipe. Anyone ever had to put a dent into ceramic coated headers, or have any other ideas for this?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 1
From: East China MI
My headers had to be "hammer tuned" to clear the stearing box. No adverse effects after 4 years. I would say that if you don't go crazy, you can get away with a little adjustment. However, if you get discoloration at the spot you pinged, you went too far. The worst case scenario would be having to have them recoated. This is why a lot of people recomend fitting before coating, which, of coarse, is just the oposite of what I did!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by teniselbow
Anyone had any experience with having to dent ceramic coated headers? I have added Flowtech headers to my 77 with vortec heads and the number 6 plug (with the special short Accel plugs) still barely misses the header pipe. I can't put a plug wire on it without the boot contacting the pipe. Anyone ever had to put a dent into ceramic coated headers, or have any other ideas for this?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Denton TX
wires with thick boots
I've gotten some MSD wires with thick boots. I assume yours is like mine, where the boot will be in constant contact with the pipe. Has the boot held up to this?
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: LaSalle ON
Why can't header manufacturers design their headers for clearance on the #6 header? 
I know heads are all different, but I see a trend here... I had to dent #6 on my Hedmann headers TWICE, once for my angle plug Iron Eagles, and once again in a slightly different plane for my new straight plug Pro 1's. (which I hoped would allow the plug to clear the header 
)
Both times I took it slow, C-clamping a bolt into the tube to dent it and managed not to crack the ceramic coating.
FYI:
NGK makes a shorty plug alternative to Accel.
I have heard nothing good about the Accel plugs (4 strong non-recommends from local racers), and had constant problems with the pin that clips into the plug boot coming unscrewed with them.
Bob
I know heads are all different, but I see a trend here... I had to dent #6 on my Hedmann headers TWICE, once for my angle plug Iron Eagles, and once again in a slightly different plane for my new straight plug Pro 1's. (which I hoped would allow the plug to clear the header )Both times I took it slow, C-clamping a bolt into the tube to dent it and managed not to crack the ceramic coating.
FYI:
NGK makes a shorty plug alternative to Accel.
I have heard nothing good about the Accel plugs (4 strong non-recommends from local racers), and had constant problems with the pin that clips into the plug boot coming unscrewed with them.
Bob
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by teniselbow
I've gotten some MSD wires with thick boots. I assume yours is like mine, where the boot will be in constant contact with the pipe. Has the boot held up to this?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by vettenoir
FYI:
NGK makes a shorty plug alternative to Accel.
I have heard nothing good about the Accel plugs (4 strong non-recommends from local racers), and had constant problems with the pin that clips into the plug boot coming unscrewed with them.
Bob
NGK makes a shorty plug alternative to Accel.
I have heard nothing good about the Accel plugs (4 strong non-recommends from local racers), and had constant problems with the pin that clips into the plug boot coming unscrewed with them.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
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From: pr, frederick md.
i have hedmanns with ceramic coating, 1" 5/8 primary tubes, and i dented several tubes where the socket fits on the bolt head, and next to the idler arm, but im no where near any spark boots or wires. ----??
