"Dinging" my exhaust...?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 5
"Dinging" my exhaust...?
It appears my installer didn't closely examine his work, and now my pass. side downpipe is touching the idler (pitman?) arm, just slightly. Can I heat the area with a propane torch and give it a whack for clearance? Pipes are S/S if that makes any difference...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Rockford Michigan
You can always put a dent in exhaust, it is not that strong of material. If the installer screwed up, why not just take it back and have him correct it? No sense in accepting sub standard workmanship...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by JonnHeather
You can always put a dent in exhaust, it is not that strong of material. If the installer screwed up, why not just take it back and have him correct it? No sense in accepting sub standard workmanship...
but if that dont work, torch and a hammer will do just the same.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
now that I think about it, the first pair of headers I got hit the idler arm as well. I think they were Hedman's.... got 'em under the christmas tree when I was like, 16 or 17. Ended up sending them back and getting a pair of HOokers. The hooks fit great.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by JonnHeather
If the installer screwed up, why not just take it back and have him correct it? No sense in accepting sub standard workmanship...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Loveland Colo
I clearanced ("dinged" sounds so...so...crass, low-brow, bubba, doncha know!) my Hedmanns from the idler arm with a torch and ballpeen. Easy, but they were off to replace the starter anyway. Now I'm gonna wrap them, so I'll need to increase the dimple a bit. As long as you make a smooth, shallow indentation it should make negligable difference in the flow characteristics of the pipe, certainly nothing a street car would notice.
I should add that mine only rubbed on the rubber grease boot lightly.
John
I should add that mine only rubbed on the rubber grease boot lightly.
John
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by JonnHeather
If you do have to "ding it", hold a round pipe or socket against the exhaust tube and hit the pipe or socket. Will leave a nice round smooth "ding". It will look better...
This is what I was going to suggest. Ding the header doesn't hurt flow , doesn't look as good but it won't hurt the flow.A propane torch is not the best for heating the pipe but in a pinch it will do. Just takes too long.
Maybe buy a mapp gas cylinder for your torch. They get alot hotter.
