Dented Headers
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
Dented Headers
I was just wondering if anyone knows if I can repair a pretty big dent in one of my header primary pipes. It's a Hooker Super Comp 1 3/4" diameter tube and it's around the bottom where it starts to bend up towards the top of the motor (around the starter area). Can a muffler or a machine shop help me out here? Looks like a rock hit it pretty good. I have 600 bux in these things ,and don't want to do it again. Thanks
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
If they are ceramic coated or chrome plated I don't know if theres whole lot you can do with out spending some big bucks. If they are uncoated, I think an exhaust shop would be able to fix it, either buy doing what 69small block said or cutting out the dent and welding in a patch. good luck and sorry to hear about your bad luck.
-alex
-alex
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
If they are ceramic coated or chrome plated I don't know if theres whole lot you can do with out spending some big bucks. If they are uncoated, I think an exhaust shop would be able to fix it, either buy doing what 69small block said or cutting out the dent and welding in a patch. good luck and sorry to hear about your bad luck.
-alex
-alex
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Drill and tap in center of dent for a slide hammer puller, then re-weld hole; stud weld and use dent puller; replace the header. Those are the only three options I can think of. I doubt that you can get any kind of expander mandrel into that pipe area to use one.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Never work, those are for mandrill bends shaping the tubes before there cut and fitted. I flattened a 2 1/8 primary on a set of my Super comps . I just cut the section out and merely patched it with a matching shaped piece cut from another bent tube. 
If your not set up to do this a good muffler shop that does high performance stuff should be able to repair it .
If your not set up to do this a good muffler shop that does high performance stuff should be able to repair it .
Last edited by Ironcross; Jan 22, 2008 at 02:05 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eville in
Never work, those are for mandrill bends shaping the tubes before there cut and fitted. I flattened a 2 1/8 primary on a set of my Super comps . I just cut the section out and merely patched it with a matching shaped piece cut from another bent tube.
If your not set up to do this a good muffler shop that does high performance stuff should be able to repair it .
If your not set up to do this a good muffler shop that does high performance stuff should be able to repair it .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 899
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
I never tried but have heard, If you can seal the ends some how and put a few pounds of air pressure in the tube that is bent, then heat the area to a cherry red the compressed air will pop out dent.
Race Director
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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Just a wild thought..but I wonder if the *paintless dent repair* type guys could get enough leverage to work out something as heavy gauge as a header tube? Probably have to pull header...but it might be possible.
JIM
JIM
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Those Hooker headers are much thinner that you think for the amount of money they cost. I was under the impression of heavy material too until I bent up some BB Super Comps with 2 1/8 primaries. Not only was it "super" thin {ironic} it was full of little rust holes in both the bends and the collector. And the Camaro was never in bad weather. We welded them up and placed them back in service. Surprised the hell out of me as to the poor quality. One note, these were not coated however. I`m not sure but coating may help this condition. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
By the way, does anybody know where I can buy 1 3/4" primary headers other than Hooker? 1 5/8" don't cut it. Hooker is so expensive. Thanks