Side pipe/header adjustment
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
Side pipe/header adjustment
I know a lotos people have had problems getting their after market header/side pipes to fit correctly. Passenger side fits perfectly. I am having a problem with the driver side. The header pipe is to low to the ground as it passes under the frame and the side pipe angles up and in. How have people corrected their fitment issues? These are stainless steel headers and pipes. Has anyone tried heating them while mounted and repositioning them? Not sure how to proceed.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: NSW
Hi Rob,
Not much consolation but I have similar issue. Have a set of hooker headers into 4" pipes on a 74 model with 454 in it. Passenger side is fine but the left side runs very close to the body where it comes out under the guard.......so close in fact that it has discolored the paint.
I have taken it to an exhaust shop & had it on the hoist. There is so little room & clearances they found no real way they could shift it without it fouling on something else. There may be more room in a small block application to try and get a section re-bent or realigned.
I am wondering if the pipe manufacturers are making them precise enough or if they use the "Close enough is good enough" method when bending them.
Not much consolation but I have similar issue. Have a set of hooker headers into 4" pipes on a 74 model with 454 in it. Passenger side is fine but the left side runs very close to the body where it comes out under the guard.......so close in fact that it has discolored the paint.
I have taken it to an exhaust shop & had it on the hoist. There is so little room & clearances they found no real way they could shift it without it fouling on something else. There may be more room in a small block application to try and get a section re-bent or realigned.
I am wondering if the pipe manufacturers are making them precise enough or if they use the "Close enough is good enough" method when bending them.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
Thanks Scott,
My driver side is so close to the ground I'm sure it will scrape over every little bump in the road. I will have to do something. I have seen ones on cars that fit perfectly. I am just hoping to find someone that has had to adjust theirs and how they did it. If I figure out how to correct it I will post the solution.
My driver side is so close to the ground I'm sure it will scrape over every little bump in the road. I will have to do something. I have seen ones on cars that fit perfectly. I am just hoping to find someone that has had to adjust theirs and how they did it. If I figure out how to correct it I will post the solution.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
I have similar issue on my 76.
I read a post by Lars where he bent, pushed, pulled, etc and got his right where they needed to be. He didn't give any details or picts. The body was off his frame so it had to be easier.
I am about to fight mine in a few weeks. Plan to make a jig and pull the collector where I want it, then heat the (4) separate tubes cherry red. Hoping for the best.
Roger
I read a post by Lars where he bent, pushed, pulled, etc and got his right where they needed to be. He didn't give any details or picts. The body was off his frame so it had to be easier.
I am about to fight mine in a few weeks. Plan to make a jig and pull the collector where I want it, then heat the (4) separate tubes cherry red. Hoping for the best.
Roger
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: NSW
Some pics of very tight side pipes
Here are a few pics of how mine sit. Measured them & the bottom of the pipes have about 5 inches of clearance to ground.
This one you can see it is actually on the guard & has affected the paint. Fortunately that is as bad as it has ever developed to on the drivers side
Below is the pipes a lot neater but still pretty tight on the right hand side
This one you can see it is actually on the guard & has affected the paint. Fortunately that is as bad as it has ever developed to on the drivers side
Below is the pipes a lot neater but still pretty tight on the right hand side
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
I had the same issue - drivers sidepipe comes out then down.
Placed the car on a 2 post lift.
Used blocks of wood and along with a floor jack very gingerly lifted the sidepipe end over several days (and ran the engine to apply heat to the sidepipes/header).
I kept adjusting the sidepipe until it lined up with the side of the car and rocker panel.
I made a sturdy "U" shaped bracket and welded it on the frame adjacent to the drivers side exhaust pipe sensor threaded hole. I attached the sidepipe extension.
The bracket was fabricated to force the pipe to align with the frame down the side of the car.
I drilled a hole into the bracket adjacent to the sensor location, made a 1/2" heat resistant rubber bushing and placed it between the sidepipe and the bracket. You cannot see the bracket!
The result was a perfectly aligned sidepipe, both horizontally and vertically down the side of the car. This arrangement has lasted for over two years and has not caused any issues with the pipes or the header bracket at the engine.
Good luck...
Placed the car on a 2 post lift.
Used blocks of wood and along with a floor jack very gingerly lifted the sidepipe end over several days (and ran the engine to apply heat to the sidepipes/header).
I kept adjusting the sidepipe until it lined up with the side of the car and rocker panel.
I made a sturdy "U" shaped bracket and welded it on the frame adjacent to the drivers side exhaust pipe sensor threaded hole. I attached the sidepipe extension.
The bracket was fabricated to force the pipe to align with the frame down the side of the car.
I drilled a hole into the bracket adjacent to the sensor location, made a 1/2" heat resistant rubber bushing and placed it between the sidepipe and the bracket. You cannot see the bracket!
The result was a perfectly aligned sidepipe, both horizontally and vertically down the side of the car. This arrangement has lasted for over two years and has not caused any issues with the pipes or the header bracket at the engine.
Good luck...
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
Worked on mine today.
Used ratchet strap to pull header down and outward.
Then heated all 4 pipes cherry red with propane torch. Did this three times.
Let it cool off then released the ratchet strap.
It lowered the collector about 1/4". With more heat (rosebud torch) to heat pipes quicker and larger area, could do more quicker, but I don't have an acetylene rig.
Roger
Used ratchet strap to pull header down and outward.
Then heated all 4 pipes cherry red with propane torch. Did this three times.
Let it cool off then released the ratchet strap.
It lowered the collector about 1/4". With more heat (rosebud torch) to heat pipes quicker and larger area, could do more quicker, but I don't have an acetylene rig.
Roger
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
What is the diameter of the tubes on the yellow car?
I realize that you want to get as much exhaust gas out as possible, but I was wondering if you could go 1/4" or even 3/8" smaller on the tube diameter so there would be more room to heat/re-bend the tubes for a much better fit.
Giving up 1/4" diameter on four tubes gives you an extra inch of ground clearance...........3/8" gives you 1 & 1/2" extra and plenty of room to re-bend the tubes as needed......Compromise.
I realize that you want to get as much exhaust gas out as possible, but I was wondering if you could go 1/4" or even 3/8" smaller on the tube diameter so there would be more room to heat/re-bend the tubes for a much better fit.
Giving up 1/4" diameter on four tubes gives you an extra inch of ground clearance...........3/8" gives you 1 & 1/2" extra and plenty of room to re-bend the tubes as needed......Compromise.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Here are a few pics of how mine sit. Measured them & the bottom of the pipes have about 5 inches of clearance to ground.
This one you can see it is actually on the guard & has affected the paint. Fortunately that is as bad as it has ever developed to on the drivers side
Below is the pipes a lot neater but still pretty tight on the right hand side
This one you can see it is actually on the guard & has affected the paint. Fortunately that is as bad as it has ever developed to on the drivers side
Below is the pipes a lot neater but still pretty tight on the right hand side
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
Thanks for the update Roger. Are you satisfied with the results or are you going to do more? I think the only real concern I have with this process is putting to much force on the heads since they are aluminum. Don't want to damage them.
Jim did you take any pics of the U bracket you made? Did you attached the bracket to the pipe or is it just there as a spacer block?
Thanks,
Rob
Jim did you take any pics of the U bracket you made? Did you attached the bracket to the pipe or is it just there as a spacer block?
Thanks,
Rob
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,559
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I ONLY have a 350....so I personally would go with 1 &5/8" tubes just to avoid body damage and have more room to rebend everything for a better fit...
But I understand most members would not consider tubes that small.
But I understand most members would not consider tubes that small.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
Thanks for the update Roger. Are you satisfied with the results or are you going to do more? I think the only real concern I have with this process is putting to much force on the heads since they are aluminum. Don't want to damage them.
Jim did you take any pics of the U bracket you made? Did you attached the bracket to the pipe or is it just there as a spacer block?
Thanks,
Rob
Jim did you take any pics of the U bracket you made? Did you attached the bracket to the pipe or is it just there as a spacer block?
Thanks,
Rob
My 76 body seems to be a little offset on the frame giving a bigger gap between headers and collector on passenger side (3/4") than the drivers side (3/8"). There's a post on this forum with a couple other 76's with same issue. My car still has caps over the alignment holes from factory so I don't think it has ever been messed with.
Roger
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
Rob, yes I'm satisfied and going to leave them alone. I now have about 3/8" between collector and body. Pryor to bending and heating it was 1/8".
My 76 body seems to be a little offset on the frame giving a bigger gap between headers and collector on passenger side (3/4") than the drivers side (3/8"). There's a post on this forum with a couple other 76's with same issue. My car still has caps over the alignment holes from factory so I don't think it has ever been messed with.
Roger
My 76 body seems to be a little offset on the frame giving a bigger gap between headers and collector on passenger side (3/4") than the drivers side (3/8"). There's a post on this forum with a couple other 76's with same issue. My car still has caps over the alignment holes from factory so I don't think it has ever been messed with.
Roger
I know that the factory frame was not the most rigid or the most straight even when new.
I am running an SRIII tube chassis and am sure that it is straight.
Rob
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
I tried heating my headers today and putting pressure with a floor jack to attempt raise the driver side up. Heated all four pipes at the point where they bend and are supposed to go horizontally out the side (mine points down), let them cool and removed the pressure. Didn't really make any difference. Tried it a second time, same thing. Then ran out of accetalyne. Not really sure where to go from here. I need to find a way to fix this. Any ideas guys?
Rob
Rob