I would have to check but Im not sure. I might givem a call just in case.

 

So if you crush a pipe almost flat will it still flow the same? No. The space that the dent now has taken up use to be open space inside for the exhaust gases. Now that open space is outside with less space inside for the exhaust. displacement basically.

 

normally i cant leave well enough alone either. if something is out of place it bugs the **** out of me as well. but a lifetime of jacking with cars has given me a sense of when to leave well enough alone. in your case though, do whatever makes you sleep at night.

if i did decide to fix it, id mig weld a nail or a quarter inch bolt head actually to the pipe, heat around it and start with the slide hammer. heating one area at a time not all at once. this way, you can manipulate what moves and what doesnt when you spank the hammer. you want to actually start at the outside of the dent, and work your way to the middle with the heat. if you start at the middle, you will get an immediate bulge you will never be able to get out because you will have prematurely stretched that area. a bulge will violate Bernoulli's principle, which is kind of what you are pseudo creating in the collector, and you will do more harm than good. if you have to, cut off the bolt and reweld in a new place until you are satisfied. or weld two bolts etc. i havent held these in my hands and seen them with my own two eyes so i cant tell you what would be best.

a cold, wet rag that you dont care about should be close by, you can also manipulate the way the hot metal settles with it. i suggest you practice on a scrap piece first if you feel the technique could help you.

good luck :thumbs

 

How does that work?

 

a quote from David Vizard:

"Dyno tests I have performed over the years inevitably show that most engines are insensitive to the shape of the passages that exhaust gasses enter once they leave the port, as long as the overall header design promotes flow. There is little measurable sensitivity to dents in the pipes, (sometimes up to 2/3 closed off in one cylinder) "

Many years ago I was worried about the same thing. A dent I had to put in my headers for clearance. (not my Vette) Even though it still bugged me I had to dent my header pipe, everyone I spoke with that had actually used a dyno with an engine with "clearance dents" In the headers assured me there was no significant power loss.

 

Thnx guys for the input. Im gonna take a stab at it tomorrow. Dont know what technique I'll use but I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

I have a spot welder that would weld studs to the header (after cleaning coating off) and use a slide hammer that grabs the stud and pull out the dents. After your done you grind off the studs and coat it with some high temp paint. Body shops use this all the time to repair dents.

 

Not sure how you would feel about this, but on the M3 I race, we had a dent/ hole and had it cut out. A patch was then welded into place and boom... good as new.