Okay I am sure I am not the only one that has run into this issue, but I cannot find any really firm ideas on how to remedy the situation other than "Buy new ones" which would work fine, if I want to have the same issue. So here is the culprit: I was fine for the first year, and even made up some brackets to support the muffler/pipe. But after taking this picture and really looking at it, it bugs the hell out of me. So I want to bend the headers to match the frame. The end of the header needs to be raised 1 inch to match the frame. I am pretty sure that I will kill the coating no matter how I try to bend them, so I am already planning on having them re-coated, or I will cheat and wrap the damn things. Is it as simple as putting a jack under the pipe and bending away? I read somewhere about packing the headers with sand to help keep from kinking the pipes, I can do that. I also have torches if heat is needed. Would running the engine and getting them nice and warm help at all? Of course I could not use sand with that...lol. So lets hear it. I will take pics of whatever I try and show the results.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787212 Sorry, I couldn't stop myself from pasting the link.
How about raising the rear of the engine or lowering the front of it a little. It dosen't look like it would take much. Maybe a couple shims under the ****** crossmember.
I cannot raise the trans any more then it is now. I have about 1/4 inch clearance on the frame to the trans tailshaft.
I checked out your build pictures and you look like a pretty crafty guy. 1/4 inch might do more than you think to level them up or create a little more room somehow. You have a nice looking set of headers and muffflers I don't believe you will be happy with bending them and it will proably take more force to do it than you would expect. And you don't have any guarante they will bend where and how you expect them to. Nice looking T by the way.
Thanks. I think I will take your advice and start by loosening up the trans mount and see how much I can jack it up. Like you said, 1/4 may help or at least cut down on the amount that needs to be bent.
This is what I would try,,,, With a floor jack,put enough tension as you dare rite where the muffler presses over the collector. Start the thing up & let it get as 'hot' as you dare for awhile. Let it completley cool off & let the jack down & see if it helped. I would even go so far as to getting a roll of aluminum foil,& making a big ball with it. Set the ball of foil on the floor jack pad so it makes its own 'saddle' when you jack it up so it does minimal damage to the bottom of the pipe & keep it from slipping when it gets hot... Wouldnt it be crazy if it worked?
this is my idea too. they just need alitte tweak. maybe while the pressure is on, take and give the tubes a few bumps with a block of wood and a hammer to help them stay where theyre needed.
I will give those a shot. Its still snowing up here so running the car might have to wait a bit. I like the idea of just running it and letting it settle itself over me cranking on the jack until it gives.
Then call me crazy, using most of this, things turned out great, and did not hurt the coating (at least that I can see) And since I know pics are required. (I know I know, I should have taken them outside.) Here is how much they moved, these were the support brackets I made that bolted to the bottom of the frame. They moved up about 3 inches. I originally tried doing this cold, as the weather up here was not cooperating, but they just moved right back down when I let the jack down. So today was a sunny balmy 7 degrees. Perfect for a wake up from the winter slumber. I warmed the car up, then of course had to take it for a quick spin. Got out the floor jack out and placed it right under the collector. Slowly raised the jack until the header was about an inch higher then what I wanted. Let it sit there for a minute with the engine still running. Lowered the jack and hot damn it worked. Now I just need to make new brackets to keep them from drooping again. Thanks for the tips.
COOL! This is what HAMB is all about! Centuries of Combined Experience, learned from how to / not to do things. I like the fact that no torches was involved messing up your coating! COOL T! Aloha Tommy
Guess you lucked into an average warmed pipe bend, much nicer than an unpredicted near the head flange bend Looks good!
That looks way better! FUEL ROADSTER that's brilliant. Never thought it would've worked. I learned something today! Ralph
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