[Roadsters] Aftermarket Header Install

[dave]

I got two from a vendor, a 2000 3 yrs ago using the flex pipe and a 1600
econo last month bolted straight to the exhaust with a couple cones..
Both fit great, no issues.  

Funny enough, I bought a set of Hooker headers for a Dodge truck years
ago, figured better to pay for the name brand.  Boy was I wrong.
Similar problem, the right headers flange was 20 plus degrees "up" from
vertical and not square to the frame.  Called Hooker, got a polite
"tough".  Had to make a question-mark shaped pipe to get it back on
track.

Sounds extreme, but if it's not coated, could you cut the flange off and
reweld it straight?  Might be easier than all the problems getting a
pipe on.

Dave Brisco
ECR.
-----Original Message-----
From: Daryl Smith [mailto:drlsmith at dccnet.com] 
 Have been working on installing the aftermarket header on my '66
roadster
today.
Took the previous 1 5/8"  4-2-1  header off because of a bad gasket leak
at #1
cylinder at the head.

Have to say the welds on the aftermarket header at the head flange look
great.
Nice and smooth, everything lines up well, bolts right on.
Get down to the collector tho, and everything goes haywire!
It seems to be about 3/4" to 1" too short, so that the flex pipe has to
be
bent upward to meet it.
Then the collector is angled towards the block and down by 15 to 20
degrees.
The flex pipe will be rubbing up against the tranny/flexplate.
I ground a bunch of welding "slag" from the inside of the collector to
free up
a bit of exhaust flow.
The pipes sit almost tight to the block/oilpan heating those parts and
the
gasket unnessecarily. There is room for it to be easily 1/2" away from
the
engine.

I don't know whether I got an especially bad example or not, but it's
easy to
see why these headers never got an endorsement from the roadster
community.

Now to be fair this header is probably 5 years old, but never installed.
I
don't know if all or any of these issues have been dealt with in any
updated
headers. But what a PITA to hook an exhaust pipe to!!

Anyone having similar problems?

Daryl