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View Full Version : Exhaust clearence

DRJDVM's '69
07-31-2010, 10:07 PM
I went back and forth on long tubes vs shorties and decided to try the longtubes.....the shorties were almost as much $$ and only came in 1 5/8.....

I bought some TTI headers for the Cuda.......which I cant return since I bought them uncoated...... and my concerns held true. Since we channeled the k-frame......which moved the motor up about 1.5 inches..... the collector flanges hit the floor. This is why I had considered the shorties :)

Since I cant return them anyway, I cut off the collector flange. With no collector flange the collectors get as close as 1/4 inch to the floor. So....looks like I'll have to cut some more floor....oh joy, more work..... make one change and it snowballs......

So....when I make the plan for the floor....how much space should I try and get between the floor and collector? I dont want to raise the floor alot and destroy my leg room, but I also dont want to cook the floor either....so I'm looking for some "try and get at least" ideas.....

The headers will be coated and I can alway wrap some areas too....
GregWeld
08-01-2010, 06:40 AM
You must be exhausted....
speedjohnston
08-01-2010, 07:45 AM
You could taper your collector right away into an oval pipe so you would have a minimal amount of floor mod to do? Spin tech makes all kinds of transition pipes. It also keeps more ground clearance if the car sits low.
DRJDVM's '69
08-01-2010, 10:12 AM
Greg made a funny.....

Heres what I got....
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee264/DRJDVM95/IMG_5466.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee264/DRJDVM95/IMG_5465.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee264/DRJDVM95/IMG_5471.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee264/DRJDVM95/IMG_5464.jpg

Its closer than the pix make it look....probably 1/4 inch...in some places not enough to get my finger between the collector and floor
rwhite692
08-02-2010, 06:28 PM
Ned I would try to get about 1" of clearance...any closer than that you are probably into carpet-melting territory (just my opinion based on past experience...YMMV)

For added safety margin you could install a piece of radiant heat shield (the aluminum dimpled type, mounted on small standoffs) or, a material such as this:

http://www.heatshieldproducts.com/inferno_heat_shield.php
GregWeld
08-02-2010, 06:43 PM
If I was as smart as Ned -- I'd just put some dumps straight off the header and forget about all that weight and heat from that stupid exhaust stuff. It's California DUDE... anything goes!
:rofl:
Vegas69
08-02-2010, 09:32 PM
What about lenghtening each header tube. That or scrap them and buy shorties...:unibrow:
71RS/SS396
08-03-2010, 06:09 AM
What about lenghtening each header tube. That or scrap them and buy shorties...:unibrow:

X2 That's what I was thinking. Seems like a lot less work imho.
clill
08-03-2010, 07:05 AM
Heat them with a rosebud torch tip and bend them down to where you have enough room. A pipe shoved in the end would give you the leverage you need.
DRJDVM's '69
08-03-2010, 10:49 AM
Charlie
I'm not quite sure on where the best place to actuallly heat them would be....plus I dont have a torch :)

When I priced out the shorty vs LT, the prices were almost the same. Remember guys this is a Mopar....there arent 10 diff companies making headers for these cars. There are ones being made for the new challenger, magnum etc, but no idea on if/how they will fit. On some of the pix I found online, the tubes looked like they would hit motor mounts etc etc...but no way to tell until they showed up.

I cant return the LT's (even before I cut them.....since I got them uncoated the company wont take them back)....shorties are gonna run me another $600....or I can spend a day or two cutting some of my floor.....

Took a chance and rolled the dice on the LT's....... didnt work out as well as hoped, but I'm at where I'm at.....
speedjohnston
08-03-2010, 11:58 AM
I still think the oval pipe transition will save you a ton of work and you don't compromise any tube size.
DRJDVM's '69
08-03-2010, 02:14 PM
The oval pipe will help AFTER the collector, but the clearence issue AT the collector will stiff be there... that the part I'm concerned about

I also thought of doing the exhaust "band clamp" style connection at the header rather than the big "triangular" flange...much lower profile, but not sure how well it would seal
The WidowMaker
08-03-2010, 03:13 PM
a vband will seal better than a 3 bolt. problem is they are damn expensive! ive got some tight spots on my exhaust as well, so im interested to hear some more opinions.
GregWeld
08-04-2010, 06:19 AM
I'd just have a complete custom set of headers built....

There's this guy up in the Vancouver, WA area that is 'ok' talent wise...

:rofl:
GregWeld
08-04-2010, 06:27 AM
Here's a set from Stan's Headers (Auburn, WA) for the 5.7 hemi (assume they're the same? flange as the 6.1)

http://www.stans-headers.com/Photos/357.jpg
clill
08-04-2010, 06:33 AM
Talk to a good muffler shop and take pictures with you to show them what you want. They should be able to heat the tubes till red hot and gently bend it down. They would be heating the whole bend area.
GregWeld
08-04-2010, 06:35 AM
I can't see pictures of his 6.1 hemi headers that are built for the 300C (SRT8) but I can tell you this about these guys.

I cut and mocked up a couple of tubes for a special set of headers in a car I was doing. Took the header down and showed it to Stan... I wanted him to mandrel bend the two tubes for me and he says "just a minute". He goes back into the shop and comes out with a header that is one of their mock up sets.. and says - try this. It fit perfectly. Turns out it was the mock up for the Art Morrison 62 Corvette/Morrison chassis... which is now a stock part number.

The amazing part was that this guy could look at a pile of spaghetti and recognize a similar pile that would work. :woot:
GregWeld
08-04-2010, 06:36 AM
Talk to a good muffler shop and take pictures with you to show them what you want. They should be able to heat the tubes till red hot and gently bend it down. They would be heating the whole bend area.

Charley --

Is my coffee ready?
:D
96z28ss
08-04-2010, 10:32 AM
I ran into issues with my exhaust kit and Long tube headers that I bought.
I spent alot of money on the LT headers and exhaust kit. This kit was supposed to fit and bolt in. Now, knowing what I have learned. It would have been cheaper for me to pay Tim to build everything from scratch.
We had to modify everything from Headers all the way back.

I got 2 brand new stainless mufflers, I can give you a good deal on.