Header Bolt Hell

[mplex2000]

If they would stop cheaping out and make the flanges out of 1/2" steel and tig weld, they wouldn't warp on us! Then again, who wants to pay what they'd charge for that!

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by TWOKEELYA

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. Didn't know there are so many options to try. Does it matter how wide the cut is? Also, do the flanges need any special tolerance between them?

No the cut relieves the stress between #1 and #3/5 and #7 on the driver side and #2 and #4/6 and #8 on the passenger side. As I mentioned in an earlier post there was (is?) a company that made headers without the metal flange between the cylinders. That must have driven the cost of manufacturing up. Just look at Mudder67 pics. He said he has cut a set and then had them coated. That is committment, so it must work.

[Mudder]

I just make a cut with a sawsall or hack saw blade. A person could get real creative with a grinder if he wanted and make a wider cut with rounded edges.

[TWOKEELYA]

Thanks Mudder, tomatocity and everyone else.

I'll be grinding away this weekend. I'll keep you all posted.

richard