Spark plug boot toching header

[Mrturner1]

The number 3 spark plug boot was a royal pain to get on, and it's touching the header. Is this gonna work

[drewbert41]

I bought Accel shorty plugs and boot heat shield sleeves cause I have same issue. Not sure if it is going to work or not. Have not installed yet but that was recommended to me. Still might have to carefully make a well placed ding we shall see.

[ptc]

MSD makes 45 degree boots. get some of them.

[Grumpy old man]

Just one more reason to run stock rams horn manifolds .They flow just as good as most headers without the headaches .

[snipescastle2]

A good set of wire separators will help, you don't want to run it like that, the wire will start to arc to ground.
Ben

[rcazwillis]

Looks like the bottom of the plug boot is hitting the tube from the front cylinder. If is touching, it will melt. You need to get some space on it. 45 degree boots won't change it. Shorty plugs might. Probably need to dent the header tube to clear the plug boot. A small dent will have a very very small affect on engine performance. It would probably take a good dyno to detect before and after power.

[saskman02]

Originally Posted by rcazwillis

Looks like the bottom of the plug boot is hitting the tube from the front cylinder. If is touching, it will melt. You need to get some space on it. 45 degree boots won't change it. Shorty plugs might. Probably need to dent the header tube to clear the plug boot. A small dent will have a very very small affect on engine performance. It would probably take a good dyno to detect before and after power.

Motor Trends Engine Masters actually recently did an episode where they disproved the myth that denting headers effects horsepower / torque. They literally demolished a set of headers and it had no effect...I was surprised at their findings. Here's a link to the YouTube video...

http://youtu.be/azPKIjxmmdU

[swamp rat]

I got rid of my headers just for this reason, had to run shorty plugs all the time, plus i had to run fiberglass heat sleeves too, made plug changes a pita, i had to make a special plug wrench just like a modified chainsaw plug wrench.

[jlsanborn]

I too saw the header dent episode. That was funny! Rams horns DO have an impact at higher flow rates as opposed to headers. I just watched a dyno comparison today and the motor went pretty flat after 5000 rpm. In the majority of applications you wouldn't notice and what percentage of the time are you running up past 5 grand? I'd start with the short plugs and see what you get. Champion RV92YC

[special-K]

I read the title to this thread and it looks like you left the "r" out.

I've never had a set of wires and headers that didn't work together. Stock manifolds don't flow as well as headers. That's why they make headers. Don't let people's opinions turn you away from what you want. You could always ding the tube. It will still flow better than stock

[67chevy_hotrod]

Dent the header or join team ramhorn! Shorty plugs and 45's couldn't cure my header clearance so had to wail my header! Wish I had ramhorns..

[Mrturner1]

Originally Posted by special-K

I read the title to this thread and it looks like you left the "r" out.

I've never had a set of wires and headers that didn't work together. Stock manifolds don't flow as well as headers. That's why they make headers. Don't let people's opinions turn you away from what you want. You could always ding the tube. It will still flow better than stock

Definetly NOT getting rid of the headers. I may try a short plug and a 45. If that doesn't work I'll get the ball ping hammer out!

[GRX]

Yeah. Ding that thing! Getting rid of headers which are already installed just for that would be silly.

[toolboxchev]

Ding!

That was interesting. You know what interesting really means?

[special-K]

Didn't you mean to say interesding?

[Willie Makeit]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Just one more reason to run stock rams horn manifolds .They flow just as good as most headers without the headaches .

care to support that statement with actual flow data?

[hamjet]

It won't be the first set of headers that were DINGED, From my intense reserch you will only loose 2/10ths of horsepower per 1/4 inch deep DING. hardly noticable in a 1/4 mile run...

[midniteblues]

sometimes its tough to get a good swing in a tight spot.

think of the shape of your ding you need and find something that is hard and shaped the same as the plug boot and wack on that.

this also helps if your headers are coated not to crack the coating off.

ball peen hammer will just make a small round dent. you might end up wacking it more than once too get clearance you need then your ding turns into a bunch of dents and looks terrible.

a nice shapely dent looks like a job well done. i had made a nice dolly kinda thing years ago just for this purpose.


yes yes i still play with dollies.....sometimes

[Mick Je]

What headers are those? I've noticed Headmans seem to always have trouble with boot clearance. I would first try the MSD 45 degree boot before wacking your headers. The stock exhaust manifolds aren't the solution they store unneeded heat and lack flow. If your going to change I would recommend trying different header brands (Sandersons, Doug Thorley, or Hooker) they are more than Headmans or exhaust manifolds but the quality is sooo much better! I have Thorleys on my motorhome and out of the vehicles I have with headers and exhaust, it sees the most abuse: towing, climbing grades all in 90 plus degree weather and those headers are 25 years old and 3 years ago they cracked and Thorley welded the cracks and jet coated them no charge!

Just my two cents, hope you solve your problem!

[drewbert41]

Mine are Summit full length but I am in same boat, same spot. People say Summit are usually just re boxed name brand so maybe we have the same thing.

I will try and remember to post pics once I get my new shorty plugs in.

[GASoline71]

I have Heddman Street Headers and the exact same MSD wire boots. They clear just fine on my SBC.

Clearing the frame and the front control arms was a different story... ball peen hammer time. I was thinking about new headers for my rig, but if I have to dent and ding a $600 dollar set of headers, I might as well just have these coated.

Gary

[toolboxchev]

Decisions, decisions, decisions.... I am sure Mr. Turner is a little disappointed at the moment.

I know I would be after spending the bucks-deluxe.

One thing is for sure, a small ding and bend in the metal is what these trucks are about.

They can take. Then dish it out. Hehehehheeeeheheheheeheeeee

[cleszkie]

Stock 2" ramhorns might not flow as good a set of headers. But the 2.5" center dump ramhorns that I run on my Blazer do pretty good on my built 400 SBC, don't leak, and provide easy access to the plugs. I also run a set of the stock stamped metal plug heat shields as added protection for the plug boots.

[Sicklajoie]

I have Hooker Super Comps.
I run an Accel shorty plug on #5 with header wrap around the tube also.
In order to remove a few of the plugs I have to use a an open end wrench and go underneath the truck.
They may look cool and they may flow better, but I'm not driving a dragster. If and when I have to do it all over again I'll definitely go with stock manifolds.