Bob,
When Ed Hamilton installed the header on his '80 1500 last summer, he
reported that he had to bring the header to a muffler shop and have the
bottom re-formed so that it sat 1 1/2 inches closer to the motor. Since
you have verified that both mating surfaces are flat, it would seem that is
your next step.
His post is copied below.
Atwell Haines
'79 Spitfire
+++ED'S MESSAGE++++
>Delivered-To: carbuff@nac.net
>Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 21:12:49 -0400
>From: Edward Hamilton <hamilton@ptd.net>
>Organization: WRI, Inc.
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; I)
>To: John Hartman <harts1@ibm.net>
>CC: spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
>Subject: Re: Header installation
>Sender: owner-spitfires@autox.team.net
>Reply-To: Edward Hamilton <hamilton@ptd.net>
>
>I forgot -- you want to have the bend occur about 1/2 way down the
>vertical axis of the pipes. The only concern being the clearance at the
>lip of the oil pan. It doesn't take much to cause an 1-1/2" of movement
>at the lower end. It will then fit properly -- with no rattles.
>
>John,
>I recently installed a PaceSetter brand header on my '80 Spitfire. Out
>of the box, it wasn't even close to fitting properly. First, I fooled
>around with bending the lower lip on the chassis (downward) to gain the
>necessary
>clearance. You may also have to cut the end of the bolt that protrudes
>from the lower "A" frame. Slacken the engine mounts and jack the engine
>up. It is a tight fit, but it will go in. Then, proud as can be, I
>realized the
>end of the header to be too close to the frame and wouldn't allow the
>three bolt flange of the exhaust pipe to bolt up to the header. So,
>save yourself a day and a half and do this: lay the header flange (that
>bolts to the
>head) on a flat surface and measure the distance to the inside edge of
>the collector pipe. Take it to a shop and explain that (when the header
>is flush with the head) you want the pipes bent an amount to cause the
>collector
>to move inward 1-1/2". Actually, I had mine done 3/4" and ended with a
>rattle against the frame at idle -- on a 1980, 1-1/2" would have been
>perfect.
>
>Regards,
>Ed Hamilton
>
At 08:41 PM 10/25/98 -0800, Bob Sykes wrote:
>Worldly Scions,
>
>I have recently installed a new quick-trip header and I'm
>unable to stop it leaking. Initially it was leaking at the
>top of all four exhaust ports at the cylinder head.
>I removed and re-installed it, this time tightening the top
>nuts first. This helped reduce leakage some, but now the
>header is banging on the car frame and it's still leaking a
>little around #4. All of the mating flanges are flat and
>I've tried (2) new gaskets.
>
>I'm beginning to think that the motor may not be sitting
>in perfect alignment. The motor-mounts are relatively new.
>I replaced them while trying to fix a similar problem with
>a different header. This one did not leak but hit the
>frame also. (Which is why I replaced it). This is getting
>frustrating.
>
>Has anyone solved a similar problem?
>
>AdTHANKSvance,
>Bob
>
>
>--
>Bob Sykes
>
>"Alchohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive."
>
>
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