Header fitment rant, Doug's

Scamp Rohnda said
MOA, if you try to install the headers with the studs still in you might get as frustrated as me when I tried it. It looks like it should work but....

Some headers do. Agree, you just never know. We got the TTI shorties to hang on the studs; with engine in the car, and without lifting the engine. Didn't use them for other interference issues, but the studs didn't have to come off to check the fit. Even the 340 manifold can be tough to slip in over the studs. Once you figure out how to do it of course its a bit easier. Patience and bunch of trial and errors sometimes.

yellow rose said
This is why ALL headers should have SLIP ON collectors and be 4 pieces instead of one piece. It's stupid to do that.

The best headers go on hard and fit when they are on. Junk headers are the ones that fall right on, but you can't get to the spark plugs, the tubes are small and the routing of the tubes is just silly.

I've asked TTI why they don't make the headers with slip on collectors. They said I'm the only one that's ever asked. For a street car.

Production made headers are full of compromises - that's for sure!

You want slip on collectors? Multi-peice assemblies? pretty got to go semi-custom.
Only exception I can think of is the previous generation of Dougs for early-A with LA engines.
Mark Leshanko made some really nice looking 4 into 1s. Don't know if he's still in business.

He also was making some shorties - there's a FABO thread about it somewhere.

Headers by Ed did it a little differently. Worked great - but hang too low for most street use.
Could it be adapted for a higher ground clearance design? - absolutely.

72bluNblu said
I saw the pictures of the flange machining. I didn't see anything worth sending them back for. As in, nothing that would have been a problem when they were mounted on the engine. Maybe I missed something? The header you sent back looks better than either one of flanges on the TTI shorties I have. The Doug's have a much better sealing surface.

Agree. And best I can tell both companies, along many others, use a raised bead around the ports for sealing. This method requires a thick flange and a thick soft gasket.
I can't really blame them although I don't like it. It's no easy trick to machine the flanges flat and in plane with each other.
TTI

Headers by Ed