Now what... (Header interfering with front shackle)

[garydan]

Well I just got my 6" TC Springs up front. I put them in to test fitment and my longtube headers are in the way. How would you resolve this situation? I guess the easy way (though not the cheapest) would be to just get a new set of ceramic coated shorties. Any suggestions other than that?

 

[GMC Truck]

It will take you and a buddy but heres how I fixed a friends that did the same thing. Get your buddy under the truck with a wide flat prybar (we used a tire spoon) and while hes putting pressure on the collector (not trying to cave it in) you heat the header tubes with a torch RED hot right at the bends. Take out your plugs and pull back your wires. You have to work fast to heat all the tubes but this does work. If you had nicer (coated) headers I would not try this.

 

[badmix]

Yip, just Pry em outa the way, they actually "bend" easily

 

[Cornfield creations]

Well the shackle will go back when weight is put on it, so that may help some. I have heard of others start up the truck and wait till the headers are hot and using a piece of wood pry the collector over, or wedge it in there to hold it over.

 

[tRustyK5]

You can bend those headers cold...

Rene

 

[wayne]

This is from a thread about Hedman Headers that clear the shackle.


The guy at Hedman informed me that they hit the shackle and that they have a set specifically to avoid that. part# 69230. They are made for lifted 4wd's. they are also available coated part#69236 and in a heavy duty version. the tubes are thicker, the flange is thicker and the collector, and they are coated. part#69830. If you go the Hedman site they have pictures of every header they make. it's very helpful.

 

[garydan]

I'm just worried about stripping out the bolt holes in the block. Should I be concerned with that?

 

[dremu]

I've heard tell that a come-a-long is the simple fix ... yank the thing over 1/4" or whatever to clear the shackle and a smidge more, leave it sit over night, and it'll settle somewhere in the middle.

-- A

 

[Adventurous 4x4]

I'm just worried about stripping out the bolt holes in the block. Should I be concerned with that?

Unless they are already messed up then it shouldn't be a problem. I run the Hedmans and they clear fine.

 

[garydan]

These are Hedmans

 

[Adventurous 4x4]

 

[fulltilt]

well i had the same problem with a set of headers that i bought but what i did was cut the tubes at the flange and then bolt the flange back the the head, and then stick the tubes back in the head and tilt the tubes till everything cleared, and then welded them up