So Im fed up with my weakly sealing three bolt flanges on the collectors of my headers connecting to my y-pipe. So Im thinking about just cutting them off and getting a y-pipe to slip over the collectors and band clamping it. I know some LS1 headers work like that, if anyone has thought of this or tried please give me some heads up. Thanks in advance.

 

The Pacesetter headers work like that. I have had no leaks at all with my slip fit Pacesetter long tubes. I am using the 3" band clamps as well and have had no issues with them either. Frankly, I think it is a pretty good setup, the slip fit offers slightly better ground clearance over the flanged headers and the fact that everything is held together with band clamps makes future disassembly a breeze.

 

Are the flanges warped?
What gasket are you using?
Are you using stage 8 locking collector bolts?

Sealing the collectors is not brain surgery, why not address the real problem. I have three bolt flanges that are sealed tight using aluminum gaskets and stage 8 bolts. Slip fits are a bitch to get off when the time comes.

 

Torca clamps with torca slots just like factory. Three bolt flanges are only for cars with carburators and front drum brakes.

 

i have aluminum gaskets and neither flanges are warped. the only pita in using slip fits is if you use the u-bolt style exhaust clamps and not the band clamps.

 

Exactly why I don't use the u-clamps. The band clamps seal just as well and they don't badly distort the pipes in the process.