Got my Pacesetter LT's slip fitted together last night (haven't clamped yet) and from what I can gather, the one on the driver's side is completely up against the floorboard under there (no clearance at all between the two). I'm wondering if this is normal and whether it will rattle if left like that.

Also, looking for other alternatives to using the clamps that came with the headers. I've read several posts about the lap-joint band clamps. I'd like to pick some up local for tomorrow if possible. Has anybody ever tried the ones from Napa?

Thanks in advance to either question!

 

You need to get new motor mounts....trust me, do it before everything is back together. If it's making contact with the floorboard, it will only get worse when the engine torques...it will rattle your teeth out!

Anyways, I've had decent luck with the NAPA band clamps, but it all depends on how well the pipes line up. Mine didn't line up too well so it always leaked a little...so I had 3-bolt flanges welded on.

 

I put some Pacesetter LTs in my TA over last winter and did not have any issue with them contacting the floorboards. There was a comfortable amount of clearance all over - at least a half inch or so. If yours are up against the floor boards I would certainly expect some rattling. I really can't think of anything that you could do to help with clearance. How much do you have on the passenger side? Do you have the header fully bolted to the manifold yet?

As far as the clamps, I used some lap-joint band clamps like you mentioned (from summit) because I did not want to bend / kink the pipes with the U-clamps that came with the headers. These clamps have worked great for me and I strongly them to anyone.

 

Just put some on mine and it was the only way to stop the leaking...this is the dynomax Pn from summit.WLK-33272

 

Putting new motor mounts in with the headers in is fine, it's just harder. I'm gonna look into that myself, as my Jet Hot LT's on the drivers side are hitting the floorboard.

 

Wouldn't new motor mounts make the issue with hitting the floor board worse? Figure old mounts are worn and let the engine sit a little lower, which causes the headers to hit the engine crossmember, new mounts will raise it up, causing the headers to move up closer to the floor pan.

I went with the band clamps from summit also. Napa ones were $20, summit was $9.