Has anybody else encountered this problem?

I'm in the middle of installing mac 1 5/8 shorty headers on my 1995 z28...

both headers went in well, and are now bolted right up to the head pretty tight. I went below the car to bolt up the y-pipe.. I bolted the passenger side flange up, and it fit perfectly.

but when I looked over to the driver's side flange, it wasn't fitting correctly at all - it was crooked on the balljoint, maybe about 15 degrees off (the flanges weren't parallel). It looks like if the driver's side header collector tilted a bit to the right (maybe 0.2-0.3 inches), it would fit perfectly...

has anybody had this problem? what can I do? I've had mac headers before on a previous car, I had a similar problem with the ypipe fit, and was plagued with exhaust leaks. I really don't want exhaust leaks, they suck ***...

help! Any input is welcome, and appreciated

thanks,

 

losen the header bolts so both headers move freely then slide the drivers side headers on the wiggle the other side on.

 

qwicktrip-

thanks! I thought about doing that but was worried that after the y-pipe was tightened, the flange on the headers won't seal/fit to the block correctly..

however, I have no real other options, so I will give that a try. thanks!

 

bolt the headers up first. absolutely DO NOT unbolt the headers to fit the y-pipe unless you want exhaust leaks. what probably happened was the y-pipe got dropped during shipment. just take it of and try to bend it back to where it should be.

 

it says right in the directions the leave header bolts loose. the put y-pipe on don't tighten y-pipe yet then go tighten header bolts then anfeter header bolts are tight then tighten y-pipe up the rest of the way. t i just did mine a week ago and no leaks at all. trust me do it this way.

 

well you sure dont want any tention on those headers that might cause you to strip out the solf aluminum heads.

 

I remember those days the first time I put that y-pipe on was a serious PITA. But follow the advice already given it will work. Whoever came up with the name "tru-fit" should be fired I had alot of probs on my 93 that I don't think most people do.

 

I had the same problem with my Hooker shorties. Do not loosen the headers and tighten it all together. You will have problems down the road if it even goes together at first. I had to cut my y pipe and attach each end at the header. Then they welded it back together with a sleeve at the muffler shop.

 

fired? more like dragged out into the street and shot!

Anyway, I was going to loosen the headers, then bolt up the ypipe, but I guess there's good reasons not to (don't want to strip the heads, don't want flanges not sealing to the head correctly)..

man, this sucks I appreciate the replies though, thanks

 

Geeze dude, sounds like you got kind of a bum set altogether, maybe they were made Christmas day or something

On one of my 2 sets of SLP header setups, the Y pipe was off by a bit, so getting both sides of the Y pipe on with the gaskets in place, was a real beach.

I'll be working on mine probably for the next two days or so, but if you need a hand let me know.

 

yo mudge,

yeah, mac headers seem to fit pretty crappily, contrary to their "truefit" claims.
but yeah, I'll give it another whirl tomorrow before class, and I have wednesday free.. I have to drive home to LA on friday, so hopefully I'll get it done before then.
thanks for all the help, too.

 

Well mudge whatever you did to the SLP's i got from you to make them fit, you did the right thing cause the y pipe fit on perfectly to them.

 

mudge here, is the master of taking cheap shortcuts and getting away with it.

 

Heh, I dont remember which set you got, its been so long Glad they worked for you at least, how is the #5 primary treating you? I didn't have much luck with them in that regard, used short Autolite 104s too.