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Engine basics => Engine set up tips => Topic started by: Steve Fitton on December 13, 2011, 10:57:08 PM
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Whats a good way to bend a header without mangulating it?
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Whats a good way to bend a header without mangulating it?
Put a close-fitting dowel rod in the end, screw the other end to a solid metal object, and put some elbow grease into it. Then go back and re-lap the facing surfaces.
The Johnson headers are made of very soft material and will bend easily. The MACs are a lot tougher.
Brett
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Thanks for the tip. This is a macs header and was quite a battle to get it (hopefully) right.
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I spent 30 years of my life bending pipe & tubing. I useally screw up my headers if I try to bend them. Some one suggested filling te pipe with sand & tapeing off both ends before bending .My bigest problem is locating a 1/2" tight radius bender .
Good luck, John
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Hi John,
I have a really top drawer EMT 1/2" bender from over 50 years ago, I guess.
Steve,
The first one I bent I just took my time and used my hands.
BIG Bear
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It is an aggravation that RE mufflers are either too long or not angled enough to clear the wing in a inverted-mounting! I'm forced into a minimum distance twixt engine and wing L.E. Kind of restricts what I can design. I'm considering putting in a whopping bend! At this point, I don't care if it ends up ugly.
Floyd
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Re-bending is a pain if the metal has been work hardened by the original bending and really needs an Oxy torch to soften it first.
But if a header is 99% ok fit, then perhaps a saw cut at that offending angle and the inclusion of some silicon tubing to rejoin the cut ends will work well enough for you.
If you are in need of a greater angle for the entire header pipe then may I suggest cutting off the header pipe from the flange, grinding a new angle and then welding the two back together again?
Or if that sounds beyond you then perhaps either the grinding an angle on the mounting flange's face itself will give enough of a difference to get you out of trouble or the inclusion of a thick wedged metal gasket (if mangulating is to be avoided at all costs) will give enough of a difference to get you out of trouble.
Good luck.