Repairing crushed header tube
#2718444
11/22/19 07:05 PM
11/22/19 07:05 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,379 Houston,Tx.
Lee446
OP
pro stock
|
OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,379
Houston,Tx.
|
Last month I went to Mississippi for " Cruisin the Coast" and brought my 70 hemi powered 'Cuda for driving the route. We got a hotel in Gulfport and had a pretty good time. The only problem we had was returning to our hotel the first night after dark and I did not notice that they use low,approx 6" high flat top concrete curb type dividers between opposing lanes on the main drag and I went to make a left into the parking lot and drug a header tube on each side bad enough that they were cupped and crushed halfway shut for about 7" long on the drivers side and about 6" long on the passenger side. These are 2-1/8 coated TTI headers and I was not a happy camper. The damage on both were where the tubes were horizontal and about a foot from the collector flange. Trying to figure out how to repair it, I came up with the idea cutting the ball off of an old 1-7/8" trailer ball and welding it onto a 24" piece of 5/8" solid round stock. We clamped the headers across the arms of my buddies fork lift, greased up the ball with axle grease inserted it into the tube and with the help of a 3 lb hammer started applying a bit of force. After working out 2" of dent, we would pull out and regrease the ball repeating until we got past the end of the crush. We were able to restore the tube to over 98% of its original inside diameter. Between the chrome plating on the ball and liberal amounts of grease, it never got stuck tight enough to require more than a bit of wiggling to remove it. Now I need to cover the damaged area as the coating was completely scraped off of the damaged area, I am thinking of trying some of the hi-heat ceramic paint that they have for brake calipers at the parts house. I just thought I would post this as it was an easy, low buck repair idea for anyone in the same position.
|
|
|
Re: Repairing crushed header tube
[Re: Lee446]
#2718445
11/22/19 07:23 PM
11/22/19 07:23 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,511 Omaha Ne
TJP
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,511
Omaha Ne
|
|
|
|
Re: Repairing crushed header tube
[Re: stumpy]
#2718459
11/22/19 08:38 PM
11/22/19 08:38 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,762 Eagle, Idaho
Neil
The Doctor is in.
|
The Doctor is in.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,762
Eagle, Idaho
|
People who do musical instrument repair work use balls of varying sizes and push them thru the dented area starting with small ones and working their way up to the final desired size. What you did is similar and glad you were able to make it work.
Last edited by Neil; 11/22/19 08:39 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Repairing crushed header tube
[Re: Neil]
#2718471
11/22/19 09:21 PM
11/22/19 09:21 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,943 ohio
ruderunner
master
|
master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,943
ohio
|
You just remandreled the pipes.
Angry white pureblood male
|
|
|
Re: Repairing crushed header tube
[Re: stumpy]
#2719748
11/27/19 02:19 PM
11/27/19 02:19 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,681 Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,681
Buford, GA
|
Adding heat to the pipes helps. Helped a friend on his many years ago. Used what looked like a steel race driver that was an almost perfect fit in an undamaged tube. Put it on the end of a 3' section of threaded rod, heated the tube, and tapped it in. Worked like a charm. Tim
'71 Charger 383/727 '17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car )
|
|
|
Re: Repairing crushed header tube
[Re: I_bleed_MOPAR]
#2720281
11/29/19 04:42 PM
11/29/19 04:42 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,592 Great Neck,LI,new york
hemi-itis
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,592
Great Neck,LI,new york
|
Mr thinks the OP was asking about covering the damaged surface, good high temp paint will work untill you recoat them. I recoated my headers after setting the engine back and rerouting 3 tubes.
HEMI-ITIS has no cure. My condition is fully BLOWN!!
|
|
|
|
|