Moparts
tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler
Posted By: hyefatman
tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 01:52 AM
1970 e body challenger 426 hemi stock with power
Steering --- headers installed with motor ...now trying to install steering column ... and headers hit steering coupler when turning ?? any help
1970 clone hemi convertible with ps and pb
Posted By: moparpollack
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:07 AM
Posted By: dart4forte
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:29 AM
That's one of the things that TTI fails to tell you. Are your motor mounts old? If so the engine is sitting lower than if you had fresh mounts. Quick fix, change the mounts and get a u joint from Flaming River.
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:48 AM
Sometimes you have no choice but to use the Borsen joint, which is actually better than the stock knuckle,...if a stock look is what your after, then your going to have to play with the motor mounts, some shimming might help, loosen the box to see if you can "move" it some, or break out the dremel, and elongate the holes to move the box over, or remove and "dimple" the header tube, I've used a peice of oak dowel to place on the offending tube, then hammered the oak, puts a nice "dimple" in the tube without busting up the coating, do this with the header removed and supported
Posted By: DAYCLONA
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:53 AM
What motor mounts are you using?
Posted By: metalgod
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 03:04 AM
i put ttis on my hemi cuda they fell into place but box was in car then motor went in then tubes no dimples no hammering
Posted By: hyefatman
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 03:06 AM
should be all stock motor mounts
all new stuff with newcoms hemi k frame
i was told i would have ZERO clearance issues
can not wait to call TTI on monday
do you know what part # i need to buy-
do i just get rid of the stock steering
coupler and go with after market
it also looks like the header is just touching the
steering box --do i take a hammer to it
Posted By: JDMopar
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 03:17 AM
If Newcombs k frame isn't any better than the kickdown linkage I got from him, that may be where the problem is. I'd shim the motor mount before I went to beating on the headers. You might get a fraction of an inch by loosening the steering column bolts at the firewall, and moving it as far towards the left as possible. The Flaming River coupler is a nice piece, if you end up needing it. Good luck
Posted By: bobbyb
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 03:35 AM
Flaming River has a coupling that I used. Its not as big as the stock piece and will fit manual or power steering. It worked for me, but my set up is a little different than yours. I have: 73 Challenger, stock k-frame (318 car), 426 hemi crate motor, manual steering, schumacher motor mounts, and TTI headers.
Posted By: hyefatman
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 03:42 AM
i still do not understand how tti can sell a perfect
fit product and it does not work - based on the picture and replys it seems a lot of people have the same problems -
Posted By: Paul_Fancsali
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 05:18 AM
I'm still recovering from installing headers on my Plymouth. I have to have15 hours in doing them outside on the ground.I had to heat and bend them toget the bolt flanges to line up Impossible to get a bolt on the 7 cylinder, A set of headerson my A body was the same way but only took 8 hours on the ground.According to the instructions this is not needed RIGHT!!!!
Posted By: CokeBottleKid
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 11:00 AM
Quote:
i still do not understand how tti can sell a perfect
fit product and it does not work - based on the picture and replys it seems a lot of people have the same problems -
Probably cuz they're not using stock pieces, just like your K-frame.
Posted By: 340duster340
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 01:22 PM
if you are using the pad style motor mounts you can shim the mount. schumacher headers actually come with them, maybe they can sell you just the shims.
Posted By: dennismopar73
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 01:34 PM
what i have seen is that we used spacers on the inside of gear box to frame bolts
to offset it for clearance
then losen the bolts on the colum inside
and slide it over ever so much
this will work!
do you see it?no feel it?
no!!
just a thought (cheap fix)
Posted By: Mr T2U
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:14 PM
Quote:
what i have seen is that we used spacers on the inside of gear box to frame bolts
to offset it for clearance
then losen the bolts on the colum inside
and slide it over ever so much
this will work!
do you see it?no feel it?
no!!
just a thought (cheap fix)
i had to do that, shim the gear box back, to get my 2 1/4" big tube TTI headers to my power steering box. i have schumacher mounts on a stock 400 K member. 72 B body, stage 5 hemi heads, 572 hemi.
i also had clearance problems with the hemi power brake booster hitting the cast valve covers under harder acceleration. so i shimmed the K member down 1/4".
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:26 PM
Quote:
Quote:
i still do not understand how tti can sell a perfect
fit product and it does not work - based on the picture and replys it seems a lot of people have the same problems -
Probably cuz they're not using stock pieces, just like your K-frame.
Don't blame TTI, things have to be moved around to make big tube headers fit. Your car is not stock.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:26 PM
Quote:
i still do not understand how tti can sell a perfect
fit product and it does not work - based on the picture and replys it seems a lot of people have the same problems -
In a perfect world they would drop in as claimed , but this isn't a perfect world , I'll use the excuse a certian company used about their NO HACK install .... PRODUCTION TOLERANCES ... plus you have a REPOP K frame . I'll bet TTi blames it on the K ...
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 02:29 PM
Quote:
if you are using the pad style motor mounts you can shim the mount. schumacher headers actually come with them, maybe they can sell you just the shims.
Yes they sell the shims separately , I bought a set a couple years ago to make up the difference for what they were selling as a factory big block A body replacement mount that was thinner than the stock mount .
Posted By: babarracuda
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 05:16 PM
They sell headers that fit all the perfectly stock spec frames. As you know, all cars do not fit stock specs exactly. My car is an A body and I have had 1 5/8 and 1 3/4" headers for SB heads and 1 3/4" for W2 heads. Mine fit as spec'd. The problem is "Is the frame and mounts EXACTLY as speced?" A frame shop can tell you. My cousin worked in a body shop as a mechanic. Most cars do not match factory specs. Even the ones that had not been in an accident.
Posted By: dart4forte
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/06/09 05:43 PM
Quote:
That's one of the things that TTI fails to tell you. Are your motor mounts old? If so the engine is sitting lower than if you had fresh mounts. Quick fix, change the mounts and get a u joint from Flaming River.
i'd also like to add that if you end up using the Flaming River joint you may have to maching it down a bit. if you think you are having problems try putting the TTI's in an early a-body.
Posted By: hyefatman
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 12:38 AM
thanks for the help - i add 2 1/8 shims to the
2 bolts closest to the motor 4shims total - that moved the steering box away from the headers and toward the fender -- almost a 1/4 of a inch move -- just hope its safe because if the shims come off i will be in a world of hate ---
now on a personal note
i have worked on my mopars for 30 years now i am 45 years old started with a 1970 sublime barracuda grand coupe and 1968 dodge charger
when i was a kid i saved my money up for a set of hooker headers- almost 100 bucks which was a ton of $$$ ...those headers gave me so my problems i dont have enough space or time to write it all down- but people my age know what i am talking about...now today i am a adult and will NOT stand
for a company to out right lie to me.. TTI tech and the dealer knew i did not have a stock kframe
and knew i had power steering--they both said no
modification needed PERIOD... as far as i can tell the web site says nothing about replacing
the steering coupler or shimming the unit -- if
this is a fix why not explain this to the customer ---why do i have to come to moparts for tech support - well thanks love moparts.com
Posted By: JonC
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 12:58 AM
Mine is a SB but what TTI said in their instructions was to have the engine position in the specifications that they sent. I did that by shimming and repositioning the engine, and mine fit fine.
Posted By: JDMopar
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 01:19 AM
I just thought of something
If Hemispherical Reproductions made your K frame out of a B-body core, your steering box sits at the wrong angle. B & E body k frames will physically bolt into either car and work with everything bone stock. But throw something like headers that might have a very close tolerance into the mix, and it could possibly cause the problems you are experiencing. In a B-body, the steering box points upwards to the rear at a greater angle than does an E-body steering box. I know it may sound like I'm taking up for TTI,which I'm not...I just wanted to give you more info that I thought of.
Oh, and I'm 52...and know EXACTLY what you mean about headers back in the day!
Good luck
Posted By: hyefatman
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 01:35 AM
"If Hemispherical Reproductions made your K frame out of a B-body core".... that a interesting point..
i went with newcoms because i had a stock b body hemi k frame that i took out of the a ebody hemi clone car and bought what i thought was a ebody unit from newcoms i did not want any problems with the application that why i know TTI knew about my kframe .. it took 6 months to get that k frame from that company
Posted By: Lefty
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 04:30 AM
Quote:
it also looks like the header is just touching the
steering box --do i take a hammer to it
I would try and shift the engine 1st. Headers are always a pain, but worth the effort imo. I had to use a Dremel tool and grind some casting numbers off the side of my PS box to get my Doug's to fit rather than dent the head pipes. You need very little clearance on the drivers side because the engine torques away from everything. 
Posted By: G-Money1320
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 05:33 AM
I put the TTI's on my 69 Dart with a 340 and had some minor clearance issues, so I made some 3/8 or 1/4 spacers (cant remember right off) to raise the motor up a little and that worked fine. You cant see them so it looks stock. Also I was told by a TTI rep. that not all stock K-frames are welded exactly the same so there might be some minor issues there also. Good luck!!
Posted By: 1Fast340
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 09:22 AM
i bet its just all the tolerances stacking up, these cars where not made perfect in the first place and i gues it only gets worse after 30+ years of abuse..
and trust me stock replacement enginemounts are nowhere near perfect, i had a slight clearence problem with my tti headers also but on a smallblock abody when i put in new engine mounts and gues what, i put in my old original mounts and it made a whole world of diference...
Posted By: ThermoQuad
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 11:40 AM
I just went thru a wresting match with TTI's on a 440 in a 70 Charger. The car has been hit in the front in it's previous life as indicated by the wrinkles in the inner fenders back by the hood hinges. Eventually I got things to fit. The right side engine mount has a 1/8 shim under it & it now has a stock trans mount...
Try this: Remove the thru-bolts for the engine mounts and carefully jack up the engine on each side and set it back into the k frame. After a lot of head scratching I tried it and it helped.
Be sure if you have an aftermarket trans mount that it is not taller than the stock one.
Posted By: cjs69mope
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 02:43 PM
ARE YOU USEING THE THE STOCK THROUGH BOLT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ?
If you want try this remove the drivers mount and buy a set of steel $14.00 mounts and install only the drivers side with a hardware store grade 5 though (long ) bolt in 5/8 inch size , this will cause the motor to be slightly higher on the drivers side and very strong also we have been running a 440 4speed b-body like this for years and also a 426 aluminum block hemi in a 71 challenger like this also no problems .
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 02:49 PM
Quote:
ARE YOU USEING THE THE STOCK THROUGH BOLT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ?
If you want try this remove the drivers mount and buy a set of steel $14.00 mounts and install only the drivers side with a hardware store grade 5 though (long ) bolt in 5/8 inch size , this will cause the motor to be slightly higher on the drivers side and very strong also we have been running a 440 4speed b-body like this for years and also a 426 aluminum block hemi in a 71 challenger like this also no problems .
Do they make a solid mount for the HEMI sytle mounts ?
Posted By: DennisH
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 02:54 PM
OK. It's Monday. What does TTI say?
E-Body guys maybe should go to E-Body exclusive sites for advice. Seem to have more problems than B or others here. My B TTI's are fine. I'm just saying...
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 03:01 PM
Quote:
OK. It's Monday. What does TTI say?
E-Body guys maybe should go to E-Body exclusive sites for advice. Seem to have more problems than B or others here. My B TTI's are fine. I'm just saying...
Is TTi even open yet? It's only 7 am on the LEFT COAST ...
I know EXACTLY what they are going to say ...
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 03:08 PM
Quote:
Quote:
OK. It's Monday. What does TTI say?
E-Body guys maybe should go to E-Body exclusive sites for advice. Seem to have more problems than B or others here. My B TTI's are fine. I'm just saying...
Is TTi even open yet? It's only 7 am on the LEFT COAST ...
I know EXACTLY what they are going to say ...
Me too.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 04:18 PM
blah blah blah, for what they charge they should install themselves. for some they work great and for others not so much. The fact that the car or engine has dropped 1/32 of an inch shouldn't effect fit. I know 2 guys that bought complete kits that had huge fit issues. Jeesh I'd expect it form a $230 kit but not a $1000+ kit.
Good luck, I hope they don't recommend swapping mounts, changing column and so on.
Posted By: DennisH
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 05:04 PM
Caveat Emptor. Don't like em? Don't buy em. Do your research.
Overpriced? Yes. Cool under the hood, 6 years no problems.
Posted By: DennisH
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 05:05 PM
It's after 9 on the whacky lefty Coast now.
Posted By: DCM71cuda
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/07/09 11:27 PM
Quote:
blah blah blah, for what they charge they should install themselves. for some they work great and for others not so much. The fact that the car or engine has dropped 1/32 of an inch shouldn't effect fit. I know 2 guys that bought complete kits that had huge fit issues. Jeesh I'd expect it form a $230 kit but not a $1000+ kit.
Good luck, I hope they don't recommend swapping mounts, changing column and so on.
If they don't make/design them for a 'stock' installation, what else would they have to base the design on?
If your engine is not in a stock location, and your engine components are not in a stock location, how can you possibly blame tti for that??
Because if they fit nicely in your 'non stock' location, then they probably would not fit anything else.
Posted By: hyefatman
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/08/09 01:34 AM
ok- called TTI and they said that some installs
have this problem - i can try to loosen trans mount
and try to move it toward the pass side- or i can shim the motor mount at the point where it connects to the motor or add a shim to the motor mount pad--- for some reason he did not recommend
Shimming the power steering box ...called Schumacher’s and he said i should add a 1/4 shim
to the motor mount but i think i would have to remove the 3 studs and find bigger ones - thats going to be killer - maybe i do a little of every
thing using 1-8 shims
Posted By: jbc426
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/08/09 02:59 AM
Quote:
ok- called TTI and they said that some installs
have this problem - i can try to loosen trans mount
and try to move it toward the pass side- or i can shim the motor mount at the point where it connects to the motor or add a shim to the motor mount pad--- for some reason he did not recommend
Shimming the power steering box ...called Schumacher’s and he said i should add a 1/4 shim
to the motor mount but i think i would have to remove the 3 studs and find bigger ones - thats going to be killer - maybe i do a little of every
thing using 1-8 shims
Where did your application's measurements fall with regards to the measurements provided by TTI for the crank centerline in relation to the K-frame. I didn't see that in the above posts.
I used a set of Mighty Mounts in my e-body(440 block) and I believe they lifted my moter upwards slightly as my shaker is up pretty tight to the hood. I only have 2" TTi's and an RB with regular port Indy 440 EZ's though.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/08/09 02:15 PM
Quote:
Quote:
blah blah blah, for what they charge they should install themselves. for some they work great and for others not so much. The fact that the car or engine has dropped 1/32 of an inch shouldn't effect fit. I know 2 guys that bought complete kits that had huge fit issues. Jeesh I'd expect it form a $230 kit but not a $1000+ kit.
Good luck, I hope they don't recommend swapping mounts, changing column and so on.
If they don't make/design them for a 'stock' installation, what else would they have to base the design on?
If your engine is not in a stock location, and your engine components are not in a stock location, how can you possibly blame tti for that??
Because if they fit nicely in your 'non stock' location, then they probably would not fit anything else.
I don't know but I've used cheap headers and mid price headers on many BB B-bodys and have never had to dimple, ding or bend them. None of them dragged or had extensive leaks as many claim on this site. The thing you have to do is TAKE your time, get the motor up, steering column out and most fit pretty easy. for somebody to charger $6-700 for a set of headers is crazy. The 72 340 swinger I had had a set on it. Nice yes, but after 3 years of driving they looked like any other header out there. I put a set of Summit headers on my bro's 318 67 sat in about 30 minutes. (mani's off, engine up and column in the car. The fact that a car..or the cars engine has dropped a tad should have that much of an impact on your headers. I'm guessing from the factory they had a + / - on engine height.
Posted By: Triggerfish
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/08/09 02:55 PM
Quote:
should be all stock motor mounts
all new stuff with newcoms hemi k frame
i was told i would have ZERO clearance issues
can not wait to call TTI on monday
do you know what part # i need to buy-
do i just get rid of the stock steering
coupler and go with after market
it also looks like the header is just touching the
steering box --do i take a hammer to it
I had the same problem w/ the TTI's in my Hemi Challenger. We moved the column over a little, & installed the Shumacher Poly Lock Mounts. One tube still hits the box, so I had Firm Feel make a stage 2 J Body box & file it down so it won't hit. The J Box doesn't have the dome that hits & if you take some pics of your fittment issues & email it to Firm Feel, (dennis@firmfeel.com),& they'll make one for you.
I'd suggest not going w/ stock motor mounts, as my Hemi's torque busted the new driver's stock mount on mine. Haven't installed the new box yet, but may dimple the tube anyway. Good luck.
Posted By: CYACOP
Re: tti exhaust headers do not fit !!!! hits cuupler - 12/08/09 06:16 PM
Quote:
Sometimes you have no choice but to use the Borsen joint, which is actually better than the stock knuckle,...if a stock look is what your after, then your going to have to play with the motor mounts, some shimming might help, loosen the box to see if you can "move" it some, or break out the dremel, and elongate the holes to move the box over, or remove and "dimple" the header tube, I've used a peice of oak dowel to place on the offending tube, then hammered the oak, puts a nice "dimple" in the tube without busting up the coating, do this with the header removed and supported
Where do you buy this Borsen Joint?
to make it work.