Phoenix8990

I ordered these headers and one came dented. They are will in tale them back or give me a significant discount. Its in an easy spot to get to but SS is pretty stiff. I'm wondering if anyone has been able to get dents out? Would heating it be recommended? I could make a piece to insert and hammer on but figured I'd ask first.
thanks,
Steve

Jeff Stout

Heating for sure and a large trailer hitch ball with a handle attached to it would make it look a lot better. Stainless will discolor with heat.

olds 307 and 403

Heating and an exhaust pipe expander should work. I assume these are the cheap Chinese stainless headers? If so, go for it.

69455

Drivers side ?
Sometimes the are dented to clear 4 speed clutch pedal linkage from manufacture ?
Should not hurt performance.

Loaded68W34

Cut it just before the dent and use slip on style clamps. They will look better, seal better and give you more clearance than the 3 bolt flange. Obviously do it to both headers if you go this route.

droldsmorland

Honestly take the money back from the supplier, hammer the dent out WITH GOOD SUPPORT and a wood dowel, and don't worry about it. Enjoy your discount buy beer/bourbon.
IMO, don't heat it and beat it. It will blue the chrome and induce rust.

If you are worried about restrictions don't. The engine will never see it.

You will scuff the dam things the first 10' out of the driveway anyway.

green1972

take it to a muffler shop that makes exhaust, their hydraulic pipe expander should get that out quickly,, Tim

gs72

That is a great idea with the band clamps. I work on heavy duty trucks and they use those style clamps all over the exhaust and they last 3 to 4 hundred K miles with no leaks.

Fun71

Well that made me laugh as it brought back so many memories of scraping headers.

I think the first pair was flat on the bottom in the first 6 months.

And then going airborne over the railroad tracks at 45 MPH with 7 people in the Cutlass and seeing sparks flying everywhere.

Historically, my headers looked good for about a day, then things went downhill from there, for various reasons that we don’t really need to explore at this point in time. Oh dang, maybe too late for that.

Funkwagon455

Best option in my opinion

wr1970

I agree ! In reality it doesn't effect the engine or flow just the way it is with the dent. So by fixing it is just cosmetic.

32redman

I bought the same headers. Same dent on the drivers side. After the discount I think I have $70 in them.

I tried to get the dent out with heat and a round wooden plug did ok but after all the frustration I left it alone.

Like others said won't affect the exhaust flow and you won't see it anyway.