My 1972 Cutlass currently has a leak at the flange where the system meets the exhaust manifold. We have tried a few things to fix it but nothing has solved the problem completely and talking with a shop around here, they want about $120 to fix the leak. A friend suggested that maybe that money could be spent on a set of new headers.

I have looked around, and am considering the Flowtech ceramic coated SBO headers (part # 31150). I have a few questions to ask those who have used these headers before.

-How is the fit of these headers? How much "massaging" is required to install them? (my car has a mini-starter)

-Does the ceramic coating last?

-How low do they sit? Would there be any issues if I lower my car 1-2"? (It is something I am considering in the future)

Any other information would also be appreciated.

 

These headers maybe better for the height

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/Sand...n-Cutlass.html

 

If I was going to lower my car it would be with air ride.
Headers fit A bodies nicely,but lowering reduces the air flow underneath the vehicle.
Plenty of heat soak problems around without reducing the airflow under and around the vehicle.
By running air ride,you can adjust the ride height as required.
I myself prefer to have my vehicle have more ride height than less.

 

why not just cut the junk flange off and buy new header collectors from summit for like 30 bucks and have a friend weld em in or band clamp em in. or buy those header buddy flanges from summit the ball style ones those can be welded in too and no gaskets needed. I run a really old set of black jack headers with really thick flanges i have never had an issue., But i have done alot of exhaust work and band clamps are pretty sweet when money allows.

 

On a stock height Cutlass, how much clearance would there be under the headers?

 

Paul, I had headers on one of my 72's. Curtis has them on his 70. I don't remember the exact amount of clearance, but it's prolly around 8". I ditched mine because I was always bottoming out on back roads and winter driving.

BTW I have a new set of flow techs c/w goodie bag and install instructions if you want new ones. They are the painted ones, not ceramic coated. I've heard that ceramic coating can be fused to the inside of the headers to diffuse the heat even faster. Don't know what it costs to do that though.

 

I have never bottomed out mine . Even on speed bumps.

 

I was careful on speed bumps too. Where mine would bottom out was on the back roads (aka dirt/gravel crap road) and you hit that 'hoop de doo'. Winter up here they don't plow the roads till they get forced to. That means ruts that are around 7" deep. Course, I also bottomed out in winter with just stock exhausts. Just the nature of our road mtce (or lack of mtce) program up here.

 

I have the Flowtechs on my SBO. While they rubbed on one motor mount I bought a new set from NAPA and viola.....no rubbing. If you check my album or this pic


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-ctc-2011.html

you can see they do not hang as low as some people would have you think. I have not scraped mine yet! I would definetly purchase them again.

 

I checked out your album, but there's no shot that shows how low the headers are under the car. The side profile shot won't show the clearance because the wheels are in the way. Can you measure the distance from the bottom of the lowest point of the headers to the ground? I bet it will be around 8"

 

Right at 9 3/4.....If you look right in back of the wheel, directly under the Cutlass symbol....that flash of silver is the header.

 

Got it. So what is the clearance from the bottom of the header to the ground? Can you post a shot from head on ground level that shows the header drop and clearance?