lack of clearance between header and shackle

[cracker0169]

Does anyone else have this problem? On my 81 chasis, my passenger side header collector contacts my spring shackle. I replaced the factory weak ones with some from ORD in hopes that that would help my situation (plus the other added benefits) but it didnt. I ground the bolt off some for clearance but my collector ring is getting torn up ! I'm running a set of Flowtech headers made for these trucks. Anyone else with similiar problems or suggestions?!

[Blazin]

I had a truck years ago that had this problem. I heated the headers, and bent them over about a 1/2".

[dunedigger]

My buddy tried to order a set of dynomax headers from summit and they talked him into summit brand and they did the same thing.  I told him to send the headers back and he still hasn't got the truck done 10 years later and still hasn't fixed the problem.  I agree with blazin but everytime I get a torch near exhaust, that seems to be the first place it will rust out.  I'm not sure what else you would do. 

[VileZambonie]

Get a different set of headers.

[Blazin]

Round here as soon as you run the exhaust one winter, thats the first place they rust out. So I don't have to worry about heating one spot and having it be the only rusty area!!!!

[chubby07]

I had that problem with my 1980 and what I did was cut the header right on the flange and I slid the exhaust pipe right over my header and than you can A weld them or B clamp them just like you would a muffler which is what I did and it works great and no leaks also I tried several headers on my truck hooker dynoflow headman and two others and I found that the cheapy flowtech headers fit and looked the best. I bought the black ones which was the only ones they had so after I cut these and bent them very little so they would work with my angle plugged heads I sent them in to get ceramic coated. Not sure you want to do that much work or not, but mine turned out great.

[David Hall]

I run a set of Hedman headers (pn 69090 If I remember right) on my 85 C10 and they also rubbed on the lower shackle bolt on the right spring. I heated and dimpled the collector also. Not sure why so many different header manufactures have this problem. At first I thought it was the brand I bought, but it seems now it's not just Hedman.

[choptop]

Ran into the same problem trying to put Flowtech headers from a 4x4 into a 2wd. The headers are different for some reason. Hadnt seen the same issue with the Headmans. They are just routed different.I agree with Vile

Get a different set of headers.