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I've got headers on my 360 FE and the triangular flange that attaches to the exhaust downstream is taking up too much room on the driver side (too close to the trans shift linkage). I'm wondering if anyone has ever cut that triangular flange off and instead used a sleeve clamp to attache the exhaust that heads to the back of the truck. Lots of cars I repair use these (volvo, dodge) ...
Anyone run into this problem and have a solution if the sleeve idea doesn't work?
If it's a corner with the bolt hole which is coming too close, you could grind the flange's welds off, and re-clock it flange, so that the side of it which sticks out less is facing the shift linkage.
That would probably be the most elegant solution. You could also try bending it - but you'd have to be very careful to not bend in the wrong place.
Yea I hear you on the re-clocking approach. I'm just concerned that in doing so the header is going to get messed up. I don't want to have to remove the header if possible and while solid I don't think it'd be a great candidate to try and weld a new flange onto... maybe someone else will have a silver bullet!
Sleeving it would be a good solution. If you have an exhaust pipe chain cutter that will fit in the area. Measure the OD of the collector to see what will fit and with a good sleeve clamp and exhaust sealer should work.
You could also cut, sleeve, and extend, the collector tube, so that the flange is farther back - if you're really wanting to use those flanges. I know that they can be prone to leaks.
I would muffler-clamp exhaust pipe to a collector tube if I had to, but it's not the most ideal solution, unless maybe if you use nice stainless steel standard band-clamps. I assume that the V-band clamps, the ones which semi trucks and turbo guys use, are the best.
Functionally, I'm betting that a clamped on exhaust pipe is going to go the distance, long after the standard header flange has blown its gasket.
Measure the collector OD after cut, then measure pipe OD, get steel adapter that increases from pipe to same as collector OD, weld or clamp that to the pipe, then use a SS strap type connector clamp.
These clamps do not permanently clamp unless you just leave them in place, they do not crimp the steel pipe or collector, no harm. They work if sized right too.
