This is funny...I was just gonna post my findings on this topic.

I just finished installing my SLPs today along with the Spohn SFCs and I had problems with the header fit, too. I chose not to dent my pipe, though. No way I was gonna do that after dropping all that cash on them and then get them coated by Jet Hot. I had 2 issues.

First, the header pipe hit the steering shaft. I chose to modify the steering shaft rather than dent the header pipe to get it to fit without rubbing. That was easy....gotta love an air grinder.

Second, I had to cut the exhaust pipe coming from the driver's side header and shorten it 1/2-3/4" because it overshot the header flange my that much. WTF??? All in all it was really no big deal, I guess nothing is "bolt-on" anymore.

Here's some pics of how I modded the steering shaft

 

Another, showing what I removed a bit clearer:

 

Here's a shot of it installed and the clearance I gained WITHOUT denting the pipe. Not to say anyone is wrong by doing that, but I thought this was a much better solution...cheaper to replace the shaft than that header:

 

I almost forgot.

(Excuse the post whoring here...)


I did have to slightly bend the brake lines coming off the bottom of the prop valve to keep them from rubbing on the headers. No biggie here either, just hard to get to.


Like I mentioned, I also had to cut and shorten the exhaust pipe that runs under the oil pan to get it to fit right. I can only recommend that if you have the time to do it, test fit these headers BEFORE you send them out to have them coated, etc. It would help I think.


Also, I had already installed new ES poly engine and tranny mounts before these headers went in, so apparently that makes no difference. I just think all of these cars are just a bit different and some guys have problems and some don't.


HTH guys. I also think SLP should get around to designing these for a better fit, but I think they are concentrating on their 4th gen stuff and put "us" on the back burner. But I AM happy with my headers.


Ed

 

Glad to hear you came up with another solution. How does the exhaust sound now? -89IRO

 

A bad pic of mine, dented:

 

Other than the primary hitting, mine fit perfectly. I guess I got lucky.

 

noone here has the headmen heeders? or is this the "buy the best hedder" post lol.. I have yet to put mine in but i hear good things so far and from what I know about headmen, slp makes the bast. so sorry to hear all your guys misshaps with one of the best companies out there

 

my eyes

 

I had the same problem.

 

I have new mounts and still had to dent mine slightly as well. I tried moving the column but it didnt help. Didnt want to push the column over to far and have to drive the car with the wheel off center. Its not like someones gonna walk up and say"wow look at that dent in your header." Its hardly noticeable.

Other than that im really happy with the build quality.

 

ebmiller88 nice job on the shaft grinding.. i was the opposite of you. i didnt want to dent my header at first but them again there was no way i was going to moddify the main steering shaft for the car. if that was to break / snap and no steering you would be in some deep crap.. so i dented my header tube and everything is well

anyway i havent actual tried to fit the y-yipe on yet because i am running open headers for a couple of days.. i am not surprised some more modded has to be done but thats the way the cookie crumbles

 

There's just something about messing around with steering and braking systems that I don't like. Upgrades are great, but otherwise I don't modify much. I've learned some easy lessons in the past that could have gone so wrong.

 

yeah very true, my grandfather has been into working on cars for over 40 years and when he says there is something i shouldnt do i tend to listen to him.. so we got out the hammer

 

I respect both your opinions on whether to grind or not to grind the steering shaft. However, my car is no race car and I really don't think that shaft takes enough abuse to compromise it that much. I only took off as much as I needed to, and it still has a cross sectional width of about 5/8", which is plenty. That is one stout shaft. Tie rods are about that thick and I'm sure they take more abouse than that piece and I don't hear of failing tie rods very often.


Ed

 

i also respect your opinion and i am going to say you are probably 100% correct that the shaft would not break.
i just took my grandfather opinion on this subject and dented the header.

 

I know that the shaft PROBABLY wouldn't break if I ground it, and I'm sure you'll be fine with it. And my car is just a daily driver - and given that fact, both my wife and daughter ride in it a lot. I'd just rather not have it in the back of my mind.

 

Just install a Corvette steer-by-wire system!



(sorry, weak attempt at humor)

 

I put new es polly engine mounts in today and it made no differance so i pulled out my hammer.

 

yup sorry dude, but thats the way the cookie crumbles! hey anyway at least you dont need to change the motor mounts again

 

The motor mount thing was just an excuse SLP came up with I'm sure. I have brand new mounts as well and the headers still hit the column and brake lines. I have a feeling SLP knows all about their inconsistencies though chooses not to acknowledge them. Its easier to blame it on something on your car than for them to replace a part with one that is built correctly or, in this case, "differently". All we can do is work with it. Thats the bottom line. If it weren't for fitment issues they would be excellent headers...

 

I have the hedmen shorties... went in with little trouble, the only things I dont like about them is the coating sucked, I re-painted them with eastwoods hi-temp exhasut manifold coating[1000 miles and still looking good] and I dotn like the way the air tubes hook up the line just comes straight up I would like them if they had a 90deg bend. But other than that I had no clearance problems or customizing of the tubes to get them to fit.