Stainless Works headers Pt 2

[Jeffvette]

Installing another set of headers on a 94, some of you know about the little project that has expoploded on every turn.... so this is going to be nothing new.


Driver side header, does not fit again! Pictures to follow up shortly.

[Jeffvette]

Pictures...

http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Customers/FA/IMG_1867a.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Customers/FA/IMG_1872a.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Customers/FA/IMG_1875a.JPG


http://www.pnwzr1.com/images/Customers/FA/IMG_1876a.JPG

[4DSZR1]

Holy smokes... thats not even close!

[32valvZ]

:jawdrop: Man, I musta got real lucky! Sorry youre having so many troubles Jeff.

[jonszr1]

am i seeing this right the bolt holes dont even line up. is the flange also warped ?

[Pete]

I guess quality control is going down the tubes,get it.:)

Wow Jeff that sucks bro, right now i'm glad i'm not in your shoes.
I'm sure SW will take care of it,i hope.
Send them a gasket.
Let us know how it turns out.

Pete

[tccrab]

Jeff:

Just so I'm clear, these are the same headers that this guy is selling?
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5931

The same guy that says, and I quote:
"THE BEST PART ABOUT THE SYSTEMS IS THAT THEY WILL ALL BE A BOLT ON ACCESSORY.

FITMENT WILL BE PERFECT AND NO TRIMMING OR TWEAKING WILL BE REQUIRED.

NO WELDING NOR MODDING WILL BE REQUIRED."

If I'm wrong, then I'll gladly delete this post.

TomC

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks Jeff, I'm really worried now. I had mine coat two years ago, direct shipment from SSW to JetHot and now finally going to install. I hope I don't have these problems.

[Jeffvette]

Flange is not warped, it's straight. The primary tube #1 is out of alignment, running into the steering rack..... again.

Pete, the last time I dealt with this is was 3.5 weeks until I had a replacement header in my hand. Hopefully it is less this time, as I'm tired of being hung up on cars. Especially this one.

Tom, the headers in that ad are going to be the new style. I've got another car that the owner wants a set of headers as well... I don't know what to tell him. I don't want a third set of headers and go through the same crap again.

Craig, I would never recommend getting anything coated before test fitting. Most dealers or manufacturers would never take a product back that has been painted or modified form the original form.

I sent Jim a SSW all the picks and a run down. I'll post the update in the morning.

[Aurora40]

I thought that's what high-temp RTV was for?

[8upZR1]

Just a thought, Why don't you hit the offending pipe with a torch and then massage it with a hammer? From the pics it seems that the solution is only a few good whacks away. + if the headers are quality SS, they should not split or get hurt from some minor clearancing.

[Jeffvette]

Just a thought, Why don't you hit the offending pipe with a torch and then massage it with a hammer? From the pics it seems that the solution is only a few good whacks away. + if the headers are quality SS, they should not split or get hurt from some minor clearancing.

Because I am not going to dimple a header that is going to require a 1/2 dimple. What's the point of having headers if part of the exhaust flow is obstructed. And if it does split, now where am I?

[8upZR1]

Ah indeed, I did not realize the interference was that big. A small dimple wouldn't be bad but I understand your point if it must be large. Either way it looks like some welding is in your headers' future. Goodluck with the longtubes. -Patrick

[Nick]

Just a thought, Why don't you hit the offending pipe with a torch and then massage it with a hammer? From the pics it seems that the solution is only a few good whacks away. + if the headers are quality SS, they should not split or get hurt from some minor clearancing.
Point is, you shouldn't have to do anything to make them "fit."

[xlr8nflorida]

Just a thought, Why don't you hit the offending pipe with a torch and then massage it with a hammer? From the pics it seems that the solution is only a few good whacks away. + if the headers are quality SS, they should not split or get hurt from some minor clearancing.

:jawdrop:Cause Jeff does quality work and is not a hack :D

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, I would never recommend getting anything coated before test fitting. Most dealers or manufacturers would never take a product back that has been painted or modified form the original form.


Jeff, you are absolutely right and I hope I'm not screwed; I'll do a test fit this weekend to see where I stand. I did that because I was in Georgia when I puchased and my Z was in storage in Hawaii......I have to pray :pray now. I can't imagine the price to ship headers to and from then back again to Hawaii. :jawdrop: Thanks for sharing all the info.

[Jeffvette]

Jeff, you are absolutely right and I hope I'm not screwed; I'll do a test fit this weekend to see where I stand. I did that because I was in Georgia when I puchased and my Z was in storage in Hawaii......I have to pray :pray now. I can't imagine the price to ship headers to and from then back again to Hawaii. :jawdrop: Thanks for sharing all the info.

Craig, I'm certain this is a recent issue and you hsould not have any problems. After talking to Jim at SSW, he thinks the problem is in his jig or the people using them.

The manifold has been sent back, and they are supposed to be checing it and expediting a a new driver side back.

I will keep everybody informed.

[Z Factor]

Craig, I'm certain this is a recent issue and you hsould not have any problems. After talking to Jim at SSW, he thinks the problem is in his jig or the people using them.

The manifold has been sent back, and they are supposed to be checing it and expediting a a new driver side back.

I will keep everybody informed.

Lets hope so because if you are having trouble with all your experience, something is off. Fortunately my Watson's went on without a hitch.

:cheers:

[JIMSTAINLESSWORKS]

ANYTIME YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH A STAINLESS WORKS SYSTEM PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP!!!!!!

I STAND BY EVERYTHING MY COMPANY BUILDS.

OVER TIME A FIXTURE CAN DEVELOP A SLIGHT DEVIATION.

FROM WELDING COUNTLESS SETS OF HEADERS IN A FIXTURE, THE HEAT OF WELDING CAN CAUSE THE CUPS THAT HOLD THE PRIMARY TUBES TO MOVE SLIGHTLY. A SLIGHT MOVE AT THE CUP CAN TRANSFER TO A HALF INCH DOWN AT THE END OF THE PRIMARY.

AFTER THE UNFORTUNATE TROUBLE THAT JEFF HAS EXPERIENCED WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NEW POLICY WHERE A FLAWLESS SET OF HEADERS ARE RETAINED IN STOCK AND INSERTED INTO THE JIG AND FIXTURE BEFORE WELDING A NEW SET. THIS IS DONE BEFORE EACH SET, NOT JUST FOR ZR1'S BUT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

WE HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION AND WANT TO CONTINUE THAT REPUTATION IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

THE ONLY OTHER TIME THIS OCCURS IS WHEN A CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

A TWEAK IN THE FRAME OR RACK CAN OFTEN CREATE A SITUATION WHERE A PRIMARY TUBE RUBS ON SOMETHING.

THIS OCCURS A LOT IN CORVETTES THAT HAVE SUSTAINED SIDE IMPACT DAMAGE.

WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE ..... PLEASE DONT ATTEMPT A FIX AT HOME.
HITTING OR HEATING A PRIMARY TUBE DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF SPENDING THE BIG BUCKS ON A MANDREL BENT SYSTEM.

PUT THE TASK ON ME.

PLEASE.

WHEN WE GET JEFFS HEADERS BACK WE WILL BE TESTING THEM ON TWO BONE STOCK ZR1'S HERE.

ALSO THE NEW HEADERS AND FIXTURES WILL BE TESTED AGAINST THESE.

I WILL BE GONE FOR ONE WEEK. WHEN I GET BACK FROM THE SHOW I WILL BE POSTING ALL THE RESULTS HERE.

MANY THANKS FOR THE INPUT.

JIM WATSON
STAINLESS WORKS

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, I'm certain this is a recent issue and you hsould not have any problems. After talking to Jim at SSW, he thinks the problem is in his jig or the people using them.

The manifold has been sent back, and they are supposed to be checing it and expediting a a new driver side back.

I will keep everybody informed.

Thanks Jeff, I'm pretty sure mine will be okay as long as the Z has not been in an accident; I know the gaskets match up nicely. I'm just waiting on my Stage 8 locking header bolt kit I ordered.

[Jeffvette]

An update. Jim just got the header back while i was on the phone with him. He will be test fitting it and will call back.

Jim, has been very helpful in trying to get this resolved.

One of two things will happen.
A) The header fits their car - At that time they will modify the tube to fit the car I am working on.
B) The header doesn't fit their car - At that time they will be inspecting anything in the production cycle for errors and get another manifold out.

[Jeffvette]

Ok, just got a phone call. The header fits great on the one they have in the shop. So something is tweaked on my end.


Stainless is going to modify the header and modify it to clear. So I will post an update when they get back.

Good work Jim!

[IowaZR-1]

Am I missing something but it looks to me like the flange doesn't match the exhaust ports and this can only be from not being machined right. Another thought is can the rack and pinion be misaligned or shifted in the frame causing the steering shaft to hit the header tube?

I looked again, is the steering shaft hiting on the tube and preventing the flange from lining up?

[tccrab]

If I were to hazard a guess, I'd guess that the engine/tranny/rear end is out of alignment at the front C-Beam bolts on the back of the transmission.
If the transmission/engine is not lined up with the rear end, then the pivot point on the engine would be at the motor mounts.
Let's say that C-Beam alignment is off by a few degrees to the drivers side. The engine would then not be square in the engine mounts and the headers wouldn't have enough room to fit between the block and the steering shaft.

Of course, the car could have been wrecked at some time and then all bets are off.

TomC