Heavy Z Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Hi everyone, I know I don't have a Z any more but I'm in need of help with my Sanderson long tubes and this place seemed perfect to get this problem solved. I hit something on the highway saturday night that collapsed one of the pipes on the drivers side header all the way down to the collector. Does anyone have an idea as to how to fix this? Here are some pics to give you a better idea of the damage, it's crazy how concaved in the pipe is! I'd like to fix them if I can, thanks for your help in advance. Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruez Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 hmm.. Only thing I could think of is some type of pipe expander that is small enough to fit in the primaries in from the collector... something like this http://www.google.com/url?sa=L&ai=BH89JBMB7RKXrO5D8aK660fwB6aiZEuHD3KIC0Y320gqA4gkIABABGAE4AEiEOVC4otnHBZgB33OqAQQyR01MyAEBlQIXTRoK&q=http://adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/711-33995-2056-0%3Ftype%3Dsearch%26mpre%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fsearch.ebay.com%252Fsearch%252Fsearch.dll%253Fquery%253Dexhaust%2520expander%2526newu%253D1%2526sosortproperty%253D3%2526sosortorder%253D1%2526xpufu%253Dx%26keyword%3Dexhaust%2520expander It might help with the majority of the problem... not going to be perfect though.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Brett, My guess is to have Sanderson fix them. Although after they fix it, they'll have to coat it again, you may be in for the same price for a new set. It looks bad Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 When I bent my S&S's, I took a round steel bar about 1" in diameter, ground it smooth on the end, and stuck it up thru the collectors to the flattened places. Then take a torch, heat the tube red hot, and work the bar around to open the tube back up. Put pressure on the tube from the inside with the bar, then tap the tube where it isn't hot to push out the flat areas. Working carefully with the bar and a hammer got them looking pretty good again, but it took a while. jt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
331CI 280z Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Check with some dirt bike pipe repair places. Two-stroke pipes get dented regularly and they use a process to return them to their original shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getZ Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I don't know if this would work for you application, but I've heard of people straightening out the tubes on their old gm tpi setup with large ball bearings and pushing them through the pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Thanks everyone for the advice. After taking around to some local shops(and I must say it was fun watching every shop worker scratch their heads and say they'd never seen a collapse like this), here's what looks like will be done on friday. The bent area will be cut out with a plasma cutter and a "metal tupe" cut from a section of pipe will be welded in its place. Not pretty, but I knew I'd mess up the ceramic coating any way I go. I have to drive it like an econobox right now and want to get past this stage asap, wish me luck and I'll post pictures once it's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastzcars Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 How about taking it to a body shop that has one of these and use a sliding hmmer to pull the dent out?http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1609&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C503%2C504%2C512&KickerID=24&KICKER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 When I bent my S&S's' date=' I took a round steel bar about 1" in diameter, ground it smooth on the end, and stuck it up thru the collectors to the flattened places. Then take a torch, heat the tube red hot, and work the bar around to open the tube back up. Put pressure on the tube from the inside with the bar, then tap the tube where it isn't hot to push out the flat areas. Working carefully with the bar and a hammer got them looking pretty good again, but it took a while. jt[/quote'] Like he said. I've done this too and it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 ...The bent area will be cut out with a plasma cutter and a "metal tupe" cut from a section of pipe will be welded in its place. Not pretty, but I knew I'd mess up the ceramic coating any way I go... I thought this might be the way it would end up...but still, there are some very cool possibilities listed above that others may take advantage of. Some of these ideas blow me away!! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mas28O Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Brett just order a new header. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Brett just order a new header. That's the best fix but I've got to get it done sooner than two or three months from now. Last I heard on torquecentral, JTR has a huge back order. Is your RX7 back on the road now Mike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mas28O Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 That's the best fix but I've got to get it done sooner than two or three months from now. Last I heard on torquecentral' date=' JTR has a huge back order. Is your RX7 back on the road now Mike?[/quote'] JTR has headers now, he also has them with new collectors and ban clamps. My 427 is now up and running in my RX7. I just do not have time to drive it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Thanks for the news Mike! I'm out of school in two weeks and am swamped with term papers myself, let's hook up for a drive once school is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS1 Z Posted June 3, 2006 Share Posted June 3, 2006 Humm.... Not to hijack the thread... I'm down for a drive too! And my headers are ready! O.K. Time to get cracking and get the FD on the road! Is John gonna be joining us? JOEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted June 3, 2006 Author Share Posted June 3, 2006 Humm.... Not to hijack the thread... I'm down for a drive too! And my headers are ready! O.K. Time to get cracking and get the FD on the road! Is John gonna be joining us? JOEY I mentioned it to him a couple weeks ago, hopefully his car will be done by then too. Redwood road is a lot of fun (yeah, the street next to your shop!), let's plan to hook up for a drive there or to Mt. Hamilton in a couple weeks when it works for everyone's schedule. How's that FD treating you Joey, do you like the change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Z Posted June 4, 2006 Author Share Posted June 4, 2006 Hi everybody, I wanted to say thanks again for the help and to show a pic of the fix. While they were at it I had them put on some new exhaust tips too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8dats Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 looks good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 Wow, "frankenheader" is pretty descriptive! lol At least it's doing the job and is under the car where no one will see it On a side note, the exhaust tips you treated your car too look the business!! You should be proud of your car, it rocks. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsil Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 That pic of your car makes me want to build an LS1-RX7!!!! That thing must scream. Good job!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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