New Elan headers hitting cross member

[dlbutler]

. . . I just think this should just "fit".

The most used word used in a exotic sportscar shop that can be repeated in polite company is "fettle" (trim to fit).

[StressCraxx]

I have had similar issues.

First, I think the motor mounts may be duff. It doesn't take long.

I fitted the heavy duty mounts and found I had to slot the mount holes to allow the bolts to fit through the mount brackets in the chassis and give me adequate clearance for my headers to the frame rails.

Could I suggest you slot the motor mount holes to raise the engine 1/4"?

Regards,
Dan Wise

[tvacc]

Good idea

[jk952]

Hi Tony,
Though a different (unknown) supplier, I had to tweak my headers to line up nicely for the y piece etc., which I did by marking and eyeballing the correction direction required, removing the headers and putting in the bench vice, used a woodworking long pipe clamp as a strong pipe and tweaked the angle to line up. Took a couple of itterations, would Not do when bolted to the head of course....

jk

[tvacc]

Thanks for all the help. I have ordered two new heavy duty motor mounts from Ray. That with the suggestion that I slot the holes a bit in the mount, I can also as a backup make the crossmember removable.
Will post an updated picture on Friday.

[gearbox]

So what ever came of this header issue? Was it resolved with the new mounts, or did you get a new set of headers? Or is it still an issue?

[tvacc]

Not one thing alone fixed it. The mounts helped a bit, I did slot the holes and it almost gave me the clearance I thought I needed. I then cut the crossmember, put in a nice piece of painted channel, used a few washers and that finished it.

[gearbox]

Thanks for the follow up Tony. I plan on going down this road this summer and i am sure no matter what hearders I choose, there will be fitment issues. I was going to make a removable cross brace anyway from retangular tubing, so I will justify it a bit rearwards. Ray is near me, so I may be getting the same headers as you have. But what did you do for the rest of the system? Any ground clearance issues? I see that Bean has a 4-2-1 header that may provide better ground clearance but not sure. Did you have to cut the top of the frame for fitment of the primary pipes, and does Ray's outlet location require a bend in the straight pipe going back to the muffler? Thanks again for getting there before I did lol. Allan

[collins_dan]

I just purchased one of these headers unpainted from Kirk racing in Alabama so that I could get them Jet Hot coated. I will advise if I have any issues fitting it as my S4 has the original set up. I am replacing the same unit, which was a very close fit to the crossbar and such a wreck, its hard to tell if it was fettered to fit, or just had a hard life. Dan

[tvacc]

But what did you do for the rest of the system? Any ground clearance issues? Did you have to cut the top of the frame for fitment of the primary pipes, and does Ray's outlet location require a bend in the straight pipe going back to the muffler? Thanks again for getting there before I did lol. Allan

Rays header lined up pretty good with the exsisting pipe going back to the muffler. I went over to AutoZone or was it NAPA and just picked up a few adapters of the right sizes and different lengths. Fit right on. Returned the ones I did not need. No issues with ground clearance.