The clamps that Downey provide with their exhaust system suck. The nuts round off the edges before I can get them tight enough to get a tight seal. I am thinking of using these clamps from Summit. Anybody have experience with these? How about other suggestions. My header downpipe whistles like a teapot when it gets hot and I can hear it coming from the leaking clamp. Any other suggestions? These look like the best option, but they are kind of expensive so I want to be sure.
Summit Racing: Dynomax Stainless Steel Lap-Joint Band Clamps

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Go to an exhaust shop and have them welded. Should be cheap.

 

It's the pipe from the header to the Y-pipe plumbing. Can't really weld that together or I'll never get the headers off if I need to.

 

Go to the nearest Napa and ask for a stainless exhaust band clamp in the correct pipe size.
You will want to use a 1/2" impact gun to tighten the bolts, the band will stretch to fit so you have to get the bolts very tight.
I use these all the time at work, when installed correctly they are very gas tight.

 

I'd have to second this... Think about if you'd ever REALLY want to remove the header. A nice weld would be the BEST possible way to get a nice seal. I understand where you're coming from but to do it RIGHT you'd want to have them weld it. My .02.

 

What about welding plates on the end of the header tube and exhaust tubes. Then they could be bolted together. Kind of like on the end of these headers.

http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin.../f2455HKR.html

 

I agree that flanges would be the best, but the headers are flared out on one end to accomodate the slip fit so I would have to flare the other pipe out as well. Seems like a pain in the arse, but it may come to that if these clamps don't work out.

Thanks to everyone for their inputs. I don't know what I would do without this place

 

Are they chrome? You can't weld chrome without stripping the chrome plating off first.

 

Good call. Mine are not chrome, they are ceramic coated though so I am sure that all that would have to come off too.

 

Chrome dont matter..







no leaks if you use the thick 3/8" flanges.
Be sure to weld the flanges on before you put the headers on You should also temp install them and figure out wich way the flange needs to be positioned to clear everything. I had to use a 1.5" body lift I made to clear the passanger side floor and firewall.

This is mine before the body lift

 

Ganoid, those are nice welds. I thought welding chrome gave off poisonous fumes. Did you do the welding? Did you take any special precautions, like a fume respirator? Did you grind off the chrome plating at all? I’m asking because one of my chrome nurf bars cracked while I was using a highlift jack on it and I didn’t think I could weld on it.

 

I just bought the flanges and burned them on there.I didnt do any grinding but I did make a bushing to hold the flange centered. I didnt notice any fumes to be honest but I didnt breath any either. I welded them on the bench before I installed them. I used my little millermatic 175 with gas. I can tell you that welding the clutch/brake pedal mounting bracket on my truck was quiet stinky even after removing it from the vehicle. What ever toyota coated that thing with I dont know but you certainly dont want to breath that. Maybe you are thinking galvanized? that stuff is nasty you dont want to breath that either.

 

Ok thanks, maybe that would be a good reason to get the chrome headers instead of the ceramic? Are you happy with your chrome?