Hack or Hot rod Fix !

[Motown 454]

Hi guy need to ask a question. My headers which are already coated and on the car are interfering with my transmission connection to the cable for the shifter. I've been thinking of all kinds of fixes, changing the range shift selector rod to a short one which the valve body has to be lowered to remove a nail which holds it in. ( Not in my range of abilities). Then having a new shift lever made, (which I'm not opposed to)

Then the question Hot Rod fix or HACK
I thought of this a while ago while dealing with my oil cooler lines. space the header out at the head, hear me out!! I could get a header flange and longer, better bolts from ARP and put the flange between the head and the original header flange with RTV or what ever would be best to seal then together and the gasket between the head and header. This would also solve my heat and space problem for the oil cooler lines.

Here is the shifter problem

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/07/oOjOW6-1.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pooOjOW6j)

Here is with the header flange spaced a little over a 1/4"

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/07/C3ZOnF-1.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poC3ZOnFj)

Here it's about 7/16" spaced

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/07/jkrXyQ-1.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmjkrXyQj)

how close the oil line were, they're tighter than they look.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/07/75Cwri-1.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pm75Cwrij)

And with the header spaced out.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2017/07/fd8opn-1.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pmfd8opnj)

What do you think?

[79 Camaro]

Might look a little odd when looking at that side of the engine but if adding a 1/4" header flange works I would say try it. If it fails you won't be out much.

I really dislike denting header tubes for clearance purposes.

Old trick I've used in the past is on the header gaskets is coat each side with high temp RTV. Bolt everything together and leave them sit over night. I never had a leak doing that.

[Motown 454]

I tried spacing it out with washers on two header bolts and it gives me quite a bit of room.

[badazz81z28]

I guess this shows it's a good idea to mock parts up. Is that an 02 bung?

[Motown 454]

Yes it is, it's getting plugged. I already had them moved to the outside before coating. Spacing the header out makes me uncomfortable. It was suggested by a friend who races car and said it would work.

[btmatt]

have you tried to bend the header out to create the clearance you need? Bolt it up tight, get a big crow bar, and work it away fro the linkage. i think you will be surprised how much it will give.

[Motown 454]

I thought about it but am thinking stainless headers and tiny bolts in aluminum heads. I just tried the lever I bent up, the square hole is not the best but I think I can work with it to get the dimensions I'll need from it.

[Craig7515]

Engine power did a dyno test comparing dents in headers that was surprising. Basically, dents did not reduce power and they made some big dents in the tubes.

[Motown 454]

I saw that too, amazing how much they bashed them in and lost just about nothing.