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Posted by: tornik550 Dec 17 2016, 07:30 PM

I have a backup set of /6 headers that have some dents. The dents are on the curved areas. I am sure that air flow would be reduced with these dents. On one of the dents, I drillled a small hole on the opposite side, heated the pipes, stuck a small solid metal rod through the hole and tried to pound out the dent. I was able to remove the debt however the area is now fairly rippled. I don't think I can flatten it would more without making a bigger hole which would be much more difficult to weld shut.

The ripples are not horrible however you can definitely see them. Should I just leave the ripples or is there some other way to fix the issues? If it were on a straight pipe, it would be easy to weld a new pipe in its place however not easy on the curves.

Posted by: colingreene Dec 17 2016, 07:53 PM

post pictures.
often times the small dent will do almost nothing performance.

Posted by: tornik550 Dec 17 2016, 08:21 PM

The two debts arrowed in red are the problems. I'm not worried about the green one since it's on a straight. I can fix that one.


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Posted by: jmill Dec 17 2016, 08:52 PM

Dent puller.




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Posted by: rick 918-S Dec 17 2016, 09:03 PM

I would us a torch and a rod slid down the pipe to push It out. Or cap the opening and put about 125 psi of air in the tube and heat it with a torch. It may expand. Just be ready to cool it off so it doesn't blow out the tube.

Posted by: falcor75 Dec 18 2016, 07:05 AM

https://www.motortrendondemand.com/detail/exhaust-header-bash-testing-power-loss-from-dents-/0_ujj8a8mw/

Those dents wont make any notable difference.

Posted by: tornik550 Dec 18 2016, 07:06 AM

Wow. That very surprising.

Posted by: mb911 Dec 18 2016, 07:07 AM

So the secret in the exhaust industry is to cap the ends and pressurize the tubing to about 10psi. Then heat with an oxy torch and the dents will pop out..

I have don't this tons of times and have done it On front oil cooler lines for 911s many times as well.

Posted by: plays with cars Dec 18 2016, 10:22 AM

So mandrel bent versus cheaper header construction? No difference? Really surprising given the amount of marketing and premium prices associated with mandrel bent headers.