To anneal or not to anneal? Options

[lsintampa]

75 914/4 2.0

Will soon be backdating my exhaust with SS HE's

I have new sealing rings (for the exhaust headers) and gaskets for the muffler, and new copper (plated) nuts or copper not sure but those from the big bird.

I've read several threads about annealing the sealing rings, using copper RTV, and all sorts of ways you all have mounted up your HE's.

The captain said something to the effect of mounting them, after you run them for a while, tighten them up again. I think in effect this is part of the annealing process.

I think I'm going with annealing up front and then tighten them up again once they motor has been running a bit.

Not sure this is the best method, or if one is better than the other, but it sounds right to me.

Question I have, that I've not seen addressed anywhere is that when I take the stock headers and try to test fit them to the motor, it is really tight getting the headers onto the studs. So tight in fact, I never really got them onto the studs for fear of mucking something up in the process.

By tight, I mead that the ears on the headers want to rub on the valve tubes.

Is this "normal"?

Thanks,

Len

And if you want to put your .02 in on the annealing / not annealing debate feel free!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[stugray]

drop them directly into a mason jar of water and install.

If you heat metal and cool it quickly you are not softening it, you are hardening it.

To anneal (make the metal softer) you should heat them and then let them cool as slowly as possible.

Stu

[ThePaintedMan]

drop them directly into a mason jar of water and install.

If you heat metal and cool it quickly you are not softening it, you are hardening it.

To anneal (make the metal softer) you should heat them and then let them cool as slowly as possible.

Stu

My mistake. That makes sense. I was just describing what I did after reading how others had done it. Maybe next time I'll just leave them on the grill to slow roast after I shut it off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Definitely changed the sound of them though when bounced and they're almost pliable enough to bend with hands alone.