Hello all. I just got my new dougs headers for my small block and, man they are nice!!! The thing that struck me about the TTI's (after the price tag) was how thick the flanges are. The doug's headers flanges are almost as thick and these things seem to be really solidly built. I went to test fit them on the engine while it is still out of the car and i have two questions:
1) The headers hit the brackets that link the transmission to the block. On one side I can (and did) grind the bracket a bit to make a better fit, but on the other side I would have to remove so much material I might as well not have the bracket at all. Is it okay to run without the bracket on one side? are there aftermarket solutions?
2) Installation. The directions are for cars with the engine already in. Since mine are not, can I bolt up the starter and headers and drop it in all at once? Ive seen how to install headers by hanging them off the inner fenders and then bolting them up after the engine is dropped in. It was a real pain to bolt these up with the engine out of the car, but once everything was in place they fit really really well.
Thanks in advance!