Header Flange

[dodj]

Hi all
Had a header leak on the driver's side after installing some new Hedman Elite headers. I found the header flange catching on an edge on the cylinder heads. If you look at the pic, the centre flange of the header was catching on the machined lip on the head, preventing the header from sealing with the gasket causing the leak. I have 452 heads, not sure if other heads are similar but thought if I posted a pic it might save someone else some grief in the future. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I have seen the same problem with Hooker headers

[Cooter]

Yepper, now the first thing I do is angle grind all the headers right out the box...The old CPPA headers for A-bodies used to have this problem as well.

[ShelbyDogg]

Another thing I had to do with my Hookers was weld up all of the flange holes to raise them up, then file them down flat to stop years of leaking at the 2 center cylinders and blowing out gaskets.

I didn't have a big belt sander to do the job but the file did the trick.