Brian,
You may want to take a look at these two links for why there may be issues with pipe alignment on a Chrysler product.
http://www.accurateltd.com/K-frame-damage-and-Exhaust-Issues_ep_45.html
http://www.accurateltd.com/EngineDrivetrain-Alignment-Issues_ep_44.html
As far as your question:
" Did the manufacturer also resolve the problem with the clearance issue with the torsion bar on the driver side front header pipe? "
We are the manufacturer of our pipes as you already know and we have very few issues. When we do have a fit issue we try and get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible. Was it not you in an earlier post that mentioned that you made a phone call to us about your problem and we were helpful in helping you to rectify the issue? We do not manufacture most of our pipes in one's and two's but in large runs. We have the cars on site that our production fixtures are designed . A process that we use regularly at the beginning of a run is to test the first production pipe on the actual vehicle. If there are no issues we continue the run. Each production pipe has a stamped date and code on the part sticker. If a customer calls with an issue we can track that pipe to the particular run it was built. We then pull another pipe with this same code from inventory and retest it on both the vehicle and the production fixture. If it is good on our end we try and help the customer the best we can on his end. This may include sending another pipe with a clearance dent to the customer or to offer other suggestions . But we do not change our production design based on a problem or two in the field in light of the above links I have included for your review. We are a major supplier of affordable, quality exhaust products not only to the individual Mopar enthusiast but to many major parts vendors as well. There is not much wiggle room for inaccuracy and poor quality issues in the business we are in and enjoy doing. Please rest assured that we are doing our utmost to satisfy our valued customers. It appears the pictures you had sent of the undercarriage of your car show our exhaust system is still looking good after many years. We strive to use the best modern day materials so that it does. Do we have permission to use these pictures on our site as it is a fine demonstration of a nicely restored car. I think I have answered most of your concerns in an informative and professional way. If you have any more concerns feel free to pick up the phone and give me a call @ (541) 672-2661 and we can chat some more as I think we are boring some on this thread.
Regards,Tom
Tom,
First, I am flattered that you would like to use the undercarriage pics of our chally for your site. I am very anal retentive when it comes to the cleanliness of our cars. The undercarriage and exhaust gets wiped down and polished every time before a major show and at the beginning of the car show season. However, I must decline at this time the represenation of the undercarriage of our challenger is for a stock restored look. As you can see, we do not have the correct flat area on the mufflers by the tie downs and also do not have the correct (updated) stamping in the resonators. We also do not have the correct indented areas like the factory pipes had. I do not want to end up misleading anyone by having a highly detailed car as ours have an incorrect part on it with having someone thing that is how it is supposed to look from the factory.
I had indeed contacted your company when we had the fitment issue with the front driver side exhaust pipe and after reviewing the two links you posted, I specifically remember taking measurements from the crank shaft in those specific locations and even remember the person telling me that 340 engine oil pan was never "level with the ground but cocked on an angle" which ours is. A replacement with the indentation was never offered to me as I recall but the solution was to use a large socket and "crush" the pipe in a vice to "duplicate" the factory indentation area which was there for clearance of the torsion bars. Now before you go saying that our challenger was in an accident and the frame is tweaked, we verified that also by taking cross measurements and everything lines up fine. The only thing on our car which was off was where the repro quarter panels that the previous owner had put on did match up that well to the rear valence. However, that was a manufacturing defect which was known for the early repro quarter panels. The new AMD panels a MUCH better than what these on our car are. You mention to someone else about being able to duplicate the indented areas like the factory ones had. If you knew that there is an obvious clearance issue with the 340s due to the location of the exhaust manifold front piple area to the torsion bars, why not just incorporate this into the manufacturing process instead of knowing it is a "tight fit" and hoping that one persons car might have minimal clearance while another persons rubs up against it? To me, it would solve a lot of headaches just to make it like the factory did and not have to worry about answering peoples questions when it would barely fit or hit when the engine torqued. That brings me to another point that you had mentioned..... our engine mounts were brand new and were identical to the old ones we had removed so that was not the issue either. The only thing that ended up being the problem was the lack of indentation in the front pipe like the originals had. If I had cell coverage inside my daughters gymnastics building, I would have called you but I am able to use their wi-fi and this was the earliest convenience to be able to get back to you. You do offer a nice product for the price, however, I wish I had known when we placed the order that we could have gotten the factory indentations for an added price for each piece as that would have solved so many problems before they even appeared.
Brian
