Anyone trim the frame to fit your headers?

[4DSEVEN]

I already have a set of chrome headers that are brand new and were given to me still in bubble wrap.

They are a bit tight and I was thinking of trimming a bit off the top frame rail to ease them in. They will only fit if I trim a bit.

Is this something that should be avoided or will taking a bit off not hamper the rigidity of the frame?

[54 jimmy]

i would go with the bfh route if possible. dimple/dent the frame where you need it to fit. is is safer and a dent/dimple won't weaken the frame like trimming would. it also depends on where you ned the room. some pics would help.

[57ToyBox]

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND ?!?! LOL J/K
-So have you considered all the other options instead of notching the frame?
-Can you use higher motor mounts?
-Will your local Rod Shop take those new Headers in on trade for another set that will fit?

[joeys66pickup]

dimple the header...so what if its chrome(remember it dont get ya home but headers do!)

[Kim57]

If you trim the frame you could weld in a heavy steel tube to add strength. I've seen it done on the rear when guys need extra clearance for lowering their trucks. Here's a pic of what I mean.

Kim

[robin58]

No engineer by any stretch of the imagination, but imho it's completely different than the example given by Kim57. When trimming for an axle to sit and welding in the curved support, the force is going downwards and distributing the load. If you remove the are on top though, the force is 100% still on the bottom regardless of what kind of support you give it. To explain what I mean I just took the lazy way and flipped Kim57's picture over. I'm sure someone with some engineering background could probably comment better. FWIW the PO of my truck had done precisely 4DSeven wants to do just to clear a stock manifold on the passenger side. I rewelded a patch into my frame and boxed that area just to support any potential weaknesses there were that I couldn't see.

[4DSEVEN]

Here's what I ended up with.

[mylow53]

i did something similar but my frame was boxed in that area you might want to consider some bracing. my original frame was cracked near the passenger front cab mount. this is a high stress area defiantly worth some extra plating especially since your adding weight. my 53 cracked with the original 6 in it. mind you a crazy high schooler was driving it at the time
GT