Atr Header Fix

[DRAGPAK]

Alright you guys i put this atr header on my car about 4 months ago , and low and behold i have a leak where the four tubes fit into the collecter right in the center ,should i fix this thing or just port out another e 6 and stick it on the car ?Its the size of the lead in a pencil ,looks like i will have to cut the turbo mounting flange off to have it tigg welded.Since i took the header off im mounting my spearc front mount unit ,plus im putting in my new alumanum flywheel

[Pat_in_L.A.]

See if any local welders have spools of stainless for their mig welder. You can weld it shut with the mig from the inside and clean it up with a die grinder without sawing off the collector.

[indiana dave]

Then, do a search here and on turboford, and you'll see some pics of braces others have made to support the turbo.
From what I've read, there isn't that much HP gain between a well-ported E6 and the ATR.

[Henson]

I would tig or mig the SOB. So, you saying that our ATR headers tend to crack do to the weight of the turbo? I Jet Hot’ed mine, this will make a crack hard to find. You’re scaring me. I’m checking when I get home.

[NY eric]

Sawzall

"stand on soap box"

I took mine off once and for all with a sawzall. I had mine repaired 4 times. I had extra bracing on the collector and a flexible coupling on the exhaust. As far as I am concerned just put it on ebay and let some other fool deal with it and buy something that will last more than a few weeks.

"get off soap box"

Sorry for my rant but I cant believe people still buy this hunk of crap after the hudreds of posts on this forum as well as others. Yes I understand they have the best design (as far as flow goes) but my god after dealing with their customer service once I was ready to explode.

good luck

[Henson]

Please don’t take this wrong at all. I’m sure your fabrication skills are superb. Though, if mine cracks four times, for 500+ dollars I’ll find away to fix it for good.

It sounds like some 1/8” plate fillet supports among the tubes will cure the problem if piling weld up doesn’t. I don’t see any problem fixing simply supported cantilever pipes. I do agree that there are too many degrees of freedom to fix the problem with a simple bracket to the engine or whatever. Welds general break from shearing motion not tensile forces. So, if I was to guess this break is caused more by rigid down pipe and engine sway, versus weight. What do I know? Someone please show picture of the problem area. Thanks.

[NY eric]

location

Dont wory I dont take offense at this point I had no real welding skills.

I had close to 800 invested with all the repairs and wires on this one. In the end I fixed for $2.25 (new blade for the saw)

You are right about flex. That is why the collector cracked the first time( melted 1 set of wires). I added the turbo support bracket back (chalked that up to my stupidity). The second time the mounting flange split away from the collector about 3/4 the way arround . I had that fixed then I had 2 -1/4" braces welded to flange from flange at head. At that point I added the flex pipe to the exhaust. Third, #2 runner seperated from the flange and melted 2nd set of wires. 4th time the collector cracked again and melted 3rd set of wires. And to answer your question Yes I was stupid enough to send this back to ATR 2 of the 3 times for repair it at full cost to me because "who would warentee a race part". Also mind you this header had less than 500 miles on it at this point. After wasting an entier summer chasing cracks and dealing with the fat pig on the other end of the phone with her attitude (dont get me started) I cut the header off with a sawzall and sold the peices of paperwight for 1 buck on ebay.

I have now been running one of Rods headers for 2 years and over 6k miles without any issues at all. It may not have the balance of the ATR but it sure do look shiney

[svobrown]

dealing with the fat pig on the other end of the phone with her attitude

Ahh, He called her a fat pig.
oink, oink

Made me laugh. Thanks

[NY eric]

not nice

Originally posted by svobrown
Ahh, He called her a fat pig.
oink, oink

Made me laugh. Thanks

OK maby she is skinny so I guess I should apologise.......NAH!

(disclaimer) these are my personal feelings and have nothing to do with my company's views