That is how a fair few of the long tube headers work. Collectors bolt to headers flange/gasket/flange, and then pipe is welded/clamped to collectors. Good exhaust shop should be able to make them up for you. Use the dead-soft aluminum or copper collector gaskets. If you use paper, might just as well buy stock in the company that makes them, as you will be doing a fine job of supporting them.

 

That would be the way to go, but is it worth it? I don't think the gain would be much. If you really want to open it up buy a set of longtubes.

 

Yea I kind of wished I had got long tubes, but the price I paid for these was too tempting to pass up. Besides it gives me another project to keep my mind occupied and that is my form of stress relief to contemplate what would work best with what I have available.. Some people like to drink, smoke, Etc. I get satisfaction from turning wrenches on my 96 Ram.

 

Well I did something I guess probably should have not, and tried trimming down the headers ball coupling. When I took the truck to the muffler shop, I was told they were ruined and that they could do nothing with them. It looks like my only option now is to remove the headers and try to remove what is left of the ball joint coupling and go with the flat flange with the gasket sealed between. Hope that works, but this sets me back as far as having to remove the headers again cut out the ball joints and re-installed. Does anyone have an idea to remove the ball coupling with the header installed? I know it was mentioned earlier in one of the threads that the ball coupling was pressed in and shouldn't be that hard to remove.

 

Crawl under there with a bright flashlight and have a look. Might be able to grab them with a pair of vice-grips, and just yank them out.

 

Who sells the cheapest set of long tubes ?

 

As I understand it, Pacesetter are the only LT's available for this truck (unless you want to go custom made, but based on your question, that's a 'no').

Summit have them at a fair price ($452 coated, $293 painted), but I watched the price on Amazon, and scooped up a coated set at $366 w/free shipping, when it dropped.
I got the matching 'Y'-pipe for $146.

 

I don't need a y-pipe because my truck has true duals and no converter ! Cats are for sissys or if you get emissions tested !

 

Yeah, remove ball couplings with vise grips/ chisel and hammer.

It;s not too difficult to remove them when their on the truck, but getting them back in when the headers are mounted is a completely different story.

Their gunna get beat up during removal, but it sounds like you have nothing left to lose.