so i just received my ZZP long tube header package and i noticed that the v-band flanges are different on the header and the downpipe. the flange on the header sits in the groove of the clamp nice, but the one on the downpipe has a smaller outside diameter and does not mate up very good with the header. anybody know if this is normal?

 

I have the ZZP long tube header package and iirc both flanges were the same size.

 

ya, i figured it is not right. we will see what ZZP will do for me....

 

added pics to OP

 

I looked at your pictures and mine may be that way as well. I never looked at them close enough to notice that small of a difference. That may be part of the design to help it seal idk.

 

its mainly the different profile of the flanges i am worried about, the downpipe section does not really fit nice in the clamp so no matter how you hold it the flange will always slip to one side because they are different sizes and shapes

 

Have you tried tightening it down?

 

yes, when i tighten it down the clamp the downpipe will always slip to one side because it is a smaller OD than the header, the clamp also does not make even contact along the angled side of the flange in the way a v-band should. header flange is good, clamps sits even on angle.

 

Mine showed up today and it is the same as the ones pictured above. They are not supposed to be like this, v-band flanges should be the same size as each other so they self center. On mine the larger one is almost 3/16" bigger than the smaller one
My guess is they came from two different suppliers/manufacturers.

I had a friend order mine along with his parts, he's e-mailed zzp a bunch of pictures, hopefully they come up with a decent solution.

 

ya i hope so, its worse too because we are in Canada so we have already paid a lot for shipping and even more in duty/taxes

 

Yeah, my order was $300 in duty alone! (header/dp, new resonator section, new muffler section, dual aeroforce gauges - $1700 CDN)

 

i emailed them yesterday and they wanted pics so i sent them, just have to wait for them to respond now

 

Enough to make a grown man cry.

 

Yeah, but in all honesty, I was expecting closer to $400, so I can't complain too much, lol

 

Here's the issue, the thickness of the vband rings are different (difference between ID and OD)

ID's are correct.

Downstream side:



Upstream side:

 

also on mine, the angle of the v-bands are different and the thickness from the edge to the start of the angle is different, i will get some more pics up later

 

I'm sure the set I have has the same set of issues yours does.

I sent ZZP pictures and an explanation of the issue, but have not heard back from them yet.

Basically it looks like the rings were from different manufacturers.

 

It looks like they made the downpipe and someone else made the header for them. Just going off of the quality of tubing and welds between the two. One of them probably switched vband size recently.

 

same here, email is sent but have not heard back yet, if this is a widespread issue though they might be working on a solution before replying

 

I hate v-band connections...

After having issues similar to the OP's with my Regal downpipe, I will never purchase another exhaust product with a v-band.

 

There is nothing wrong with v bands. Every exhaust i buikd uses them. Never had one leak, never had one not mate up properly. When fixtured and built correctly they should be fine.

Most v bands now days come with a male and female end.... these look like to be flat. When i build v band stuff the clamp assemblies are kept with together as i consider them a married pair.

Those parts were clearly made by 2 different people. One uses a pulser one does not. Its possible they grabbed the wrong flange

 

its been said, somebody screwed up. as josh said, id bet they have 2 different manuacturors making the parts. the problem with that is a 3" v-band is not a 3" v-band as there is no industry standard design for the flanges. and no matter what you try with that it will never seal. the only fix for that is to get a matching flange and cut one off and weld the new flange on. looks like zzp is gonna have some returns to deal with.

ive built a lot of exhaust systems and prefer to use v-band flanges to anything else. the vibrant ones imo are the best, they have a lip on the inside of the flange that locks into a receiver groove on the mating flange. this lip locates the flange and also helps with sealing. the only downside to these things is the price, the list price is almost $100 for each set (clamp and 2 rings). although when your building show quality exhaust with food grade stainless the cost of them doesnt push the price of the job up that much more.

 

These are the interlocking kind.

 

hopefully we can work something out with zzp as i really do not feel like paying to ship these back from Canada, and then i would still have to pay duty on the new one

 

Agreed, I'd ALMOST rather have them send me a matching set of flanges and clamps, then just cut off the old and tig on new... Wouldn't be a first time I'd modded a zzp downpipe