Apologies to TTI

I wrote last time about my problems with the TTI headers I decided to run on my Barracuda. After talking to TTI and the shop doing the work (B&T Custom in Sparks, NV) it turns out the problem isn't the headers, it's the Keisler 5 speed transmission kit. When they sent me the kit, instead of the 1963-66 A Body kit I ordered they sent a kit for the 1967-69 A Body. The tail shaft on the later kit doesn't allow the transmission to sit high enough in the tunnel which puts the engine at the wrong angle. This pushes the bottom front of the headers into the steering linkage, makes the driver's side torsion bar rub on the headers, and even causes fan clearance problems. I'm hoping Keisler will send me the right parts to correct this problem but so far I don't have much confidence. I know it's been awhile since I bought the kit but it was their mistake so I feel they should make could on it. It's bad enough paying extra labor to the shop to swap in the correct parts. Having to pay just to get the correct parts would be adding insult to injury. It was a fricken' $5000 kit...

Barracuda Header Problems - Starter

When I decided on a high performance 318 for my Barracuda, I didn't want it choked off with the stock exhaust manifolds so I bought a (very expensive) set of TTI headers. I knew there would be issues - the Barracuda engine compartment doesn't exactly have a lot of room. I didn't know what a P.I.T.A. those issues would be though. The most annoying one is the starter. In the instructions, TTI calls for a specific starter that is no longer made. Other mini starters, even so-called "clockable" starters, won't fit. I got ahold of TTI and they refered me to another vendor who makes starters that supposedly work with the TTI headers. Called them yesterday and found out they do make the starter, but they're missing some parts for it and won't be able to ship until Feb 15. OK so if I can find a starter that works, so what, right? Well, no. What if the starter goes bad and there is no longer anyone making a replacement that will work? I'm screwed I guess. I wish now that I would have gone with Doug's Headers. They're harder to find than the TTI's but from what I've read don't have TTI's issue with the starter (or with the pitman arm, bellhousing size, ...) Oh well, live and learn I guess. I don't want to have to go back to a stock exhaust...