there was a guy who did this with band clamps you ca buy at napa. I was wondering if anyone else has any experince doing this? http://community.webshots.com/photo/27546055/59695995TUFTPf

Here is the Pic (http://community.webshots.com/photo/27546055/59695995TUFTPf)

I did still leaked weld em shut unless u plan on taking the headers out in the near future welding works the best.

yeah welding would work awesome, but I like to open them sometimes.

I have found over the years that what really kills collector gaskets is the movement of the two parts. If you tack weld the "ring" to both the header and to the tail pipe, so the ring cannot move on either part, you will resolve 90% of the gasket problems. If you look at what actually seals, it is the slightly flanged end of the pipe, not the ring. The ring just holds the two parts together. If the pipe can move at all, it will eat the gasket away over time.
The Hooker reducers are nice because they are already welded.

You can get new headers for less than 100.00, I like the aluminum collector gaskets, work awesome and reuseable too.

I've got to fix a rusted header tomorrow on my '79 K-10. It's broken right at the flange. I plan on taking it apart, welding the header ring to a short piece of 3" exhaust tubing I have already, and welding that on the header collector after I cut the offending piece off. I know it's the cheap route, but if you saw the truck, you'd not want to spend much money on it either. ;) :D Besides, I don't even need to go to the parts store to do it.

I just need a system that will come on and off several times without it leaking (I'm picky about exhaust). I was looking at these reducers (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=129022&prmenbr=361) they have at jegs, but i don't want to spend that much. I might have to if i'm not satifid with Billks idea.