Best headers?
If the tti's didn't fit, I'd do;
1. re-check everything and try to move the components around, shim, adjust them.
2. Send them back undamaged.
I have seen many sets around here "Un dinged."
While there are threads about this issue, I have yet to see a heard or even a small gaggle stand up and shout about there bad experience with tti. Just because you heard and/or seen a thread or two, this shouldn't turn you off. But rather ask more questions about the car, owner, installation, abilities and of course, to tti and the installer of the header as to why there was an issue.
Improperly bent tubes will happen. I have had several sets of the crap headers fit and then not fit from the same maker. Bar none. Hooker, Headman, Summit, etc........
The shorty header is OK for tight spaces. From what I remember, there not much better or barley better than OE 340 manifolds. I wish someone did a dyno test on this for proof.
to require dead blow hammers and presses to squish pipes for clearance,
This in itself I have yet to see. Is there a thread around here with these dead blow hammered tti's around?