Starter Clearance Issues

I tried the original starter today and it did not fit so I decided to grind the edge of the block where the starter rubbed. This allowed the mini starter to fit but the clearance for the header pipe was only about 1/16". So I did what many are gonna think is the unthinkable! I took out the torch, heated the header pipe and created clearance with a hammer. I just decided that I was not going to spend another $300 for a clockable starter. It created about 1/4" of starter clearance. I think this will be enough clearance that it doesnt create a hot starting issue. Its not the first time I have heated and bent a header pipe over the years, but I bought these because they are supposed to fit. The drivers side had so many issues and when I called TTI I was told they have made hundreds of these on the same jig so there is no way they could have been bent or welded incorrectly. The good thing is they are now on and I can move forward with my build. The bad thing is my $750 headers had to be altered and I could have done that with some cheaper headers. I touched up the heated bent area with some Por15 aluminum epoxy paint and from the top you cant see the adjustment.
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and Ideas.
Rod