You guys got me scared of tti headers!

Hot Rod magazine did a dyno test on how the "dents and dimples" we sometimes put in headers affect power. I was shocked to learn that it made very little difference even when the pipes were smashed to the point where they were half crushed!
I know, nobody wants to take a hammer to a set of $ 700 headers. Sometimes you do need to massage them a bit. Maybe place a section of tire sidewall against the pipe before hitting it with a hammer? This should prevent scratches anyway. Good luck with the car.