i searched and someone mentioned "bending" (although i don't quite understand how this is possible) the oil pan. what can i do to fix or work around it??

And as the title states, what would happen if i drive around with my header touching the oil pan???

 

wrapp the bottom of the header with heat wrap or cover it somehow.

had the same problem with my friends turbo delsol. u don't want it to melt the oil pan

 

ummm why is it rubbing the oil pan? Did you hit something that pushed it up into the oil pan? Are you not using the bracket that hangs down behind the engine that the collector is supposed to bolt to?

 

If you leave header tuoching the oil pan you'll over heat the oil and break down the lubrication factor.