Unfortunately this is not a surprise.

Rich, thanks for the pictures and info on the header.

If the engine is rotated to the 8 o'clock position (looking aft from the front of the plane) the header will shoot straight back into the pipe tunnel. In a Yak or other round-cowl plane you won't even care. It would likely make a mess of a small, tight Extra/Edge cowl in a 50cc plane.

We have a pair of planes with a ZDZ 80 on cannisters using this configuration. BTW, neither have a silicone connector although both headers have a stainless steel flex section.