Kdeman1

1987 l98 is about to have headers on it, hooker 2151 to be exact, but now I'm stressing out about heat issues... what can I do to save my original start? And what else do I have to worry about possibly melting? Let me know I defently don't want to burn out an wires or anything. Thank you!

Dt86

Just sell them to me cheap, youll sleep better at night.

JrRifleCoach

Many here have made this change without problems.
Your not going to see any big performance increases with just headers.
If your stressing then sell the headers.

blackozvet

If they are ceramic coated you shouldnt have too many issues.

Gibbles

Even with ceramic coat things can get hot, i went crazy with thermo wrap and heat tape on everything that gets close to the headers.

vader86

There wasn't a great increase in heat between my original manifolds and the TPiS headers I put on, but those were coated. I wouldn't run a non-coated header, and I don't like wraps because they allow some moisture retention on the underside of the body and that leads to rust.

I would not try to keep the behemoth 87 starter, go ahead and convert to the 88-91 starter, you'll be happier with it.

Aside from the brake booster though you shouldn't have any problems even with an uncoated header. I have seen several people over the years who had problems with it partially melting with uncoated headers on a very hot autox day. You can upgrade to the metal version if you choose. I have never run into a plug wire issue unless it came into contact with the header, and can't recall anyone ever having an issue with uncoated headers, though you may want a boot protector set.

WW7

I got some of the stick on heat reflecting tape and stuck it on the side of my "brake booster" and also wrapped my fuel lines with it on the passenger side of the motor..For my starter I got a heat reflecting blanket /wrap to keep the heat at bay..The best thing I did to remove the heat from the engine bay, was to get a Dewitt's high speed fan. The Dewitt's fan moves a lot more hot air then the stock fan which cools the engine bay way down... I got both the Dewitt's fan and their radiator and consider it one of my best mods...WW

Kdeman1

fortunatly I have a metal break booster already, I'll defiantly be going crazy with thermo tape tho... my headers are a bit rusty so I'm painting over the ceramic coating and hoping for the best

WW7

You can have the headers recoated, there is a company called ( Jet Hot ) that can redo them for you... They do excellent work......WW

Kdeman1

thanks for the reply, does the 1991 starter bolt directly up in place of the 87 starter and about what is the difference in diameter, thanks

Gibbles

You will see them listed usually as "mini"

I also had issues with my oil temp getting high, however my car does not have a oil cooler.
As a test i wrapped my filter in thermo tape, it worked like a charm...

vader86

I don't recall the exact size difference, its been awhile since I did this upgrade, its considerably smaller and lighter. I had to add a shim, but didn't have to extend the hot wire, some have.

Kdeman1

ill likely install this 9100
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-9100?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-powermaster&gclid=Cj0KEQjwmri_BRCZpaHkuI H75_IBEiQAIG0rIeuUpaHhkTkyKznUlf2kJQBKQR M2MzLHxhFfn9G8aJcaAjWf8P8HAQ
The extra distance between the headers and the starter should make a big difference too

Kdeman1

good idea, I'll likely buy a oil filter, "mitten" to hang on to it.. I do have the Kc4 oil cooler, I may consider wrapping the lines for that in thermo tape, where it is closes to the headers, I'm not sure if that'll keep more heat in... or more heat out.. hmm

vader86

Wrapping the oil cooler lines is a fine idea, I have. You're wrapping coolant lines and you don't want the coolant to get any hotter, it'll get plenty warm on its own. Its the radiator's job to cool that down.

Kdeman1

Vader, once you changed your exhaust manifolds for headers, did you notice a difference in performance? im going cat free with new dynoflow mufflers. Open airbox, k&n and airfoil. thanks appreciate it!

Kdeman1

also did you have to bother with a tune for an l98? Thanks

vader86

No I did not retune, nothing in my data scans showed that I really needed to do so, but she did compensate by running richer in the mornings especially, and was dropping into open loop at idle except on the hottest days. That is not alarming and you should expect it unless you used a heated O2 sensor, but the extra fuel did end up clogging the Random Tech cat I had on there after a couple years. I later removed the cat entirely and went to duals.

When I put the headers on the base L98 it felt great, i noticed the extra pep.

Gibbles

With long tubes you will want a heated o2 sensor, you will have weird idle issues and a slight pulse when crusing.

The heated 02 is an easy mod, one wire to your ecm, one wire to ground, and another wire to a power source tied to key on.

I grounded mine right under the battery, and for power i connected it to the switched signal power going to the fan relay.
It does not require much power to run.

blackozvet

long tube headers do put some extra heat into the engine bay, so its always wise to protect everything as much as possible,