[UPDATE] Header Install Part 1
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
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From: Galloway NJ
[UPDATE] Header Install Part 1
Thanks to some morning rain I got off to a late start...
The front Y-pipe unbolted without any problems.
The driver side manifold came off almost too easy, the only complication came trying to wiggle it out, I found I needed to move the alt out of the way.
The passenger side on the other hand was a pain in the azz... I couldn't get a single bolt to budge at all!! After looking around the basement I finally came up with my own breaker bar... I used my jack handle and mighty little craftsman ratchet.
It worked great!! I was able to get all the bolts out using it. I only had one bolt break and it ended up being only 3-4 threads. After I popped the manifold off, the little piece of bolt came right out.
Tomorrow, unless it rains, I'll pull the exhaust off and install my headers.
Here's the old manifolds:
bye-bye stock manifolds :seeya :D
The front Y-pipe unbolted without any problems.
The driver side manifold came off almost too easy, the only complication came trying to wiggle it out, I found I needed to move the alt out of the way.
The passenger side on the other hand was a pain in the azz... I couldn't get a single bolt to budge at all!! After looking around the basement I finally came up with my own breaker bar... I used my jack handle and mighty little craftsman ratchet.
It worked great!! I was able to get all the bolts out using it. I only had one bolt break and it ended up being only 3-4 threads. After I popped the manifold off, the little piece of bolt came right out.
Tomorrow, unless it rains, I'll pull the exhaust off and install my headers.
Here's the old manifolds:
bye-bye stock manifolds :seeya :D
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
You'll love the headers, and your motor will thank you for it! I hope you have more luck with your header installation than I did. Mine was a PITA. My ARP head bolts got in the way of the flange and I had to grind a good bit of metal off of the flange to fit them. You most likely won't run into this.
Good luck and keep us posted :cheers:
Good luck and keep us posted :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Englewood CO
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
Wow, I though I was the only person who used there jack handle for a breaker bar :lol: . Don't be fooled by the ease of the removal of the old manifolds, installing the headers on the drivers side for me was a PITA. Passenger was very easy, just slide em up. Have fun. :auto:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
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From: Galloway NJ
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (79corvette)
Wow, I though I was the only person who used there jack handle for a breaker bar :lol: . Don't be fooled by the ease of the removal of the old manifolds, installing the headers on the drivers side for me was a PITA. Passenger was very easy, just slide em up. Have fun. :auto:
I'm not expecting the install to go easy... Looking at the headers then at the space I have to work with, I have no idea how they're going to fit in there...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
Thanks for the pics, man. I'm definitely gonna do the same job this summer. Doesn't look too bad at all.
Have to mess with anything other than the exhaust and bolts?
-Steve
Have to mess with anything other than the exhaust and bolts?
-Steve
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
Likes: 0
From: Galloway NJ
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Pacin'California)
Thanks for the pics, man. I'm definitely gonna do the same job this summer. Doesn't look too bad at all.
Have to mess with anything other than the exhaust and bolts?
-Steve
Have to mess with anything other than the exhaust and bolts?
-Steve
The old exhaust pipes look as if they aren't going to want to come off, but I got my hacksaw ready in case I need it :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
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From: Galloway NJ
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (80Xflags)
Keep us posted!!
BTW, I'm not to far away in NJ. :seeya
:cheers:
Matt
BTW, I'm not to far away in NJ. :seeya
:cheers:
Matt
I should really change my location to include south jersey...hehe
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (80Xflags)
Are you changing the engine mounts while you're in there? I changed mine only to find that they were both broken!
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy. What made it so simple was that the tranny was supported on a jack & there was no x-member fitted. For an auto car it's worth thinking about dropping the tranny x-member & supporting the tranny on a good jack. You can then tilt the engine by lifting/dropping the tranny & getting the Headers in (from the bottom) is simple. If you do it this way be very careful not to drop the tranny so far that the distributer smacks into the firewall (I had some large blocks of wood of the correct height underneath to prevent that from happening if the jack collapsed).
:cheers:
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy. What made it so simple was that the tranny was supported on a jack & there was no x-member fitted. For an auto car it's worth thinking about dropping the tranny x-member & supporting the tranny on a good jack. You can then tilt the engine by lifting/dropping the tranny & getting the Headers in (from the bottom) is simple. If you do it this way be very careful not to drop the tranny so far that the distributer smacks into the firewall (I had some large blocks of wood of the correct height underneath to prevent that from happening if the jack collapsed).
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (UKPaul)
I used a Hacksaw to cut my old exhaust out. It just was easier and quicker for me than trying to wrestle with it. The ride to the exhaust shop should be pretty cool. :eek: Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (UKPaul)
Are you changing the engine mounts while you're in there? I changed mine only to find that they were both broken!
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy.
:cheers:
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy.
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
The other guys raise a really good point. Now would be a great time to change motor mounts, not after they're broken like me. :)
Also, changing them afterwards will probably necessitate removal of the headers again. Could you take pics of the mounts for me? I wanna know what I'm getting into.
-Steve
Also, changing them afterwards will probably necessitate removal of the headers again. Could you take pics of the mounts for me? I wanna know what I'm getting into.
-Steve
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
Likes: 0
From: Galloway NJ
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Alwyn678)
Are you changing the engine mounts while you're in there? I changed mine only to find that they were both broken!
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy.
:cheers:
Good point Paul come to think of i I also installed new engine mounts as well as both of mine were also broken :seeya
I found fitting my Dynomax Headers really easy.
:cheers:
Good point Paul come to think of i I also installed new engine mounts as well as both of mine were also broken :seeya
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
I'd recommend changing the mounts "while-you're-at-it", unless they've recently been done. Mine looked fine until I unbolted them as the rubber had come away from the metal backing plate & was impossible to see while the engine was sitting on them. Luckily I had the locking type fitted by a sensible previous owner.
I found changing the mounts a real PITA. The front bolts on the block are very difficult to get to & the d.side one also goes through the PS pump bracket (I think the p.side one also had something else hooked up to it, but I've done my best to forget about that job - frustrating & tedious to do, even without exhausts fitted. I'd hate to have to do it with Headers fitted). It's one of those jobs where I had to fit & remove those 2 bolts one flat at a time (although the others were easy) :(
Hi Alwyn,
After finding your mounts were broken have you had your driveshaft UJ's apart? I had mine apart & couldn't work out why such recently fitted bearings were showing as much wear as they did, then I found that my mounts were broken :) I don't think the bearings like the engine leaping about!
:cheers:
I found changing the mounts a real PITA. The front bolts on the block are very difficult to get to & the d.side one also goes through the PS pump bracket (I think the p.side one also had something else hooked up to it, but I've done my best to forget about that job - frustrating & tedious to do, even without exhausts fitted. I'd hate to have to do it with Headers fitted). It's one of those jobs where I had to fit & remove those 2 bolts one flat at a time (although the others were easy) :(
Hi Alwyn,
After finding your mounts were broken have you had your driveshaft UJ's apart? I had mine apart & couldn't work out why such recently fitted bearings were showing as much wear as they did, then I found that my mounts were broken :) I don't think the bearings like the engine leaping about!
:cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (UKPaul)
Hi Alwyn,
After finding your mounts were broken have you had your driveshaft UJ's apart? I had mine apart & couldn't work out why such recently fitted bearings were showing as much wear as they did, then I found that my mounts were broken :) I don't think the bearings like the engine leaping about!
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
If you haven't done so, I (like many others) will recomend using Percy's soft aluminum header gaskets. Just a header install tip to consider....remove the alternator brackets, and have the car up at least 24" off the ground. Slide the headers under the car. You can then point that #1 cylinder pipe on the header straight up tword the ceiling as the collector is on the floor, and wiggle it around steering box. Once that #1 Cldr pipe is sticking well above the engine...you should be able to lift the collector and drop it into place. Hard to describe...easy to do. OH YEAH...if your temp sensor is in the head.....remove it. Hope all goes well for you....good luck
Eddie :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Eddie :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,036
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From: Westfield Indiana
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Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
I checked UPS and my order is in town, should be here this afternoon. :D I'll be doing the same project this weekend. :hurray: However, I have a 4-speed to deal with, which means removing the Z-bar. That should be fun. :rolleyes: :lol:
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
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From: Galloway NJ
Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Captain Morgan)
I checked UPS and my order is in town, should be here this afternoon. :D I'll be doing the same project this weekend. :hurray: However, I have a 4-speed to deal with, which means removing the Z-bar. That should be fun. :rolleyes: :lol:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,036
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From: Westfield Indiana
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Re: [UPDATE] Header Install Part 1 (Metal_Wulf)
I'm very thankful that I have a garage here. :D I can work on the vette during rain or snow.