Hey guys, little background, i have an 87 L-98 that is fully stuck, I am currently in the process of installing a set of hooker 2151, they do not have any input for air, i thought id give a bit of a wright up, not sure if itll help but why not! I am not finished so ill stop when i get to my current point.


Driver side really goes in like a dream, i believe (14mm) deep well and normal socket, on a breaker bar, followed by a ratchet really does the trick. I expect the bolts to be difficult to remove as the manifolds have likely never been removed, but i soaked them in pb blaster for a night and they all easily break free.
first id say remove all spark plugs and label the wires.
2.) jack up the car and start removing the 3 bolts that bolt the exhaust into the manifold, this ended up being difficult because one bolt had a nut on top, the other 2 did not, to remove the nut i had a buddy help me out, and after a bit of swearing all 3 bolts were out.
3.) I would begin removing all .... 6... correct me if i am wrong.... bolts that go to the manifold, easy enough, then disconnect the air tubing, and it should come straight up.
4.) i used a degreaser to clean some of the rubber lines that were hiding under the manifold, i believe it was a oil line and i then wrapped them in a heat shield this will deflect the radial heat from the header.
5.) Clean up were the old gasket was, sorry this is where i am on this side i havent put in my header yet

EXHAUST DROP
well now that your confidants is up because the drivers side went so well its now time to remove the rest of the exhaust, ill tell you how i did it (NOT A MECHANIC) but it worked well,
1.) Remove bolts that are above mufflers.
2.) Unhook the air hose that goes to the CAT.
3.) remove 3 bolts to pass side manifold.
4.) remove 1 bolt and nut that are connected to a strong rubber strap behind the cat,
5.) at this point the exhaust came down for me!

PASSENGER SIDE
Just looking at this side you can go, wow this is really going to suck....

1.) break free any of the six bolts you can, this required for me to disconnect some of the AC hoses, youll likely be able to easily remove 4 bolts i had difficult with 2 of them particularity.
2.) the 2 bolts closes too the passenger are a PAIN IN THE ***, i was able to get a normal wrench on there and slowly remove them, i mean painfully slowly...
4.) once all of those bolts are removed you get to VERY CAREFULLY remove the 2 T-40 bolts that hold the EGR pipe, and guess what my T-40 socket didnt fit, (between the pipe and the distributor) so i actually ended up using the hand held t-40 i use for removing the targa top and i was able to remove them.
5.) With great difficulty unplug the egr temp sensor,
6.) Remove air hook ups, AT this point my guess is it may come out threw the bottom if you remove the exhaust, but i did not, my exhaust was laying on the ground under the car. If i could go back i would attempt that, because currently...... my exhaust manifold is stuck between a pipe for the AIR system and the CAT hook up, ill let you know when i get it out.


Anyways, thats were the process is right now, not sure if this will help anyone, but not being a mechanic i run into almost every problem possible it seems so i hope it helps someone!

 

Nice write up.

 

also I thought you may find these interesting, I primed and painted the once coated headers I received from another forum member, I scuffed, degreased, painted and heat treated them!

Also

 

They were more rusted than they look trust me

 

Your wife is gonna beat your *** for using the kids swing for a parts holder, lol. Be sure to use antiseeze when putting it back together.

 

After a bit of swearing one side is on! Gasket sat well with what I hope is no overhang. I now realize I forgot to use anti seize on the header bolts... so I'm going to take them out one by one and apply anti seize... but this side really isn't too bad. I've got a mini starter on the way from another member, and then I'll get to work on the drivers side

 

oh also, how in the heck.... can it be possible to reuse that bracket for the alternator... does anyone have any suggestions or parts I can use to make a new bracket? Thank you!

 

You don't need the rear bracket on the Alternator as much as you need it for the compressor. I do without it.

Its a must have on the compressor.

 

For the brackets, cut a piece of pipe to the right length and use it as a spacer with a long bolt.

 

Hooker sells collectors for an o 2 hook up. They,or it, is fairly cheap.

 

Primarly finished up the header install today!
passanger side I would say you will suffer....

i became unlucky as always and broke the dipstick off in the block, but I also was able to remove the rest without dropping the pan so be careful there, once you have that removed I replaced the starter with a mini starter "after header was in place" which I added some thermos type tap too just for alittle extra fun.

Then came the number 8 bolt. I installed one bolt only loosely which held the header in place, then I was able to install the number 8 bolt by hand, so once that was done and I had it in place, I used a very interesting tool. I untilized a breaker bar with a "3/8 hook" type socket, which made tightening it up very easy. Now my headers are on!

once everything is installed I've been going over the work and doing visual inspections, taping wires back where need be and adding some of those heat shields too the spark plug wires, I haven't gotten a new dipstick yet it's on the way, HOPEFULLY but doubtfully it goes in well, and I'll CHANGE THE OIL and fire it up! A lot of junk may have fallen in well removing the dipstick.
The remainder of the exhaust work will be West aside corvettes problem!, I've been talking to "Dave" and he seems helpful and friendly. He will work the headers back to new mufflers and make me new support brackets, I've cut myself enough on this project... I'll let you know on price and costumer service!

 

I had my headers installed yesterday. Your gonna love the new feel and sound. I started to do it two years ago but decided not to finish with the headers so they sat in the garage ever since. BTW, I bought the Headman Headers at Summits clearance table. There was a stack of them for C-4 L-98 vettes. Found out why yesterday... we had to custom fit (by hammer) to install. best of luck with yours, your love the result.

 

Im very excited to get this finished, I got lucky and bought mine used, someone had pre "costume" fitted them in certain locations so they fit with no modifications from me!