Help with Headers, wont fit!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Help with Headers, wont fit!
I cant get my headers in, I worked all afternoon but just cant get them in. I tried going in from the bottom, didnt work. I tried from the top and it almost fits. So whats the trick to these things?
BTW they're Lingenfelters 1 5/8" long tubes.
BTW they're Lingenfelters 1 5/8" long tubes.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
I understand that some headers require grinding the frame a little bit. Did it come with instructions?
Where are you having trouble fitting? On to on the head or on the bottom?
Where are you having trouble fitting? On to on the head or on the bottom?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
No instructions as I didnt buy them brand new, but they're in good shape. On the driver's side it slides down and gets caught between the steering shaft and the cylinder head. On the passenger side it gets caught by the wiring going in from the bottom, and gets caught by the cylinder head going in from the top.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 5
From: Fresno CA
I have those same headers on my 85 and they are not easy to install that's for sure but if you removed the two diagonal braces from the front crossmember they should go in from underneath the car with it up in the air.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
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From: sw Ohio
Well I had that sucker up high enough to put cinder blocks underneath the tires. I didnt feel comfortable with it being up so high. That sucks that I have to take the braces out, but if thats the only way, then I guess i'll try that.
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Race Director
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From: Rolla Missouri
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Those things have been known to crumble under the weight of an auto.
Even a Corvette is too heavy for their use.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
They are not individual.
Did that make any sense?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: sw Ohio
Oh crap, no it wasnt sitting ON the cinder blocks. I had the car jacked up and the jack stands as high as they would go on both sides. I put cinder blocks under the wheels cause it never hurts to have a back up plan should the stands or the jack fail.
I'm not so sure about taking the brace things out, looks like part of the frame to me.
I'm not so sure about taking the brace things out, looks like part of the frame to me.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
The braces MUST come out. The car won't break in half while your installing the headers. I've had mine in & out several times w/ headers, oil pan, rebuild, etc etc. over the years. They are a brace, nothing more, nothing less. Some earlier years have smaller versions or none at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
On my 86 the diagonal braces are a piece of cake to remove. There are two of them that can be removed individually.
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
On my 86 the diagonal braces are a piece of cake to remove. There are two of them that can be removed individually.
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
Do you have pix of these braces? i'm curious if my 87 is missing them...
-- Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
"i'm curious if my 87 is missing them..."
Can't miss them if they are there.Two pieces of scrap metal from center of front X-member to frame rails level with 2nd cyl back.
In '87 at least they were part of the Z51 handling package , unsure of when they became std fitment.
Can't miss them if they are there.Two pieces of scrap metal from center of front X-member to frame rails level with 2nd cyl back.
In '87 at least they were part of the Z51 handling package , unsure of when they became std fitment.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/tunnel1.JPG
http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/tunnel2.JPG
-- Joe
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
On my 86 the diagonal braces are a piece of cake to remove. There are two of them that can be removed individually.
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
If yours are the same, they begin toward the center of the engine and move outward, diagonally. About 18" long, give or take.
Only two bolts on each, one at each end of the brace. If I remember right, the center bolts call for a 15mm socket, can't remember about the outboard ones though.
Removing them is no biggie.
Jake
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Alright, i'm back with good news. After removing the cross braces I managed to wiggle them up in there. BTW they are 2 seperate pieces with a 15mm bolt in the middle and a 13mm bolt on the outside, oh and its a lot easier to remove the middle bolts and then the outside bolts.
Ok moving on, with a new problem, they're in there but the bolts wont go in! The head of the bolts run into the runners, doh! So what kind of special bolts do I need to put in there? I was using standard length and size header bolts BTW.
Ok moving on, with a new problem, they're in there but the bolts wont go in! The head of the bolts run into the runners, doh! So what kind of special bolts do I need to put in there? I was using standard length and size header bolts BTW.