How do you install headers
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,403
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From: Denver CO
How do you install headers
I know how to bolt them and and where they go, but my question is am I in for some other problems as I do them. The last time I installed a pair was in 1987 on a 1977 Monte Carlo.
If someone can write a step by step I would be most appriciative.
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These are shorties by the way.
[Modified by Glasman66, 9:50 AM 9/13/2002]
If someone can write a step by step I would be most appriciative.
\
These are shorties by the way.
[Modified by Glasman66, 9:50 AM 9/13/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
On my L98 they went in from underneath. I had to remove the manifolds & gaskets. I then removed two angular frame braces for more room. Just slide them up into place and try to hand start the outter bolts. Then you can hang it there and drop the header gasket(s) into place. Then you want to snug each one up and I started tighteniing the inside bolts first. The rearmost bolt on the passenger side is the ultimate hard one on my car.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: How do you install headers (Glasman66)
Since you have an 94, you have an LT1, making your life easy. You'll just need to get the manifolds out of the way by removing all of their bolts, be careful with the dipstick tube, you'll probably need to remove it.
If you are using Hooker 2151's you can easily slide them in from the bottom. You will probably need to turn the motor mount bolts around the other direction or they will hit the headers.
Getting the manifolds out of the way and turning around the motor mount bolts will take you a lot more time than actually installing the headers. Overall it's a real straightforward job that could be completed in a day. Then you'll need to get your exhaust fabricated to re attach.
Hmm, just saw you said they were shorties. I would remove the manifold, catalytic converter assembly from the car completely since it's pretty easy to do. Then remove the manifold from the cat and bolt on the shorties while it's on the workbench! Then put it back in the opposite way. You won't have to turn the motor mount bolt around for shorties.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 10:11 AM 9/13/2002]
If you are using Hooker 2151's you can easily slide them in from the bottom. You will probably need to turn the motor mount bolts around the other direction or they will hit the headers.
Getting the manifolds out of the way and turning around the motor mount bolts will take you a lot more time than actually installing the headers. Overall it's a real straightforward job that could be completed in a day. Then you'll need to get your exhaust fabricated to re attach.
Hmm, just saw you said they were shorties. I would remove the manifold, catalytic converter assembly from the car completely since it's pretty easy to do. Then remove the manifold from the cat and bolt on the shorties while it's on the workbench! Then put it back in the opposite way. You won't have to turn the motor mount bolt around for shorties.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 10:11 AM 9/13/2002]
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 587
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From: Phx/but its a dry blast furnace kinda heat AZ
Re: How do you install headers (Glasman66)
My Hooker shorties went in from the top on both sides. I had to get the EGR tube on the passenger side shortened by 3/4" and rewelded. The worst part was getting the rear most header bolts on each side tightened. I had to take a box wrench and grind the outer ring down to make it very thin so that it would slip over the bolt head that was very close to the header tube. Most of the bolts I could get a socket to fit on them. You also have to slightly modify the AC compressor brackets. I used the 12 point locking Stage8 bolts to help eliminate the loose bolts issue and after about 1500 miles or so... so far so good. I also bought a new set of GM flange studs and used them to bolt the cats up to the header flanges. Otherwise it was just too cramp to insert bolts up from the bottom to the flanges. 2 of the three were fairly easy but one of the studs has some pretty tight access. Had to use a different tool/method to tighten each one of them but that wasn't too bad. Hope this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Re: How do you install headers (khornet)
I'm running smog legal JBA shortys that are ceramic coated. If your's are coated and set up for smog, be sure to run a tap throught the A.I.R. threads on the headers before you try to screw in the air pipe. The ceramic coating builds up on the inside threads and makes it impossible to tighten down the air pipe without first removing the excess build up.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 587
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From: Phx/but its a dry blast furnace kinda heat AZ
Re: How do you install headers (ittlfly)
The ceramic coating builds up on the inside threads and makes it impossible to tighten down the air pipe without first removing the excess build up.
