Installing Melrose Headers on 1984 Corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
Installing Melrose Headers on 1984 Corvette
I can piece together different information but cannot seem to find any about Melrose headers going onto an '84. I've been waiting on multiple shops to have an opening since October, but since they still aren't available, I am tempted to do the install before I go back to school next week. I've read that installing Melrose is easy, but I do not know exactly what I will have to change. For example, will I need to replace the starter with a smaller one and will I have problems with spark plugs? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as this '84 is my first car.
Thank you,
James
Thank you,
James
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,943
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
I can piece together different information but cannot seem to find any about Melrose headers going onto an '84. I've been waiting on multiple shops to have an opening since October, but since they still aren't available, I am tempted to do the install before I go back to school next week. I've read that installing Melrose is easy, but I do not know exactly what I will have to change. For example, will I need to replace the starter with a smaller one and will I have problems with spark plugs? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as this '84 is my first car.
Thank you,
James
Thank you,
James
Edit: somewhere here http://garage.grumpysperformance.com...ss-fires.2796/
Last edited by 84 4+3; Jan 2, 2019 at 11:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
@84 4+3 I read through everything and Grumpy said they were great headers that were easy to install but never said anything about the installation process itself. There's a lot of useful information to be learned from Grumpy's forums and thanks for the link.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,943
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From: New Jersey
@84 4+3 I read through everything and Grumpy said they were great headers that were easy to install but never said anything about the installation process itself. There's a lot of useful information to be learned from Grumpy's forums and thanks for the link.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
Did you buy their full kit (headers, x pipe and pipes to mufflers) or just the headers? If just the headers you will need to have the skills to mate the headers to the factory front y-pipe. I believe the collectors are 3 inch so you would need to be able to weld in a reducer pipe and potentially have some pipe bent to get the correct angles.
If you bought the kit, go for it. You have a week to get it done and it's a good afternoons/day's work installing headers, depending on your skills and tools, without a lift but is very much doable.
If you bought the kit, go for it. You have a week to get it done and it's a good afternoons/day's work installing headers, depending on your skills and tools, without a lift but is very much doable.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
@85WHITEZ51 I bought the whole kit so I shouldn't have to do any pipe bending or welding. Thanks for the input. I'm still waiting for someone to say something about the spark plugs. I also forgot to mention it in my initial post, but my repair manual says to drain the coolant and I don't know why. I'm close to having all the information I was looking for and it looks like I'm going to tackle it myself at this point.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
I have TPIS headers on my 85 so those could be different but I needed the shorty header plugs on my car when it was stock due to the straight plug design on our cars. The standard length was causing some interference with the headers to the point I'm sure it would have melted a wire. I went with the accel header plugs and things fit better. I went back to standard plugs when I put my ZZ4 in as it has angled plugs.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
@85WHITEZ51 Would different wires be needed for shorter plugs or would normal wires still work? I'm hoping normal because I just replaced my wires a year and a half ago.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
Normal wires will fit header plugs as the ends are the same. I swapped in some taylor wires at the time as I needed new wires and they were a bit smaller in that area but I don't think that would be required. Big thing was jet getting a tad more space. May be different for the melrose headers vs TPIS but I'd have that in your mind when doing the install.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 152
From: norway
https://www.sparkplugs.com/product.aspx?zpid=20762 you can use this , i do ! shorty lenght and low price
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: norway
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,234
Likes: 1,672
From: Long Island
DEI makes a great plug wire protector for the headers.
I went with a mini starter after 3 regular starters, But I am pushing a lot more HP.
Moroso wires are the best as far as temp resistance followed by Accel .
I went with a mini starter after 3 regular starters, But I am pushing a lot more HP.
Moroso wires are the best as far as temp resistance followed by Accel .
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: moraga ca
I'm not sure if this was answered or if this was your question, but you need to remove the spark plugs first (after disconnecting the negative battery terminal). If you don't you will break a plug or two. Remove the original manifold and exhaust and install the new system. It's not rocket science and easy to figure out. Just use common sense. After you're done, replace the plugs. You will then know if you need shorty plugs. Doing it yourself will save you $$$ and you will learn along the way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 179
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From: Missouri
@85WHITEZ51 @corvettenorway I contacted Melrose and they said they haven't heard of anyone having spark plug issues but I'll definitely come back to this thread if I have problems. Thanks for the info.
@BLUE1972 I'll check out those protectors if I have issues. Thanks for the tip.
@383vett That's what my Haynes Manual says and it makes sense. However, it also says to drain the coolant and remove the oil dipstick tube. Any reason to drain the coolant and how does one go about removing the oil dipstick tube?
Once again guys, thanks for all the help. I'll try to tackle this myself unless my dad doesn't want to help me if I fail. XD
@BLUE1972 I'll check out those protectors if I have issues. Thanks for the tip.
@383vett That's what my Haynes Manual says and it makes sense. However, it also says to drain the coolant and remove the oil dipstick tube. Any reason to drain the coolant and how does one go about removing the oil dipstick tube?
Once again guys, thanks for all the help. I'll try to tackle this myself unless my dad doesn't want to help me if I fail. XD
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
@85WHITEZ51 @corvettenorway I contacted Melrose and they said they haven't heard of anyone having spark plug issues but I'll definitely come back to this thread if I have problems. Thanks for the info.
@BLUE1972 I'll check out those protectors if I have issues. Thanks for the tip.
@383vett That's what my Haynes Manual says and it makes sense. However, it also says to drain the coolant and remove the oil dipstick tube. Any reason to drain the coolant and how does one go about removing the oil dipstick tube?
Once again guys, thanks for all the help. I'll try to tackle this myselftube unless my dad doesn't want to help me if I fail. XD
@BLUE1972 I'll check out those protectors if I have issues. Thanks for the tip.
@383vett That's what my Haynes Manual says and it makes sense. However, it also says to drain the coolant and remove the oil dipstick tube. Any reason to drain the coolant and how does one go about removing the oil dipstick tube?
Once again guys, thanks for all the help. I'll try to tackle this myselftube unless my dad doesn't want to help me if I fail. XD
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,943
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From: New Jersey
@383vett Thank you.I don't want to end up like someone else I was reading about who broke their oil dipstick tube and my manual just told me to remove it and not how.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 91
From: Leander TX
I think the drain the coolant portion comes from the knock sensor. They aren't really in the way so I didn't remove mine but I could see a shop manual advising to remove them so it doesn't accidentally get broken.