Alright, it is almost go time and I want to make sure I can do this before I order the parts. I will be replacing the headers in my 1990 to a Hooker long tube and I have a few questions:
1. What tools will I need? I have a Craftsman 96 piece tool set with a basic line-up of sockets both standard and metric. A set of torx bits. A torque wrench.
2. What is the estimated time it should take a beginner to do this?
3. Will I be able to do this with only a floor jack and some jack stands?
4. Will the car still be California smog legal?
5. Anything you can think of that I might not know or am not asking?

Thanks for any input.
I will also be posting a seperate question in another post about roller rockers reguarding the same type of questions. If you can also help with that, please head on over to that post. Thanx!!!

Parts I will be ordering:
HOK-2149 - Chevrolet: 1984-91 350 Corvette, metallic ceramic coating, Super Competition headers
HOK-16720 - Y-pipe
PACE800028 - Pace Setter Hi Flow Cat 3" 5.9L max

 

I seriously doubt the car will pass smog in California. They are particularly nasty about everything having a CARB EO# on it. Even though you can connect them through a y-pipe into a cat they'll fail you immediately because it isn't OEM equipment and doesn't have a CARB number on it. Never mind the fact that you'll actually produce less emissions than some 20 year old POS, you'll fail because you don't have original stuff.

Don't you just love California?

 

1. Your probably set with the tools, although impact tools can be helpful on some really rusted stuff, also a can of PB Blaster helps when you get stuck on stuff. For my header install TPIS Long-Tubes I had to make a special tool for tighening #8 bolt, you probably will too as its really really tight. Nothing a trip to hte hardware store and a Dremal can't fix.

2. Took me about 12 hours total over a couple weeks my first time. If I did it all in one day might have been 8 hours but would have been a very long day. Most of that time was just removing the old exhaust system, it didn't want to leave.
The actual header install with TPIS was really easy. 30 minutes for the driver's side, about 2-3 for the passanger (damn #8 bolt was most of that time)

3. Not sure about Hookers but TPIS "recommends" 25" of cleanance. Now with a jack and jackstands that isn't going to happen. I did my TPIS wiht 14.5" of cleanance. Was a little tight, but no problems, anyways I only had to bring the passanger side from underneath.

4. I live in Ohio, I passed, but we aren't as picky as you guys out there. Just need to have a cat converter and pass your levels after that they don't care. Can you guys get out of testing if you declare the car as "collectors"? Can here, going to do that with my '94 when I swap the Hooker shorties on it to TPIS longtubes and loose the cats.

5. Think your probably set. Do a search for other peoples installs. I know if you search on TPIS Headers there was a VERY helpful 6 part series with pictures, good reference.

 

:iagree:
You better check on that stuff in Cali before ordering. Here's what I did to get to all of the bolts on my Hooker's.




I had to put it on a bench grinder. Oh and if you do this dont do it to a nice craftsmand wrench. do it to a cheapo. You can see my header install thread in my sig too. :cheers: