Header Installation time and difficulty
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
Header Installation time and difficulty
I'm thinking about buying some new longtube headers/xpipes for my "99" automatic coupe. I'm looking at thex/s power longtubes. I guess I'm getting lazy because i inquired at a local shop in Va. Beach about how much labor they would charge to install them. The guy said around $875.00 labor! That seemed real high to me! I've got a 4 post lift and I am a retired mechanic with all the tools needed to do just about anything car wise but i am getting a little old
. My question is Is it really that big a job? I know I can do it but was just wondering how they justify that much money to put on a set of headers?
. My question is Is it really that big a job? I know I can do it but was just wondering how they justify that much money to put on a set of headers?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
do it yourself! I did it on jackstands in my garage. the lift will make the job that much easier and safer. take your time. I did mine over the course of a week. I worked during the day and spent each evening in the garage. I did a bunch of other maintenence items while I was at it. It will NOT take you a week to do, I just wanted to take my time. go slow and enjoy the project. being a mechanic, you could probably do this job with your eyes closed.
good luck with the install
good luck with the install
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
The labor doesn't sound to off. I know on my Jeep SRT8 they say the headers are 8-9 hour labors, which at a mechanic shop charging $90-$100 bucks an hour...would be around $720-$900. Thankfully I had a friend that his buddy owns a mechanic shop and got my headers (On Jeep) installed for about $300 on a Saturday with one guy working on it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
the catch is you may have some minor issues and you need to be equipped to deal with them. in my case, I ended up with a rattle upon making a left turn; turns out the pipes were not completely separated which required spot welding in 4 places; do you have a welder in case you run into this? also, the car should be retuned after the install because the engine will breath so much better...
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,447
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
On jackstands, how high does the car need to be?
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
On jackstands, how high does the car need to be?
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
Banned Scam/Spammer
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Banned Scam/Spammer
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
The ones I'm looking at are at Huron Speed. They are the x/s power long tubes with x pipe and cats. Has anyone here put these particular headers on? How was the fittment? Any problems with quality?
Thanks Dave
Thanks Dave
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
I'm thinking about buying some new longtube headers/xpipes for my "99" automatic coupe. I'm looking at thex/s power longtubes. I guess I'm getting lazy because i inquired at a local shop in Va. Beach about how much labor they would charge to install them. The guy said around $875.00 labor! That seemed real high to me! I've got a 4 post lift and I am a retired mechanic with all the tools needed to do just about anything car wise but i am getting a little old. My question is Is it really that big a job? I know I can do it but was just wondering how they justify that much money to put on a set of headers?
. My question is Is it really that big a job? I know I can do it but was just wondering how they justify that much money to put on a set of headers?I've delt with these guys before [rear gears/tune] and they do quality work.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 36
From: Indiana
Definitely do it yourself, its a cake walk. I had mine maybe 20 inches up on jackstands in the front, and the back tires on Rhino Ramps, and that was enough Height. Took me probably around 5 hours start to finish, but I've done 4 header installs on 98-02 F-Bodys, my first time on those took probably 8-9 hours
thats about right...If I recall my guys were in this range I think $350...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,753
Likes: 167
From: Youngsville North Carolina
Only early issue was the collector bolts coming loose, but replaced with better locking bolts and its been fine to date...
If your up around the raleigh area let me know and ya can check em out...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
I had them installed, but was at the shop while it was going on and seem pretty straight forward to me. That was a little over a year ago and all is well.
Only early issue was the collector bolts coming loose, but replaced with better locking bolts and its been fine to date...
If your up around the raleigh area let me know and ya can check em out...
Only early issue was the collector bolts coming loose, but replaced with better locking bolts and its been fine to date...
If your up around the raleigh area let me know and ya can check em out...
Thanks, Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
On jackstands, how high does the car need to be?
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
I have mine up now for the HCI work, and tried to test fit the XS power headers and there was no way at the height I'm at. I can lay under the car, but not much elbow room.
XS power couldn't tell me how high it needed to be.
Your going to have to be close to 24" in the air.
Do your self a favor.
With the money you would be saving by doing mod's on you car yourself.
Do something simmilar as to what I did prior to doing my headers, x pipe & vararam.
Go buy yourself a very good set of 4 jack stands.
I went to Sears and bought 4 Craftsnan Professional 6 Ton-12000 lb,
rachet locking jackstands. Height goes from 15-3/8" to 24-5/16"
I know this is over kill in regards to the weight capacity, but I
figured I could also use the stands on my 1 ton Diesel van & any other type vehicle that I may own in the future.
Besides these were able to get to the height that I needed to get my LG long tube pro's in.
Good luck & work safely.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 189
From: beach
St. Jude Donor '13
I wondered about that too. I asked and he told me that they are made in Georgia. Their website lists the company's location in N. Carolina. So who knows? They sure are nice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 852
Likes: 3
From: Mobile Alabama
Also used the tutorial JWM Motoring suggested (cajundude) which is better than the XSPower instructions.
You will need a friend to help you and will need to remove starter to get passenger side in. I guess altogether it took about 7 hours with a couple of breaks.
I got a mail order tune by Doug at ECS and am very happy with it.
Mine were done using jackstands guessing about 18 inches high.
Take your time and it will be easy. and I am not a mechanic. Should be a piece of cake for you.
Superman09 on this Forum has GREAT prices on the XSPower headers. Edit: (Just noticed he is now using Huron Speed website-great prices still and they almost look too good to be hidden under the car.)
Last edited by Quick Draw; Jan 3, 2012 at 10:38 PM.
