I am looking at installing some headers on the car and was wondering if it is as difficult as everyone is saying. I am looking at LG's and maybe Dynatech's. Do I have to lift the motor to install these systems? How long will it take to install headers?

Thanks

 

It depends on which brand headers you chooose. I have TPIS and was dreading doing the install myself. Turned out it wasn't bad at all. I did not drop the starter or have to jack the motor up. There are a few things that need to come off for them to drop in, but they were all easy to remove I did the driver's from the bottom & the passenger from the top. Scott

 

dynatech pretty easy. Have to take off the coils and then loosen the starter and those go in from the top and the driver side goes in from the bottom. Have to lift the car up to 23 inch i think high enough to angle the header in from underneath. No need to jack motor or anything. Oh and the alternator needs to come off, but thats no biggie either. Good luck!!!

 

The entire install was straightforward right from the directions.

No problems other than getting the car up so high.

Good luck but you probably won't need any.

 

I do headers on the C5 all the time on the ground as I do not have a lift yet. Nothing is impossible, just time consuming the more mechanicaly inclined you are the quicker it might be. Just take your time and it should work out fine.

-=Rick

 

The worst part I remember is getting the car up high enough to put the driver side header in from the bottom. Oh, and don't forget to bolt up the starter before you tighten the passenger side header.

 

anyone else?

 

 

timewise, plan on at least 4 hrs.

 

I didn't think it was bad at all. My install is on this page .

 

I installed Dynatech headers. Don't be worried about jacking the motor to install these headers. For the Dynatechs and I assume the LG headers, you can jack up the motor 1/2" (per LS1HOWTO.com instructions) to install the drivers side header from the bottom. You will not have to loosen the motor mount, just unbolt the ground wire from the drivers side of the block (for added clearance). Use a bottle jack and a block of wood as described in LS1HOWTO.com.
Some people have installed the headers without jacking up the motor and still others have installed them from the top by unbolting the steering shaft. Installing headers is not all that difficult, take your time, follow the directions for your headers and use LS1HOWTO.com instructions for ideas when things aren't going well. The LS1---- instructions contain torque values and nut/bolt sizes which my instructions did not have.
The most difficult thing on my install was attaching the wire harness on the passenger side so that it wouldn't contact the header. I attached two zip-ties thru the holes in the frame before intalling the header. I then attached another zip-tie to each of the these to hold the wire harness up.
I did have to loosen the starter motor. If you have to do this, tighten the starter motor bolts after the header is in place, but before you install the header bolts.
Also I would run a tap into the header bolt holes in the block, to clean up the threads before installing the new headers. 8mm x 1.25 thread pitch.

 

I installed FLP Long Tube Headers; high flow CATs, and X-Pipe on my 1999 C5 in 4.5 hours. No, you don't not have to live the engine, but I highly recommend using a Lift to do the install. You'll also find an extra pair of hands will come in handy, so if you have a friend or someone willing to help you out that would speed up the install.

LG Headers, one thing I don't like about the LG's is the behind the CAT 02 Sensors are too far to the rear in the exhaust system for my liking. You could have some code issues with that setup if you're not careful during the install, maybe not. A lota folks like em and have had good luck with em, but the ones I heard of that do all have had the LG's installed by someone that does it for a living.

Bottom line, installing headers is work. It takes time and some determination. I've installed three sets of headers on my C5 and each time the install job goes faster and a little easier, but it's still work.

Again, put your Vette on a lift, have some help, and your project will be a lot less painful and time consuming

Good luck,

Cecil
German-American Corvette Club
Baden-Wurttemberg
Heidelberg, Germany
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Born: Alexandria, Virginia (A long time ago )