Installing Kooks - Need Help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Installing Kooks - Need Help
Well,
This is weekend #3 and still no way that I can see to install these headers. I have broken both motor mounts loose, jacked the engine up until the car lifts and used a 2x4 to move the engine to the side and still no luck.
The only thing I see left to do is start pulling the engine apart to make room - valve covers are already off as is the altenator. I have a clearance issue with the brake booster so I can pull the master cyclinder and booster cannister first and then drop the engine oil pan second. Before I do that does anyone have experienced suggestions with installing these things?
By the way, these are not my first headers to install on this car but these are the absolute worst set of headers I have ever tried to install and I swear I will never buy another set of Kooks, not after this.
Suggestions welcome and thanks for your time.
This is weekend #3 and still no way that I can see to install these headers. I have broken both motor mounts loose, jacked the engine up until the car lifts and used a 2x4 to move the engine to the side and still no luck.
The only thing I see left to do is start pulling the engine apart to make room - valve covers are already off as is the altenator. I have a clearance issue with the brake booster so I can pull the master cyclinder and booster cannister first and then drop the engine oil pan second. Before I do that does anyone have experienced suggestions with installing these things?
By the way, these are not my first headers to install on this car but these are the absolute worst set of headers I have ever tried to install and I swear I will never buy another set of Kooks, not after this.
Suggestions welcome and thanks for your time.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 7
From: Garland Texas
Really they are not that hard to install!
They both go in from the top. The pass side is the easy side if you can belive that. Jack the motor up over the top of the mount. Push the a/c lines over to the bat side as far as it can go, also take the starter out, car up as high as you can get it with jack stands. Oh hold face just right and they fall in lol.
Drivers side take the oil filter out move all wire and take the stering wheel linkage loose. move to the side. Same as the pass side move motor over the top of the motor mount and drop in from the top. 
Hope this helps! If you have done header before you know you need to get every thing that you can out of the way. Good luck.
They both go in from the top. The pass side is the easy side if you can belive that. Jack the motor up over the top of the mount. Push the a/c lines over to the bat side as far as it can go, also take the starter out, car up as high as you can get it with jack stands. Oh hold face just right and they fall in lol. Drivers side take the oil filter out move all wire and take the stering wheel linkage loose. move to the side. Same as the pass side move motor over the top of the motor mount and drop in from the top. Hope this helps! If you have done header before you know you need to get every thing that you can out of the way. Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
From: Litchfield Park AZ
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 7
From: Garland Texas
Both of those are great reads but the kooks have to go in from the top. I read both of those and had a bad time trying to install from the bottom. Guess we need to do a kooks install so pee's installing kooks do not wast to much time trying to install them the wrong way. Great lead thow Bigfoot99.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
I have both motor mounts loose, no nuts on either of the top posts.
I have the valve covers off.
I have the steering linkage pulled up next to the brake booster.
I pulled my SLP's off no problems.
The starter had to come off to remove my SLP's and it is still off.
My intake manifold is off since I am installing a FAST 90 at this time.
My engine mount posts are still sticking up through the engine bolt hole - is this correct? That may be limiting the amount of side to side travel I can get.
I have been jacking the motor up all the way - maybe that is too much?
The header hangs on the vacuum brake booster. Any ideas?
I have the valve covers off.
I have the steering linkage pulled up next to the brake booster.
I pulled my SLP's off no problems.
The starter had to come off to remove my SLP's and it is still off.
My intake manifold is off since I am installing a FAST 90 at this time.
My engine mount posts are still sticking up through the engine bolt hole - is this correct? That may be limiting the amount of side to side travel I can get.
I have been jacking the motor up all the way - maybe that is too much?
The header hangs on the vacuum brake booster. Any ideas?
Last edited by jeanlucpicard; Jan 27, 2007 at 03:36 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 7
From: Garland Texas
On the driver side.
I took the Alt out with the bracket. Then i jacked the motor till it came over the mount bolt and used a 2x4 to move the motor over to the pass side a little, Then i put the headers on end and went down and through to the back and it just fell in if you can believe that lol. Ok the picture is not good but this is what it looks like before you put the header in.
I took the Alt out with the bracket. Then i jacked the motor till it came over the mount bolt and used a 2x4 to move the motor over to the pass side a little, Then i put the headers on end and went down and through to the back and it just fell in if you can believe that lol.
Ok the picture is not good but this is what it looks like before you put the header in.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,267
Likes: 40
From: Phoenix AZ
Wow. Having just done my first set of headers, I cant understand how you are having that much trouble unless the Kooks are that much different than the LG's I put on.
All I had to do was only loosen the starter, motor mounts, and remove the coil packs. I didnt even take the spark plugs out (was very carefull not to break them).
But my driver side went in from the bottom, passenger from the top.
Maybe you just need a second set of hands to help you guide them in.
All I had to do was only loosen the starter, motor mounts, and remove the coil packs. I didnt even take the spark plugs out (was very carefull not to break them).
But my driver side went in from the bottom, passenger from the top.
Maybe you just need a second set of hands to help you guide them in.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Okay, got both sides in
The trick seems to be to jack up the engine as high as it will go, then jack it up some more until something snaps. Then jack it up a bit more. Using a 2x4 wedge the engine to the side, slide the header in as far as it will go and then beat the crap out of it with a 10lb sledge until it drops in place.
Repeat the process for the passenger side while trying not to bust an A/C line.
At least I can finish up now and install everything and get the car running - right after I finish this 6-pack of beer
Thanks to all you folks for the help, the Forum comes through again.
The trick seems to be to jack up the engine as high as it will go, then jack it up some more until something snaps. Then jack it up a bit more. Using a 2x4 wedge the engine to the side, slide the header in as far as it will go and then beat the crap out of it with a 10lb sledge until it drops in place.
Repeat the process for the passenger side while trying not to bust an A/C line.
At least I can finish up now and install everything and get the car running - right after I finish this 6-pack of beer
Thanks to all you folks for the help, the Forum comes through again.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,760
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
I have both motor mounts loose, no nuts on either of the top posts.
I have the valve covers off.
I have the steering linkage pulled up next to the brake booster.
I pulled my SLP's off no problems.
The starter had to come off to remove my SLP's and it is still off.
My intake manifold is off since I am installing a FAST 90 at this time.
My engine mount posts are still sticking up through the engine bolt hole - is this correct? That may be limiting the amount of side to side travel I can get.
I have been jacking the motor up all the way - maybe that is too much?
The header hangs on the vacuum brake booster. Any ideas?
I have the valve covers off.
I have the steering linkage pulled up next to the brake booster.
I pulled my SLP's off no problems.
The starter had to come off to remove my SLP's and it is still off.
My intake manifold is off since I am installing a FAST 90 at this time.
My engine mount posts are still sticking up through the engine bolt hole - is this correct? That may be limiting the amount of side to side travel I can get.
I have been jacking the motor up all the way - maybe that is too much?
The header hangs on the vacuum brake booster. Any ideas?
You unbolted the mounts from the wrong side. 
That's why you were not getting the rocking leverage with the 2x4 that is needed. While the Kooks are much harder than any other I have installed, they were not that bad. Hope the reassembly goes easier for you, enjoy the new found ponies.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Evergreen colorado
Okay, got both sides in
The trick seems to be to jack up the engine as high as it will go, then jack it up some more until something snaps. Then jack it up a bit more. Using a 2x4 wedge the engine to the side, slide the header in as far as it will go and then beat the crap out of it with a 10lb sledge until it drops in place.
Repeat the process for the passenger side while trying not to bust an A/C line.
At least I can finish up now and install everything and get the car running - right after I finish this 6-pack of beer
Thanks to all you folks for the help, the Forum comes through again.
The trick seems to be to jack up the engine as high as it will go, then jack it up some more until something snaps. Then jack it up a bit more. Using a 2x4 wedge the engine to the side, slide the header in as far as it will go and then beat the crap out of it with a 10lb sledge until it drops in place.
Repeat the process for the passenger side while trying not to bust an A/C line.
At least I can finish up now and install everything and get the car running - right after I finish this 6-pack of beer
Thanks to all you folks for the help, the Forum comes through again.
Great response...Now if you buy a 12 pack you have something to do while you are finding all the extra parts and pieces and of course tools. Then hand to back with a job well done......
Jarad
