c5 header
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: houston texas
you'll be looking at around 6-7 hours from start to finish. the job isn't too bad in terms of difficulty, it's just time consuming. what brand of headers are you installing?
the necessary tools on hand, jacks, jack stands and car ramps are essential if you do not have access to a car lift. space is very limited so small hands help alot. plan to go ahead and change your oil and filter at the same time, i installed kooks lt's and had to remove my oil filter in order to pass the lower end by the oil pan. you'll more than likely have to remove the engine mount bolts in order to jack up the motor a couple of inches for clearance also.
overall, the job isn't too bad if you have a mechanical background.
the necessary tools on hand, jacks, jack stands and car ramps are essential if you do not have access to a car lift. space is very limited so small hands help alot. plan to go ahead and change your oil and filter at the same time, i installed kooks lt's and had to remove my oil filter in order to pass the lower end by the oil pan. you'll more than likely have to remove the engine mount bolts in order to jack up the motor a couple of inches for clearance also.
overall, the job isn't too bad if you have a mechanical background.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Depends on the header. I use Stainless works on my C5 and C6 Titanium on my 06 C6 Coupe, They BOTH fit in from the BOTTOM. I do mine on jack stands and the max time is 3 hrs for me.
BC
BC
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 415
Likes: 16
From: Toronto
Certainly possible. The local MrTransmission (a customer of mine) allowed me to use a hoist on a Saturday....
With a drive on hoist, I had mine done in less than 4 hours. The next 2 hours I spent neatly cutting O2 wires and cutting holes in the cover plate under there. Time was spent neatly positioning the rest of the exhaust. Left header was bolted on in less than 2 hours!!!
Started at 830am, drove away at 3pm. The only help I needed was twice I had someone come over to hold a header up from underneath as I started the first bolt.
Although the rumour around town with my customers is, that I work like machine!!
I gotta say though, you can call this an all day job!
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Certainly possible. The local MrTransmission (a customer of mine) allowed me to use a hoist on a Saturday....
With a drive on hoist, I had mine done in less than 4 hours. The next 2 hours I spent neatly cutting O2 wires and cutting holes in the cover plate under there. Time was spent neatly positioning the rest of the exhaust. Left header was bolted on in less than 2 hours!!!
Started at 830am, drove away at 3pm. The only help I needed was twice I had someone come over to hold a header up from underneath as I started the first bolt.
Although the rumour around town with my customers is, that I work like machine!!
I gotta say though, you can call this an all day job!
With a drive on hoist, I had mine done in less than 4 hours. The next 2 hours I spent neatly cutting O2 wires and cutting holes in the cover plate under there. Time was spent neatly positioning the rest of the exhaust. Left header was bolted on in less than 2 hours!!!
Started at 830am, drove away at 3pm. The only help I needed was twice I had someone come over to hold a header up from underneath as I started the first bolt.
Although the rumour around town with my customers is, that I work like machine!!
I gotta say though, you can call this an all day job!
Just kidding
He has my old headers. BTW those are a lot harder to remove than installing. I wouldn't suggest taking them off. It took me approx 8 total on jackstands by myself. I took a lot of breaks
Here is a good DIY for headers: http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=29
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 415
Likes: 16
From: Toronto
Just kidding
He has my old headers. BTW those are a lot harder to remove than installing. I wouldn't suggest taking them off. It took me approx 8 total on jackstands by myself. I took a lot of breaks
Here is a good DIY for headers: http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=29
I must admit, JW already made it easy for me, because he figured out upon his install, that the passenger side metal tab on the lower part of the header had to be cut off!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
Its not too bad a job. I would call it a lazy saturday job.
One tip, buy a 3/8" drive 8" flexible extension! It cant be used to torque or break bolts loose, but it is a life saver getting all the other turns out of the way. That back header bolt under brake booster feels like its a foot long when you are trying to get it in/out with standard swivels. I use that on the end of a longer standard extension which puts the ratchet all the way up above the engine for free motion. HUGE time saver!
One tip, buy a 3/8" drive 8" flexible extension! It cant be used to torque or break bolts loose, but it is a life saver getting all the other turns out of the way. That back header bolt under brake booster feels like its a foot long when you are trying to get it in/out with standard swivels. I use that on the end of a longer standard extension which puts the ratchet all the way up above the engine for free motion. HUGE time saver!
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: houston texas
personally, i like my kooks headers, i guess they're mostly all the same but the flange connection will be the deciding factor for some.
you could save some money and buy used. i have kooks lt's with catted mids, B&B bullets with a cam and it's pretty damn loud at WOT.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 7
From: Newmarket
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: houston texas
