I'm in the midst of installing some LG Street headers on my '04 and I've run into this. The tubes are actually touching the heat shields on both sides of the tunnel.

At the moment the headers are just snugged to the heads with just a few more turns left to tighten but, I don't see them being pulled in away from the shield.

I could pry them off and tighten the bell housing mount to maybe hold them but, would I be putting too much strain on the head bolts or should I go ahead and torque the head bolts then do the prying?

I, initially, thought those tabs near the collectors bolted up to the bellhousing mount but when I saw how far off they were, I figured the extra bar they included with the headers was supposed to be used as I could find no instructions for the "Street" header install.

Anyone else installed some of these lately that could clue me in on how to proceed?

Sonny

 

Any feedback from LG?

 

Initially, I would have thought that perhaps you may have lifted your engine up to install your headers & that perhaps it was towards the one side a tad.
You show an arrow on both headers/h/shield junctions.
So evidently your against the shields on both sides?

If that is the case & you are saying that if you were to try & completely tighten down the headers at the heads, things would get real tightat the heads location & the shield location.

I would give LG a call.
While on the line with the tech person, have them come on to the CF site & take a look at the visual you have posted up.

Hopefully they will have an answer with this issue.

By the way. it looks as though those two lines are touching that sheet metal cross bar at the bell.
If you plan on keeping that bar in place, you may want to split a short lenth of fuel line hose & slide in between the two, to act as a buffer.

 

I have the LG Super Pro's and they were a tight fit (passenger side) especially with just the headers hanging in place. Not sure what you are using for the rest of the system but what I ended up doing was hanging the entire system before tightening (one or two turns) any bolts clamps etc. Once hung I started tightening at the tailpipes, xpipe, cats, and then the header bolts. This actually pulled everything in place and the passenger side header actually moved to a somewhat better location.

I would be careful prying (if I had to pry) because you could crack one of the welds on the headers.

Last but not least if your real unhappy call LG and ask them where the headers should line up in relation to the heat shields. If any of the tolerances are real close to touching any part of the car, once the car saturates with heat after driving you will hear them rattle against the car (especially if your running a cam (when it lopes)).

 

Yeah, I sent basically the same note w/pics to them and I'm trying to interpret the response at this time. They say to install the whole system first and NOT use the bellhousing mount at all upon final tightening and it should line up.

I'm just having a hard time picturing how the x-pipe, mid pipe and cats with all those junctions are going to hold the headers in position once I tighten the headers to the heads but, I'm willing to give it a try the next time I get out there.

I just thought there maybe someone on here that experienced the same thing that might be able to shed some light on how it's done as I have always heard how easy these systems are to install and was wondering what I was doing wrong.

Thanks for the replies,
Sonny

 

Go with LG states.
Makes sense to me.
You may be fighting that bracket you have attached to the bell.

I have the instructions from LG that I used back in 04, when I installed their
Pro LT's.

Pertaining to what you are having problems with.

"Do not tighten the bolts to the flange all the way until you get the bell housing bolts started.
Once they are started, then you can tighten the exhaust flange on the engine."

 

I have the LG pros and I do not have the bar between the two headers. Everything lines up and there is no sagging. I looks like it's spreading the headers apart.

 

If you are not tight on the heads yet, I would snug those up (maybe not to full torque) and then re-assess. You may find the situation gets better. I they are hanging, they will tend to move outward and as you tighten the collectors will move in some.

 

Yeah, I'm going to get out tomorrow and loosen up the headers, install the rest of the system and see if it makes a difference.

That bracket was loose in the pics. Just there to hold up the collector 'till I got the head bolts in place (I'm working alone). It is not holding them apart.

Sonny

 

I agree with those suggesting the removal of the bell housing clamp. Did not use it on the 2 sets of headers I have installed and there was no problem with anything. I think the directions from LG recommend installing all parts before tightening any bolts. You can always contact LG again should you have additional problems.

Gene

 

71corv,
Your quite correct.

 

Once I get it all together, what is the recommended tightening sequence?

What gets cinched down first?

Sonny

 

I believe you start from the rear and work your way forward. Leaving the header flange the last part tightened.

 

Can't find the directions. I think this was in there. Anyway, I would follow what "thepitstop2010" posted above.

Gene

 

Install all the header flange bolts, finger tight.

Start the bell housing bolts (loose)

Tighten down the header flange bolts.

Tighten down each section there after, all the way back to the mufflers.

After the the engine has been run, all bolts & clamps should be
re tightened.

May help to tap the pipes to vibrate the system to get the clamps totally tight.

As per LG Instructions

 

So, I have two replies, one going back to front and the other front to back.



Guess I'll be on the phone to LG in the morning.

Sonny

 

Do you have the instructions from LG?

If you don't then here they are: C5 Pro Long Tube installation

 

Those are for the "Pro" header, I'm installing the "Street" headers. They are NOT the same.

Thanks anyway,
Sonny

 

Just got off the phone with LG. They recommend to start the tightening procedure from the front (header flange) and go towards the rear, and to leave the bell housing brace in place for the first heat cycle then, remove it.

So, I have a plan! Now, it's out to cuss some clamps!

Sonny

 

Good luck with the rest of the install. Post the results when you have finished.

Gene