Planning head swap -- headers out?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
Planning head swap -- headers out?
Hi all. I have a 2000 coupe with LTs (from ARH).
I have picked up all the parts from a 2002 Z06 top end. Planning to put those on this winter. I'm looking closer at instructions now and I see that a lot of folks remove the exhaust manifolds/headers completely to do a head swap. I have done head swaps on trucks before and not had to do this. Is this a MUST for head swap on the C5?
I have no problem getting under the car and loosening their clamps to swing them away, or even unseating them so they're just floating in the right area, but total removal is going to be a problem. I watched the ARH guys install them at Carlisle this year and they really had to squeeze in there, and the car would need to be on a lift, which I don't plan on having for this job.
TIA.
I have picked up all the parts from a 2002 Z06 top end. Planning to put those on this winter. I'm looking closer at instructions now and I see that a lot of folks remove the exhaust manifolds/headers completely to do a head swap. I have done head swaps on trucks before and not had to do this. Is this a MUST for head swap on the C5?
I have no problem getting under the car and loosening their clamps to swing them away, or even unseating them so they're just floating in the right area, but total removal is going to be a problem. I watched the ARH guys install them at Carlisle this year and they really had to squeeze in there, and the car would need to be on a lift, which I don't plan on having for this job.
TIA.
Last edited by kernelPanicked; Oct 12, 2012 at 02:53 PM. Reason: clarified
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
I see no reason why this wouldn't work just fine. If all you're doing is a head swap you should be able to get enough room by loosening the bolts and clamps a little bit.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 430
Likes: 2
From: Sellersville, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I just replaced the heads on my 99 w/ FLP headers. I had to disconnect them from the cats and just let them drop out of the way. There would have been no room if I left them connected, but I had to use a tow strap to get the exhaust to meet back up. I'm guessing because I had the front on ramps while doing this.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 8
From: South Bend IN
Here is a picture I found. Since I had the headers coated before I installed them I dropped a towel over them, then put the bags over the towels. The bags were big enough that they helped keep coolant from dropping EVERYWHERE. I was actually able to sop a bunch of it up from on top of the plastic.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
Here is a picture I found. Since I had the headers coated before I installed them I dropped a towel over them, then put the bags over the towels. The bags were big enough that they helped keep coolant from dropping EVERYWHERE. I was actually able to sop a bunch of it up from on top of the plastic.
That picture pretty much tells me everything I need to plan to do. I think I might start sooner than I was planning, this looks like a considerable amount of work, especially with a cam going in as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I'm one of those ARH guys at Carlisle
You'll be fine by dropping them down once the Xpipe is out of the way
Get the ShopVac ready, lots of dirt under the intake(typically)
read up on 'water in cyl bolt holes' and deck prep; or suck the coolant out of the block(clear fuel line works great with an attachment)
You'll be fine by dropping them down once the Xpipe is out of the way
Get the ShopVac ready, lots of dirt under the intake(typically)
read up on 'water in cyl bolt holes' and deck prep; or suck the coolant out of the block(clear fuel line works great with an attachment)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
Thanks Steve, I remember you. It was actually the other team that put my headers on. I was the second to last guy on that lift the first day. It was getting dark, the boss left the lights back at the hotel, and I remember my car posed some problems...they had to get the prybar out to move my engine on the mounts to clear the passenger side header, I asked them to install my Tis, I had goofy battery bolts, etc. So I consider that installation as much art as science, and I don't want to pull those things out if I can help it.
Anyway you all had a nice thing going there and I hope I can hang out at the tent for a little while next year without having to buy another set of headers.
Anyway you all had a nice thing going there and I hope I can hang out at the tent for a little while next year without having to buy another set of headers.
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