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LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help!

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Old Mar 4, 2004 | 11:26 PM
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Default LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help!

Is there some trick to getting the bell housing bolts to line up with LG headers? On both sides of the car the bolt holes just do not line up. They come close if I give it some elbow grease, but not close enough...

I have tried hand tightening the bolts that go into the heads then lining up the bell housing bolt and no matter what I try, I can't get it to work.

Anyone else having similar issues?
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Old Mar 4, 2004 | 11:30 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

I leave them off. Actually, I cut them off of the headers, as they go in and out much easier.


[Modified by davidfarmer, 11:30 PM 3/4/2004]
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 12:37 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (davidfarmer)

I had the same problem with mine. I just used a LARGE pry bar and a few choice words and they went.
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 01:59 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (dave777)

On my FLP's I ended up going with no bellhousing bolts, and the exhaust rattle agaist the chassis a bit now, especially after going over a bump or in a pothole.

The bellhousing bolt holes are in a little metal plate that can be unbolted and moved to align things up better. The holes are extra large to allow for adjustments.
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 02:45 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (jmX)

I elongated the holes on the bracket and my FLP's. Its important to bolt them up with no preload otherwise it may cause the welds to crack.
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 06:46 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (66ImpalaLT1)

I have the solution,, and LOU said it is ok,,,,wrap a strap (like a cheap nylon tie-down) around both headers, at the collectors, twist it with a stick,,as you wrap it up it will draw the headers together and you can get the bolts in...another forum member done this too. after the headers get hot they will relax to this position.....you could use a rope to do this also.. it works and is real easy.. tighten up the head bolts first..... I did this instead of removing the header and milling out the slot.....Lou said it will not crack the bracket from the pipe.......I have had to pull twist and pry other headers on my other cars to get them to fit,, never had a problem with cracking because of it, as long as it isnt too extreme...HOWEVER,, the best case would be to elongate the hole...you shouldnt have a problem either way...


[Modified by wrustywrench, 11:49 AM 3/5/2004]
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 06:51 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

I loosened the bracket bolts before I installed the headers. That will give you another quarter inch to play with. After I tightened up the headers and then the bell housings bolts I could see that the passenger side would have been a hazzle without that little extra room.
Leo
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 07:11 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

On my FLP's, I loosened the bell housing bracket bolts and then started the collector tab bolts and then sequentially tightened all four, going from one bolt to the next util they were all tight. The headers slowly adjusted to the new position and then eventually heat cycled permanently into that shape. Now when I loosen the headers and retighten them, the bolts line up nicely.

We did basically the same on my buddy's LGM's and they fit similarly.
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 07:23 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (Patches)

On my FLP's, I loosened the bell housing bracket bolts and then started the collector tab bolts and then sequentially tightened all four, going from one bolt to the next util they were all tight. The headers slowly adjusted to the new position and then eventually heat cycled permanently into that shape. Now when I loosen the headers and retighten them, the bolts line up nicely. We did basically the same on my buddy's LGM's and they fit similarly.
:iagree:
I did my FLPS the same........here is a pic from my install pages


:cheers:
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 08:43 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

Holy !@#$! I went to bed frustrated writing this post last night and now I wake up with 10 replies and a bunch of great ideas. Thanks fellas :cheers:

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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 09:28 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE)

Thanks for the pics - I am going to be installing my LG's and the tips are much appreciated
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 10:59 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (Ruby6spd)

Thanks for the pics - I am going to be installing my LG's and the tips are much appreciated
:withstupid: Thanks all! :cheers:
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 11:08 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

Do you have the header bolts tightened already? Loosen then, tighten up the bell housing bolts, then tighten the header bolts.

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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 11:23 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (Godspeed)

The header bolts were as loose as they could be and the bell housing bracket still did not line up. As I gave it some elbow grease it came closer but still didn't quite make it...
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 11:53 AM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

I know some reccomend loosening the header bolts,, but I hate pulling in the headers with the bolts in aluminum,, I would rather pull the collectors mounts into place at the bottom,, my 2 cents.....remember its only my 2 cents
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 12:10 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

The header bolts were as loose as they could be and the bell housing bracket still did not line up. As I gave it some elbow grease it came closer but still didn't quite make it...
How close?, 1/4", 1/2"
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 12:33 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE)

The header bolts were as loose as they could be and the bell housing bracket still did not line up. As I gave it some elbow grease it came closer but still didn't quite make it...
How close?, 1/4", 1/2"
It was only about 1/4" off... I am sure of I got some better leverage I could make it work. But like the above poster I am a little concerned about breaking bolts in my heads (or worse, messing up the threading).
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 01:16 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

IMHO and 20+ years of puttin on exhausts.........1/4" is ok to gently "pry" each header over with a big pinch bar or a piece of conduit if need be with all the header bolts in place screwed in at least 1/2 way into the holes.
With all the tolerance stackups on building a car and the jig for the headers they could both be in "tolerance" and not fit :eek:
If you looked at my FLP install page you see what I had to do for one side........
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 02:26 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE)

IMHO and 20+ years of puttin on exhausts.........1/4" is ok to gently "pry" each header over with a big pinch bar or a piece of conduit if need be with all the header bolts in place screwed in at least 1/2 way into the holes.
With all the tolerance stackups on building a car and the jig for the headers they could both be in "tolerance" and not fit :eek:
If you looked at my FLP install page you see what I had to do for one side........
Thanks, sounds good. I think I will try that method and if I can only get one side into the bell housing just heat cycle it a few times so it's in the right spot when it's cool, then do the other side the same way.
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Old Mar 5, 2004 | 05:14 PM
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Default Re: LG Headers -- Bell Housing Bolts... help! (diynoob)

The nylon strap or rope trick would work best and is very easy to do. Just insert a small dowel or screwdriver and spin it around until the holes line up.
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