Rear End and Header Install COMPLETE!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
Rear End and Header Install COMPLETE! (Pics Inside)
I’d like to start out by apologizing for the terrible picture quality. I was using my iPhone while doing a lot of the dirty work, which reduced my ability to both take pictures and do so with any kind of skill.
Next, I’d like to thank DTE and American Racing for your help in making this all a reality!
The process started with receiving the hardware necessary for the project. After a quick run to the local FedEx ground station I was on my way to AintQik’s (RJ’s) to begin the process. Here’s a few shots of the gears, headers, and tunnel plate in the boxes:
We started with putting the car up on jack stands. Actually, RJ did it while my back was turned.
Next we laid out the headers (1&3/4) to make sure we had everything necessary:
The headers came out fairly easily except for the driver’s side rear bolts (kind of difficult to reach). While I was working from the top of the car, RJ was disconnecting the headers from the bottom. As it turned out, the right rear exhaust was nearly fused to the connectors. We ended up having to use an air hammer to pry them apart. Once separated I even managed to drop one of the mufflers onto RJ’s head. Ouch! (sorry no pics of that).
Next we dropped the rear cradle and pulled it out the back… Thankfully, RJ was there or I’d have given up at this point. Here’s a picture of the cradle pulled out from the back of the car.
After a total of about 4 hours we had the above done and the new rear in place (3.42 gears). Once this was accomplished, it was time to take a break for the night…
Today we installed the headers and put the cradle back in place. Here are some pictures of the headers installed from under the car. Sorry some are upside down due to a glitch in the way files are saved on photobucket.
Thanks again to AintQik (RJ)! The total install time for headers, rear, and tunnel plate only took about 7 hours! I really can’t thank RJ enough for all his help and expertise. The guy knows bolt sizes for each part of the car by heart! And, he can tell you from across the garage which tools to use on which section of the car for the easiest access and best results. The man’s a wizard around these cars!
As it turns out, the Spin Tune was done so well that the only thing that needed to change was the gear ratio (because who wants to drive 50 while your speedo is reading 80.
You can’t really put into words the difference you experience from a header/gear swap, but I’ll try… At initial start, the sound difference was noticeably stronger and the throttle response was much quicker. I had contemplated changing the exhaust but decided to wait until the headers were in place to determine if I'd still want to change. I don't!
After warm up, I got in and headed down the road. The difference in SOTP feel was AMAZING! Between the sound and immediacy of power applied through the new rear end, it’s like driving a completely different car!
Sadly, I’ll have to wait at least 350 miles to break in the rear end before really testing to see what she’s capable of.
I’m sure we’ll tweak the tune over the next few weeks once the rear is in place and we can street tune her properly before putting her back on the dyno for final tune and increase results.
Thanks again to the folks at DTE, American Racing, and most of all RJ for doing the lion’s share of the work and all of the mental heavy lifting!!!
Next, I’d like to thank DTE and American Racing for your help in making this all a reality!
The process started with receiving the hardware necessary for the project. After a quick run to the local FedEx ground station I was on my way to AintQik’s (RJ’s) to begin the process. Here’s a few shots of the gears, headers, and tunnel plate in the boxes:
We started with putting the car up on jack stands. Actually, RJ did it while my back was turned.
Next we laid out the headers (1&3/4) to make sure we had everything necessary:
The headers came out fairly easily except for the driver’s side rear bolts (kind of difficult to reach). While I was working from the top of the car, RJ was disconnecting the headers from the bottom. As it turned out, the right rear exhaust was nearly fused to the connectors. We ended up having to use an air hammer to pry them apart. Once separated I even managed to drop one of the mufflers onto RJ’s head. Ouch! (sorry no pics of that).
Next we dropped the rear cradle and pulled it out the back… Thankfully, RJ was there or I’d have given up at this point. Here’s a picture of the cradle pulled out from the back of the car.
After a total of about 4 hours we had the above done and the new rear in place (3.42 gears). Once this was accomplished, it was time to take a break for the night…
Today we installed the headers and put the cradle back in place. Here are some pictures of the headers installed from under the car. Sorry some are upside down due to a glitch in the way files are saved on photobucket.
Thanks again to AintQik (RJ)! The total install time for headers, rear, and tunnel plate only took about 7 hours! I really can’t thank RJ enough for all his help and expertise. The guy knows bolt sizes for each part of the car by heart! And, he can tell you from across the garage which tools to use on which section of the car for the easiest access and best results. The man’s a wizard around these cars!
As it turns out, the Spin Tune was done so well that the only thing that needed to change was the gear ratio (because who wants to drive 50 while your speedo is reading 80.
You can’t really put into words the difference you experience from a header/gear swap, but I’ll try… At initial start, the sound difference was noticeably stronger and the throttle response was much quicker. I had contemplated changing the exhaust but decided to wait until the headers were in place to determine if I'd still want to change. I don't!
After warm up, I got in and headed down the road. The difference in SOTP feel was AMAZING! Between the sound and immediacy of power applied through the new rear end, it’s like driving a completely different car!
Sadly, I’ll have to wait at least 350 miles to break in the rear end before really testing to see what she’s capable of.
I’m sure we’ll tweak the tune over the next few weeks once the rear is in place and we can street tune her properly before putting her back on the dyno for final tune and increase results.
Thanks again to the folks at DTE, American Racing, and most of all RJ for doing the lion’s share of the work and all of the mental heavy lifting!!!
Last edited by A-Pex; Mar 2, 2009 at 12:14 AM. Reason: updated title
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: West Monroe La. (Fastest Bolt On M6)
what gears did you have before..and what do you have now...i'm thinking of swapping my 3.42's for 3.90's...great job by the way..not an easy task..especially with only jack stands..if only you had a lift..
..not an easy task..especially with only jack stands..if only you had a lift..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 8
From: NJ
He actually did drop the muffler on my head.
Oh, by the way I was pleasantly surprised with the AR Headers. The fit was real nice and they were by far the easiest install I've done. I can't speak for performance as I've not dyno'd the car yet, but the fit and finish was near perfect. The only issue was the tranny cooler lines touching, but I got them out of the way as best I could and wrapped them with a DEI heat blanket.
The DTE rear came painted and looking very slick. Included was properly mixed diff fluid. Very nice set up for the DYIer.
Last edited by AintQik; Mar 2, 2009 at 09:36 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 8
From: NJ
You have some nice stuff Phil. The little things really impressed. From the nice shipping container to the pre-mixed fluid, it all made the swap go really well.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 37
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
Great job, ESPECIALLY on your back on jack stands! Have fun and enjoy it...the fun comes in another 400 miles or so... and I agree you are in good hands with RJ!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
On a side note, one thing that wasn't expected was that the reduction of tramlining due to the new tunnel plate. There's about 3 to 5 places on my daily drive home every day where my car used to tramline over pock marks and discontinuities in the road.
Today on my drive home, no tramlining at all. I thought I was imagining things, so I intentionally drove over a spot that normally causes my car to hop. Low and behold, smooth as silk! What a great unexpected result!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
The tunnel plate is made by E2 and was purchased from Corvette Garage. I got the plate with the thermal coating and it's about 1/2" thick alluminum plus the dynomat-like thermal matting. It replaces the much thinner, more flexible, alluminum plate that came stock with the C6.
You can see it in the pic of the cats from below the car.
You can see it in the pic of the cats from below the car.