Ready to Install Headers, any tips would be helpful.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 657
Likes: 9
From: Orlando, FL
Ready to Install Headers, any tips would be helpful.
Hello All,
I just scored a great deal on a set of Kooks 1 7/8" Headers, Kooks X-Pipe no cats, and Corsa Sport axle back exhaust. I will be doing the install in my garage. I've got Race Ramps, 3 Jacks, and a pair of Jack Stands. My tune right now already has the rear O2 sensors turned off but I know it has to be retuned after the install. I have a 2005 roadster A4.
Any install suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated from those of you who put their own systems on. Thank you in advance!!
I just scored a great deal on a set of Kooks 1 7/8" Headers, Kooks X-Pipe no cats, and Corsa Sport axle back exhaust. I will be doing the install in my garage. I've got Race Ramps, 3 Jacks, and a pair of Jack Stands. My tune right now already has the rear O2 sensors turned off but I know it has to be retuned after the install. I have a 2005 roadster A4.
Any install suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated from those of you who put their own systems on. Thank you in advance!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Not to mention you never have to worry about stripping the holes in the head with the studs. They are worth the money for sure.My only advice to you OP is to make sure you get new exhaust manifold gaskets and get the car high enough to have the header completely vertical so that you can move the header at any angle to get it into place.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 944
Likes: 9
From: Southwest CO
Not to mention you never have to worry about stripping the holes in the head with the studs. They are worth the money for sure.My only advice to you OP is to make sure you get new exhaust manifold gaskets and get the car high enough to have the header completely vertical so that you can move the header at any angle to get it into place.
A good buddy insisted I use his lift when installing mine and it helped dramatically. Get the car up as high as you can, as safe as you can. The passenger side took a little more work getting the header up through the bottom. Don't get in a hurry. Take your time and do it right.
I purchased different bolts/nuts from the hardware store when installing my LG LT's. We stripped a couple of the provided nuts/bolts trying to get rid of a couple of exhaust leaks. The hardware from the hardware store was quite a bit better in terms of not stripping.
The Corsa Sports should sound good with the headers. I have NPP and it sounds like a beast at WOT.
Then be prepared to have sore face muscles from all the grinnin'!
Headers make the fun factor go from Woohoo to a string of 4 letter expletives!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 69
From: Memphis Tn
I have an 05 and had zero issues installing my slp headers in my garage by myself. If I remember correctly the pass side installed from the top and the driver's side from the bottom. Disconnect the neg battery cable then make sure you get the car up ~24" and remove the starter. I reused my exhaust gaskets as well as the stock bolts.
good luck!
good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 657
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From: Orlando, FL
What do you use to get the O2 sensor off? Is there a special socket? Also, where would you get plugs for where the O2 sensors are supposed to be on the x-pipe or should I just put the factory rear O2 sensors in but leave them unplugged? Looking at O2 sensor removal sockets right now, anyone use one and knows what size it is?
Last edited by Chokeu; Mar 27, 2015 at 04:05 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
You can use a normal open ended wrench, but an o2 socket or wrench makes the job of removing the sensor from the stock manifold easier since it's pretty well tucked in. Any auto parts store will have one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,507
Likes: 722
From: Sausalito CA
Be ready if the OEM exhaust mainfold studs and bolts to cats are stubborn.
Use penetrating oil for a few hours and perhaps handy torch ready.
Ditto for the lower bolts cats to exhaust pipes.
O2 socket sizes I think are universal, noting it is a special shaped socket....see Napa Auto Parts.
P.S. Height is your friend. Get the vette high off the ground.
Use penetrating oil for a few hours and perhaps handy torch ready.
Ditto for the lower bolts cats to exhaust pipes.
O2 socket sizes I think are universal, noting it is a special shaped socket....see Napa Auto Parts.
P.S. Height is your friend. Get the vette high off the ground.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
Ditto on the ARP studs,
Not only does is give you a place to hang the headers from below, but the studs do a full in bed of the threads to aluminum thread channels on the heads, with less worries of stripping the channels out.
Not only does is give you a place to hang the headers from below, but the studs do a full in bed of the threads to aluminum thread channels on the heads, with less worries of stripping the channels out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 861
Likes: 27
From: Rogers AR
I did my AR headers by myself on jack stands.
Penatrant spray on all lower exhaust bolts the night before and an impact wrench makes for easy work.
O2 socket from Harbor Freight.
Don't tighten anything until you get the mufflers level and in the place you want them. I had trouble with my mufflers hitting the rear sway bar and also a stud off of the transmission on the over the axle pipes which would cause rattles. I put a piece of wood on my jack and raised the rear half of the exhaust before tightening the bolts and that fixed it all.
Extra set of jack stands helps if doing it by yourself.
Penatrant spray on all lower exhaust bolts the night before and an impact wrench makes for easy work.
O2 socket from Harbor Freight.
Don't tighten anything until you get the mufflers level and in the place you want them. I had trouble with my mufflers hitting the rear sway bar and also a stud off of the transmission on the over the axle pipes which would cause rattles. I put a piece of wood on my jack and raised the rear half of the exhaust before tightening the bolts and that fixed it all.
Extra set of jack stands helps if doing it by yourself.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 657
Likes: 9
From: Orlando, FL
Thanks everyone for the tips, gonna make a trip to harbor freight for that O2 socket tomorrow. I have an air compressor and all air tools as well. Prolly pick up another pair of jack stands too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 944
Likes: 9
From: Southwest CO
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Also if you have enough height, try to get the stock manifolds and cats off as a single unit so that you don't have to worry about those studs.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 744
Likes: 13
What do you use to get the O2 sensor off? Is there a special socket? Also, where would you get plugs for where the O2 sensors are supposed to be on the x-pipe or should I just put the factory rear O2 sensors in but leave them unplugged? Looking at O2 sensor removal sockets right now, anyone use one and knows what size it is?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
I installed the Kooks with Hi-Flow cats in my 2005, no issues, just get it up high, 18"-24" to the bottom of the frame,
I used race ramps in the front and jack stands in the rear, I used the stock bolts, with anti seize, no issues there either
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-gaskets.html
I used race ramps in the front and jack stands in the rear, I used the stock bolts, with anti seize, no issues there either
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-gaskets.html