AKKutz

Didn't really have an issue. I did loosen manifolds first. I cleared out everything up top, before going below.


I bought a set of through sockets, but didn't need them. I took off the front wheels. Which gave access to both sides. Used a long box-end wrench and a soft dead blow mallet and tapped loose, then ran them off by hand.


I did spray them down, the night before, with WD penetrating oil.


On my car, all the cat pipe, to manifolds where fairly easy. Wish I could say the same for some of the manifold screws themselves. I have large hands and getting to the one driver's side/fire wall was a bear!

C7 x 2

So for those of you who decide to take this project on yourself, it appears you can save some time if you either loosen or take out the manifold to head bolts you can get to the two manifold to cat pipe nuts much easier than trying to work around all the obstacles below them. Like I said in the thread 3 of these on each side are fairly easy to get at but there are two, one on each side, that can be a problem.

Stingray Al

When, I put on my mids, I too have difficulty getting the last nut off the manifold connecting pipe. I found that unbolting the manifold from the head enabled me to rotate it enough to get a socket on that one nut that was giving so much problems.

Al

SteveDoten@ARH

C7x2,

Thanks very much for taking the time to post this up.

Appreciate the good words.

48supertruck

Great post. Ordered the cat heat shields today. Thanks for the money savings tip.

SFCTeach

I just came across this thread while researching headers. Would you install mid length with cats over an axle back exhaust? I have the Borla X-pipe and now wonder which is the best bang for buck performance and sound wise while keeping warranty? Thanks.

C7 x 2

If you are looking for sound and performance and can only go with one or the other but not both, go with the headers If you go with the axle back you will only get sound. If you go with the mid-lengths you will get sound and performance though the Borla Atak sounded awesome even before I put the ARH on. With both on under heavy throttle it is freakin' loud! I was never able to get a good sound clip with my Nikon D5300 because it blows up the internal microphone even from inside the car. The headers work excellent with the Borla x-pipe. I don't think you will be disappointed.

SFCTeach

Thanks! Maybe I should squeeze that budget to include the Atak with the headers lol

SteveDoten

This is an amazing post, I remember speaking with you while at ARH.

Nick(owner of ARH) came up with this idea 4 years ago to to allow hp/tq gains without the need to tune.

fatsport

Awesome post! Thanks for taking the time to lay this out.

AEBCPAMA

Thanks for the informative post, looks like a quality install.
Did you use anything to shield the starter from header heat?
Looks pretty close with no shielding? My starter just started sticking,
Britanny Spears said likely heat from the headers is the problem on my C5.

C7 x 2

Thanks for your positive comments. I left the stock starter heat shield in place and had the headers ceramic coated to try and keep as much heat in the header as possible. I also used the DEI heat shields on the cats.

2 seats

C7 x 2

I used the gaskets that came with the headers. OEM were metal and I wasn't sure how those would work with the headers. I recently had the car in the air and found the bolts joining the cat pipe to the x-pipe had worked their way loose. readjusted those and retorqued. Everything else looked just as it did when I installed the system 2 yrs. ago. It still sounds amazing and maybe a little louder.

2 seats

jones238

Good job! Well documented with lots of pics Way to go.

RapidC84B

AKKutz

1> no issues
2. Yes, they have to be removed. I tried a couple of time to install the header without removal and wound up scratching the hell out of my ceramic coating! Live and learn....

bullitt4110

Very helpful thread! Made things a lot easier

Bob U

Awesome write up!!!
Did you get any dyno numbers before and after?
Do you think the Headers added much power to your Z06?
Are they still working well without setting any codes?

Thanks,
Bob