Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Header and exhaust install Saturday

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-21-2008, 06:53 PM
  #1  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (24)
 
Intercooler2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East, MD
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Header and exhaust install Saturday

I will get pics. I got the NGK plugs today so I do believe I have all the pieces. The exhaust is 3" to a 3"x 4" Flowmaster merge, 4" back to the rear, then attach to the stock muffler and tails.


Any tips on the header install? I know in reading most take out the steering shaft and plugs, etc... Does the valve cover need to come off? I am also removing the air pump as well.



I will get a short clip of it running when it is all done on Sunday. Doing lowering springs on that day.
Old 08-21-2008, 06:57 PM
  #2  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (76)
 
94'BLKBRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Got my Ebay headers without removing the steering shaft. You will need to grind a bit of the drivers side k-member.

Why are you reducing your exhaust from 4'' to stock size?
Old 08-21-2008, 07:11 PM
  #3  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (47)
 
1Loudz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BAY AREA CA
Posts: 711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

you wont need to remove the steering shaft. jack the car up as far as you safely can with some 24in jackstands etc and work slow and carefully and here is a basic walkthru

1. remove coil packs
2. remove wires/spark plugs
3. remove any air/egr fittings
4. unbolt y pipe etc from stock manifolds
5. undo 02 sensors
6. unbolt the stock manifolds and drop out thru the bottom
7. push up the LTs up from the bottom each side of the engine (helps if you have someone helping you to pull them up) it will take some convincing, some swearing and possible a mallet to get them up there depending on their design. if theyre really being a pain in the ***, i suggest loosing the motor mount towers slightly and carefully jacking up the motor/trans to get those extra centimeters.
8. bolt on headers...i would suggest using stage 8 locking bolts
9. bolt on your y pipe, replace plugs, wires and coil packs and egr or block off plates and your FRONT 02 extension and REAR 02 sims if you have them.
10. make sure everything is connected etc and turn on and rip up and down block with open y pipe
Old 08-21-2008, 07:27 PM
  #4  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (22)
 
Red97Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Trenton, NJ
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Are you using the stock headers bolts? You should upgrade to some stage8 ones, otherwise I don't believe ARP makes a set for the LS1 otherthan their header studs, but who really wants to deal with header studs lol.
Old 08-21-2008, 07:39 PM
  #5  
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
derschmeid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pasadena, MD
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

have a cut off wheel handy to remove the old exhaust and cut that 1x1 inch tab off the block on the drivers side and i didnt have to remove my coil packs either. and dont forget to take the old cats to the scrap yard for about 150 bucks
Old 08-21-2008, 07:59 PM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
tee-boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

or, sell the Ebay headers, buy ARH, and forget about removing coils, plugs, and notching your block.
Old 08-21-2008, 08:02 PM
  #7  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (24)
 
Intercooler2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East, MD
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I got lucky and we are doing it on a friends lift. I plan on using the stock bolts since most say you can. I was going to hold onto the cats just in case since I live in MD (I see someone else does too). But then again if I have to make up another Y I think I would go with hi-flow Dynatechs just for emissions.
Using the stock muffler because it is there and doesn't drone or anything else. It gets back that far and you don't need a whole lot of exhaust. Going to dyno-tune it after all this and go back to the track. Then later add a cutout in the 4" section and run it open to see if I gain anything. I like the quite sound of the stock muffler!
Old 08-21-2008, 08:04 PM
  #8  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (24)
 
Intercooler2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East, MD
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

The E-Bay headers are extremely nice. Other than notching the K member it looks like they slide in like all the others without removing a bunch of stuff and the cost difference doesn't add up to me but to each their own.
Old 08-21-2008, 08:54 PM
  #9  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
nocooler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 605
Received 62 Likes on 40 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Intercooler2
The E-Bay headers are extremely nice. Other than notching the K member it looks like they slide in like all the others without removing a bunch of stuff and the cost difference doesn't add up to me but to each their own.
I had to notch the drivers and passenger side on the K-member. The drivers side collector needs cut and notched so you can level it out. I gained a solid 2mph with the headers/ory w/o a tune.

Good luck with the install man.
Old 08-21-2008, 09:19 PM
  #10  
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
TRBOTYZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 1Loudz28
you wont need to remove the steering shaft. jack the car up as far as you safely can with some 24in jackstands etc and work slow and carefully and here is a basic walkthru

1. remove coil packs
2. remove wires/spark plugs
3. remove any air/egr fittings
4. unbolt y pipe etc from stock manifolds
5. undo 02 sensors
6. unbolt the stock manifolds and drop out thru the bottom
7. push up the LTs up from the bottom each side of the engine (helps if you have someone helping you to pull them up) it will take some convincing, some swearing and possible a mallet to get them up there depending on their design. if theyre really being a pain in the ***, i suggest loosing the motor mount towers slightly and carefully jacking up the motor/trans to get those extra centimeters.
8. bolt on headers...i would suggest using stage 8 locking bolts
9. bolt on your y pipe, replace plugs, wires and coil packs and egr or block off plates and your FRONT 02 extension and REAR 02 sims if you have them.
10. make sure everything is connected etc and turn on and rip up and down block with open y pipe

Step 10 was fun. I only had time to get the old stuff off and the new headers/plugs/wires installed before the place I was at closed. I didn't rip up and down the block but I revved it up a little for everyone to hear (especially the guys that were working on the STi). It sounded awesome.


9 out of 10 steps sound good to me. I didn't remove the coil packs, didn't do any hammering, didn't need to cut anything up front, and didn't need to loosen motor mounts. I did remove the oil drain plug to get my Pacesetters on though. Good luck and enjoy.

Last edited by TRBOTYZ; 08-21-2008 at 09:24 PM.
Old 08-21-2008, 09:24 PM
  #11  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (7)
 
blue02bird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

the more i read about header installs the less i am looking forward to it.
Old 08-21-2008, 09:26 PM
  #12  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (76)
 
94'BLKBRD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by blue02bird
the more i read about header installs the less i am looking forward to it.
It took me 8 hours by myself to get my headers in. Not bad for my first time
Old 08-21-2008, 09:47 PM
  #13  
TECH Resident
iTrader: (11)
 
integraxtc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Chicago, northside
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

can't wait for my first time. Scary but exciting.
Old 08-21-2008, 11:30 PM
  #14  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
krazy4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts

Default

Good luck with your install

I'm going to look into these headers.
Old 08-22-2008, 01:47 AM
  #15  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (47)
 
1Loudz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BAY AREA CA
Posts: 711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

yeh i 4got to mention i had to loosen the motor mounts to remove the existing slp lts.pain in the ***. Never ever buy slp.lol.
Old 08-22-2008, 07:31 AM
  #16  
Banned
 
Deerhunter-Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It's not hard at all depending on the headers you got. If you got some ebay cheapies then you will run into more problems vs. going w/ a header like hooker/pacesetter etc. Just take your time and everything will be fine.
Old 08-22-2008, 07:39 AM
  #17  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (24)
 
Intercooler2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East, MD
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Good part is we have everything including doing it on a lift. Should go nice I would think and the custom Y should make it easy as well.
Old 08-22-2008, 10:00 AM
  #18  
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
TRBOTYZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Also, my gaskets that came with the Pacesetter LT's didn't come close to fitting so try to salvage your stockers just in case. I think they are better anyway.
Old 08-22-2008, 10:17 AM
  #19  
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
9000th01ss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I know 3" into 3" doesn't make much sense but 4" to a stock muffler, or even anything else is retarded. 4" pipe is expensive (ok you're going to tell me you/your buddy whoever can get it for free/cheap), it's heavier than hell, and it obviously takes up more room which is already a problem with the stock 2 3/4"
Guess this is part of the learning process.
Old 08-22-2008, 10:36 AM
  #20  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (24)
 
Intercooler2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East, MD
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
I know 3" into 3" doesn't make much sense but 4" to a stock muffler, or even anything else is retarded. 4" pipe is expensive (ok you're going to tell me you/your buddy whoever can get it for free/cheap), it's heavier than hell, and it obviously takes up more room which is already a problem with the stock 2 3/4"
Guess this is part of the learning process.
The pipe wasn't much more than 3". Why is it retarded 4" is good to 600 HP. Put a cutout on it and open it up so what does it matter if you have straw size piping after that? It weighs a little but can't be more than two dual 2 1/2" pipes when going that route. The section of 4" piping will be about 4'. You will see! I drive mine and want it to be quite without drone or any of the other crap until it is needed. More than one way to skin a Cat


I will dyno it just the way it is and open dump to see if it picks up any.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:58 AM.