header install help
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Tax free DE
I did plugs and wires 10,xxx miles ago so im not replacing any of mine .The wires need to be disconnected but im leaving mine on the coil packs. as for the plugs id take them out first. Im not positive if they need to be out for clearence yet but on the driver side it made it a lot easier. Plus since im re-using mine so didnt want to risk breaking one.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Tax free DE
Im assuming thats what everybody is doing, if not than yeah thats a lot easier. I used a 12 inch extension and a breaker bar. Broke most of the studs but oh well, probably never going to use again anyways and If I do just gotta replace the studs or drill for bolts.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Arkansas
I got the drivers side off cats still hooked up to the manifold. Everything is rusted on lol. Had to use a 4 ft breaker bar to get the o2 sensors off. I'm going to try to just break the cat bolts off.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Lavista, NE
That fitting in the pic goes to the EGR. If you're keeping the EGR with your new headers, you'll need to keep it. I'd recommend checking out one of the "how-to" threads on here before going any further. It's a straightforward job, but the intake parts/EGR/AIR, etc will give you problems if you don't deal with them properly.
As for removing the manifolds, you can reach the driver side all from the top. You may need an assortment of swivels and extensions to do so, but it's the easiest way. The passenger side... You need to remove the coil pack. If you can't reach the rearmost bolt on the coil pack, just get all the others out and you can rotate the forward part of the coil pack up and out of the way. You will need swivels and extensions here as well, but you can get all but the rearmost manifold bolt out from above. That last one, is easiest to reach from below. I did mine with the cat still on it, but it would be easier with it off. It may be theoretically possible to get that last bolt from above, but trust me: it's easier from below.
As for removing the manifolds, you can reach the driver side all from the top. You may need an assortment of swivels and extensions to do so, but it's the easiest way. The passenger side... You need to remove the coil pack. If you can't reach the rearmost bolt on the coil pack, just get all the others out and you can rotate the forward part of the coil pack up and out of the way. You will need swivels and extensions here as well, but you can get all but the rearmost manifold bolt out from above. That last one, is easiest to reach from below. I did mine with the cat still on it, but it would be easier with it off. It may be theoretically possible to get that last bolt from above, but trust me: it's easier from below.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Lavista, NE
So you need to pull that whole EGR deal off and put a 1 3/8 freeze plug in the intake manifold where it hooked up there.
You need the car high enough to turn the header (as it meets with the heads) completely vertical, in order to slide it up and rotate it into place. If you can do that and it still won't slide up there, you may need to disconnect the steering shaft. What kind of headers do you have? If they're 1 3/4" headers you should be able to get them in there, but be careful, it shouldn't require much force.
You need the car high enough to turn the header (as it meets with the heads) completely vertical, in order to slide it up and rotate it into place. If you can do that and it still won't slide up there, you may need to disconnect the steering shaft. What kind of headers do you have? If they're 1 3/4" headers you should be able to get them in there, but be careful, it shouldn't require much force.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Arkansas
i have the freeze plug in the intake manifold already. i got the new TSP SS 1 3/4" headers. I didn't have the car jacked up high enough to turn the header completely vertical, and i need to turn it like that to get it in. as the car sits now the header keeps getting caught on the edge of the transmission and the LCA when i try to put it in. i need a bigger jack lol. i guess for how high the car is, it's about 12" from the bottom of the front tires to the ground. and i need to figure out how to reach the rear bolts on the headers to tighten them all the way and get to the rear spark plugs. lol this is tiring for a 1st timer, already spent 12 hours on it and there is still a lot more to do. as long as i don't give up and send it somewhere to get finished right?
Last edited by Karl101; Apr 23, 2012 at 05:48 PM.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Tax free DE
hey sorry didnt read this before I PM'ed you back. this just seems like you dont have enough height under the car to slide the header in. I was going too disconnect the steering knuckle on mine but with a little bit of shoving it went in and really never got close enough to the knuckle to worry about.
i had my car on 6-ton jack stands. took off the coil packs still on the brackets. i even left the spark plugs in. cats still connected to the manifolds. got em both out with some patience. driver side was the hard one. which im sure everyone knows. but installed the pacesetters i bought. the driver side, i had to remove that thing that is bolted on, above the oil filter. 2 10mm bolts i think. idk what it is. but it was in my way. re installed after headers were on.of course.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Arkansas
good idea about the 4X4s. i have some beams laying around here and a chainsaw. i thought using 3 2X12s would have been enough. is using 4X4's safe though? i'm on grass and it's not as level as i thought it was. and how many should i stack? i'm using a pair of 6 ton jack stands (lol bought them just for the header install), i think it's on the 2nd or 3rd notch. so i know i can get it even higher.
I did mine by just removing the coils passenger side, and I got it off by under and on top of the car. You just have to work at it, there's a very good write up on here with photos that did help me a little hopefully you do some motor mounts while your at it.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Arkansas
what the ****? get that car on some concrete, stat. you're just asking for trouble jacking anything up in the grass let alone supporting said anything with jackstands...in the grass.