I am learning a fair amount about my car, but by no means an expert (ha, far from it). Since i can probably afford headers in the next few weeks, i am thinking of buying them and the lid. Right now i have a cut-out, !CAGS, descreen MAF, FRAM, ported MAF (well, only half b/c i don't wanna break my stock lid to get the second half off, but as soon as i get my new lid...), and thats about it. So i'll have the lid as well.

Now, first off what exact parts will i need to buy, i plan on buying hooker LT's with ORP (legal in many ways in good 'ole CA). Are the "kits" they sometimes sell with these all the parts i need for the install? Should i buy all the parts in a package if available, or should do them seperately, and how much will that be? Also, what tools will i need, anything that isn't very common? Will i need to adjust my A/F mixture, i've heard a lot of people say they run rich, or will my flow mods balance it out? Will i have any fit issues with the Y-pipe to the stock exhaust, if so how do i deal with it?

Now, i mentioned i wasn't a pro at cars, but i think i can handle doing this. Do you think it is something i couldn't handle? I REALLY don't wanna pay a few hundred bucks just to get it installed.

 

Also, on a sponsor's site, i saw LT hookers for $410, but i assume that is without the y-pipe and necessary gaskets and what-not.

Can i just buy the headers, then the stuff to install it with (whatever that may be), then use my stock y-pipe with cats untill i get an ORP. Will in need O2 simms at that point, or do they wait till the ORP.

Also, this is on a '98 formula.

 

Most of our sponsors will sell you everything you need to do the job.

Alot of the parts are reusable.. bolts... gaskets, etc..

 

you aren't going to be able to use your stock y-pipe w/ LTs. they toooooo long.

 

Alright, so i will need to buy the ORP when i get the headers, that is fine.

The biggest question is do you think i could do it? I would allow like 4 days for the install, 1 day to take off each manifold, and one day to put each one on (i've heard it takes a while, and is kinda tireing work).

Also, will i have to get tuning done? Like i said, i have a lot of the free flow mods (and will have the lid and all) so i'm probably lean, so will the headers make me way rich or should i be fine?

<small>[ June 13, 2002, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: cy ]</small>

 

I haven’t installed LS1 hookers yet, but I’ve done other header installs on LS1s and it generally takes about 4 hours from start to finish after you’ve done a set before. The first time might take 8 hours, assuming you don’t break anything and all the parts work right. It’s pretty common for exhaust stuff to not always fit together perfectly though, so be prepared to run into some “snags”. SLPs are hard. Others seem easy.

Can you do it? I can’t really answer that as I don’t know you. Do YOU think you can do it?

 

If you are mechanically inclined it should only take you a good 2 days work. Like they said the ORP you will have to get whether it bea custom setup or the hooker ORP. I have SLP LT's and I had it done in 3 days and they are a biotch to do (did by myself on jackstands). I did not need tuning either. Would be a good idea later but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Normally the headers will rich you out for some reason but with a ported MAF, it will normally level off not to bad. Not every car is the same but my ported MAF leaned the richness out enough to where its not TOO rich. An ORP in Cali huh. Will that pass emission's? Or is that a concern of yours?

 

Heh, well i have faith in myself that i could do it, not necessarily fast, but i think i can get it done.

When i come to things not fitting, is it generally a case of having to hammer stuff into shape. Also, do many people have to cut their stock exhaust (intermediate pipe) to hook up with the Y-pipe in the right place, or should i expect to have to?

Again, should i expect to have to get tuning done, expecially to my A/F ratio?

 

You may have to cut maybe on the "I" pipe I did alittle. But you will have to wait till you get that far to know for sure. Plus I have an aftermarket exhaust. Most sponsers sell install kits which include what you absolutly need. Other things you may like to have such as new header bolts, but they are not neccesary. I would suggest getting new header gaskets though that is something I wouldn't skip.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by cy:
<strong>

When i come to things not fitting, is it generally a case of having to hammer stuff into shape. Also, do many people have to cut their stock exhaust (intermediate pipe) to hook up with the Y-pipe in the right place, or should i expect to have to?

Again, should i expect to have to get tuning done, expecially to my A/F ratio?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This really can vary from car to car and header to header. There is no one answer. Some people have to cut, bash, beat, pry, etc. and others can get it together with none of that. I have Bassani mid-lengths on my car, and the only issue was trying to get the Y-pipe mounted so that it wasn’t touching the driveshaft or the tunnel brace. It was really close to both, and it took quite a while to get it perfect. But we installed a set of Bassani’s on a friends SS and his Y-pipe went up perfect the first try <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> So it’s really hit or miss. Usually they will fit together, you’ll just need to do some tweaking to get it to fit perfect. If you can handle the rest of the install you’ll be able to do the tweaking. It can be aggravating, but you’ll get through it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Tuning is also a car to car/setup to setup thing. My car was running a little rich after the cam install; I put the headers on and now it seems better (leaner). You'll just have to do it and find out. Every car and every setup will react a little different.

 

Thanks for the advice and help everyone.

I guess the only way to figure out if i can do it, is to do it. The reason why i was worried abou A/F mixture is that i've heard s few people tell stories about after they put on their headers, they ran extremely rich, but as long as its drivable for a bit, i plan on looking into some diagnostic/tuning tools in a bit.

 

that's the spirit, amigo. do it yourself. grab a bud and some beer. few hours/days later, a faster car is born. good luck. <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

 

Heh, i guess thats what its all about. I can't wait to actually know how to really work on my LS1, when that day comes, i'll be truly fulfilled <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> .

pssssst, i'm underaged for beer, but shhhh <img border="0" alt="[chug]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_chug.gif" />

<small>[ June 13, 2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: cy ]</small>