FLP Problem!!!
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Germantown, MD
FLP Problem!!! Maybe this is a common problem but I can't get my oil pan drill bolt out!!!!!!!!! What the hell!?!?! A) How do I get it out? B) What can I do to simplify my oil change proccess?
I cannot believe they designed these headers and didn't think to give me enough room to get my oil pan bolt! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
I cannot believe they designed these headers and didn't think to give me enough room to get my oil pan bolt! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
Re: FLP Problem!!! some people have gotten it out by grinding or filing the edge of the bolts towards the back of the car. I ended up just pulling around on mine and eventually it wiggled it's way out... then I cut the bolt off right before the threads started. I've got plenty of clearance now. Other's have also said they pryed on the header tubes a little bit... I tried it and didn't feel real comfortable with it... and it really didn't help mine move any. Your mileage may vary though.
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: LA New Orleans Marrero
Re: FLP Problem!!! Take your little finger'ssssssss and get a prybar put it on side the header and oil pan and put a little gurl on it and the bolt come's right out......... and do the same going back in and your done.......... you got itttttt.........
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Pensacola, FL
Re: FLP Problem!!! This is a common problem with FLPs...
Some folks just have trouble with it, some folks just plain can't get them out.
All FLP has to say about it is "get a bar and pry". Yeah right, $1300 headers and you gotta pound and pry on them. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Some guys have cut the bolt short on the magnet side, losing the magnet of course, and then ground the head of the bolt short. The problems being that the magnet is there to protect your engine and the head of the bolt tends to round easily according to some who have done the mod.
Good luck
Dave
Btw: How close are your pipes to the oil filter? At least one person has pipes running so close that his filter warps and burns from the intense heat. You can only imagine what this does to your oil. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Some folks just have trouble with it, some folks just plain can't get them out.
All FLP has to say about it is "get a bar and pry". Yeah right, $1300 headers and you gotta pound and pry on them. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Some guys have cut the bolt short on the magnet side, losing the magnet of course, and then ground the head of the bolt short. The problems being that the magnet is there to protect your engine and the head of the bolt tends to round easily according to some who have done the mod.
Good luck
Dave
Btw: How close are your pipes to the oil filter? At least one person has pipes running so close that his filter warps and burns from the intense heat. You can only imagine what this does to your oil. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Fort Worth
Re: FLP Problem!!! Humm,I have FLP`s and I can get the drain bolt out just by unscrewing it.I`ve also never had a problem with with the header burning paint off the oil filter.My y-pipe doesn`t even bang.I guess I got lucky with my set of used FLP`s for $500. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
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From: McChord AFB WA
Re: FLP Problem!!! First off, I have no complaints about my FLPs other than the fact that I had the same problem with my oil drain plug. Just go to Schucks etc... and buy a shorter plug for like $5.00 <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
No problems here with my oil filter being burnt.
No problems here with my oil filter being burnt.
Thread Starter
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From: Germantown, MD
Re: FLP Problem!!! OK I was able to pry the header slightly and get the bolt wiggled out. Still not happy about it, but I didn't have to pry incredibly hard, just had to find the right brace.
To make things worse, I put on my cats for the first time tonight and now all the sudden I have banging when I start moving in first gear. Does anyone know what is banging? Like which header and what is it banging against?
I have to agree with the sentiment that this is not what one should expect from $1300 headers.
Mike
To make things worse, I put on my cats for the first time tonight and now all the sudden I have banging when I start moving in first gear. Does anyone know what is banging? Like which header and what is it banging against?
I have to agree with the sentiment that this is not what one should expect from $1300 headers.
Mike
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From: Hickory, NC
Re: FLP Problem!!! Guys...I just don't understand. Why is it that I read post after post of people having problems not being able to remove their oil drain plug with FLP's and some people have absolutely no trouble at all removing their plug.
Is each batch of headers produced different?? It appears their not exactly the same (manufacturing differences). It was my understanding that FLP had addressed some of the issues regarding the drain plug and the floor board banging. Any insight?
Is each batch of headers produced different?? It appears their not exactly the same (manufacturing differences). It was my understanding that FLP had addressed some of the issues regarding the drain plug and the floor board banging. Any insight?
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TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 865
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From: central TX
Re: FLP Problem!!! I don't think it's the header batches that are different - at least, I don't think that's all the problem.
I took my FLPs off my 99 when I traded it in and installed them on my 02. I had *zero* issues with clearance on the 99, but with the 02, I had banging on the k-member and on the floorboard... Still no issues for me with the oil drain plug though. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when I switch the FLPs over to my 05 TA...oh wait...never mind... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TrentSS:
<strong>Guys...I just don't understand. Why is it that I read post after post of people having problems not being able to remove their oil drain plug with FLP's and some people have absolutely no trouble at all removing their plug.
Is each batch of headers produced different?? It appears their not exactly the same (manufacturing differences). It was my understanding that FLP had addressed some of the issues regarding the drain plug and the floor board banging. Any insight?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shane
I took my FLPs off my 99 when I traded it in and installed them on my 02. I had *zero* issues with clearance on the 99, but with the 02, I had banging on the k-member and on the floorboard... Still no issues for me with the oil drain plug though. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when I switch the FLPs over to my 05 TA...oh wait...never mind... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TrentSS:
<strong>Guys...I just don't understand. Why is it that I read post after post of people having problems not being able to remove their oil drain plug with FLP's and some people have absolutely no trouble at all removing their plug.
Is each batch of headers produced different?? It appears their not exactly the same (manufacturing differences). It was my understanding that FLP had addressed some of the issues regarding the drain plug and the floor board banging. Any insight?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shane
Re: FLP Problem!!! It is likely that the headers are the same, it's the cars that are different. GM is not exactly known for it's quality control. Try re-aligning your oil pan maybe? I don't have any issues with the drain plug, in fact, it's not really even close.
Dope
Dope
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Germantown, MD
Re: FLP Problem!!! Well just an update.
Using a small pry bar I was able to get the drain plug out. I'm not really happy about that, but I didn't have to pry all that hard. I'd perfer not to cut the drain plug simply because I like the magnetic tip. It gives me an idea of how hard the engine is running and if there are any problems.
The filter looked fine and my oil consistancy seems the same as it did before. Engine temps haven't changed so I'm guessing there is little effect to the header running so close to the filter.
On a positive note, I dynoed the car for the first time since getting the headers and I picked up 20 RWHP, from the catless FLPS <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I hit the exact numbers I was hoping for.
On top of that, I found out the Cats stealling almost no power, only 2-3 RWHP!!! Man, these are some freakin awesome cats! I think the Cats and the ability to swap them in and out with offroad pipes is really what sets the FLP package above the rest. Me and a buddy were able to swap out the cats inbetween dyno pulls. Took us 12 minutes to jack up the car, Swap out the cats for the off rroad pipes, and put her back down. Very easy.
<img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
Mike
p.s. My positive dyno experience still doesn't make me an happier about the drain plug, but the RWHP #'s certainly soften the blow <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Using a small pry bar I was able to get the drain plug out. I'm not really happy about that, but I didn't have to pry all that hard. I'd perfer not to cut the drain plug simply because I like the magnetic tip. It gives me an idea of how hard the engine is running and if there are any problems.
The filter looked fine and my oil consistancy seems the same as it did before. Engine temps haven't changed so I'm guessing there is little effect to the header running so close to the filter.
On a positive note, I dynoed the car for the first time since getting the headers and I picked up 20 RWHP, from the catless FLPS <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I hit the exact numbers I was hoping for.
On top of that, I found out the Cats stealling almost no power, only 2-3 RWHP!!! Man, these are some freakin awesome cats! I think the Cats and the ability to swap them in and out with offroad pipes is really what sets the FLP package above the rest. Me and a buddy were able to swap out the cats inbetween dyno pulls. Took us 12 minutes to jack up the car, Swap out the cats for the off rroad pipes, and put her back down. Very easy.
<img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
Mike
p.s. My positive dyno experience still doesn't make me an happier about the drain plug, but the RWHP #'s certainly soften the blow <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />