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How hard is it to do headers

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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 05:18 PM
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Default How hard is it to do headers

I recently bought pacesetter long tubes with cat y pipe and i would really like to do it myself just wondering if anyone has any tricks or can give me some pointers before i start doing them. Is that all i need is the gaskets it came with or do i also have to buy gasket sealer. Thanks guys
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 05:26 PM
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not very hard, just time consuming. get the front end up as high as you can. buy some wratchet wrenches. have patients.

either reuse the stock gaskets or go buy some new gm ones.
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 05:33 PM
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It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be.
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 05:39 PM
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yea not hard, just go slow and def keep an eye on your patience
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 05:40 PM
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thanks guys
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 05:07 AM
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its not that difficult. like everyone else stated, just be patient. and get the car as high as you can. keep us posted on how it turns out.
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 05:24 AM
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will i am 19 and is really easy it took like 8 hours just get the car up in the air
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 05:58 AM
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Not hard but definately easier if you have someone helping you, to help up top while you are under the car!
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 06:55 AM
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get it up as high as this and you'll have no problems This was me swapping from MAC mid's to Jethot LTs



all pictures can be found here
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/273500/11
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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easy as hell, just make sure you get the car high in the air.
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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I did not get my car near that high, even though I had a car lift. I got it high enough I could get the header in while I was under the car and my friend could start putting bolts in from the top.

Now installing the Y and getting it adjusted is different. I had the car all the way up on the car lift.
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 08:41 PM
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I did mine myself at age 56 and I am not mechanically inclined. You need
the large size jackstands,rhino ramps,sockets,reuse stock gaskets, wd40
amd some band aids.
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by john shea
I did mine myself at age 56 and I am not mechanically inclined. You need
the large size jackstands,rhino ramps,sockets,reuse stock gaskets, wd40
amd some band aids.

GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!!!
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 10:29 PM
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Look out for the the spikes of death under the windshield cowl. LOL
just buy some band-aids.
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 11:16 AM
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bandaids are a must lol but make sure u get the spongebob ones
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 03:10 PM
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Takes about 6 hours. Not hard at all. You don't have to get the car that high up. I have done several sets for friends in my garage on a set of jack stands.
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 03:14 PM
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its not that hard! just time consuming! the y pipe was actually harder trying to get it all on! but that just took some banging! and def. needs bandaids! lol i had like 3 on each hand! damn heat shields!
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 03:32 PM
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It's not hard, but a pain in the *** and very patience trying. I had a lift so could go up and down at will. A helper is a good idea, along with pivoting ratchets, swivel extensions and ratcheting wrenches. Hardest part is getting the header bolts back in.

Here's a tip, put the front and rearmost header bolts in first. Cut a little section of the new gaskets out so that you can slip the gasket inbetween the head and header and over the bolts.

Hopefully, you're getting racestyle headers so you can delete AIR and EGR.
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Old Aug 21, 2006 | 12:24 AM
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I would definitely buy new gaskets for them, pacesetter's copper ones suck. Get race headers instead of block-offs. Becareful that you don't over-torque the header bolts though. They will break off, and if they break off flush with the head, you are in for a lot of time and headaches. I'm speaking from experience. My pacesetters were ever so slightly bowed and didn't realize it until I was tightening the front bolt on the drivers side because it looked loose (not sure if it due to headers or their gaskets), and broke the bolt. Spent 4 days and 2 bits on it, but ended up drilling it out and puting a helicoil in it.
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Old Aug 21, 2006 | 12:42 AM
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you pussies that say buy bandaids are dickless... when you work on a car, you get cut up and dirty... simple as that (if that's too much...ever heard of rubber latex gloves? )

buy new gaskets as header gaskets are "crush gaskets" and form to the uneven countours on all manifolds
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