Just a heads up for anyone who was wondering, or thinking about buying these headers.

First off, I didn't have to jack the car up very high, maybe 4 or 5" above the height of Rhino Ramps. My first attempt at sliding them in failed so I thought I would have to get the car up much higher. I went back under the car and tried again and noticed that the heat shield was a little in the way. For the heck of it I removed the 5 little bolts, on the passenger side, and dropped the heat shield, very easy. I tried slipping the header in and voila, success! It slid in like butter. My buddy was up top and was able to get a few bolts started and there it was. What could be easier.

The driver's side was just as easy. The heat shield was very small held by 3 little bolts, removed it, and the header slid right home. It had to be one of the simplest things I've ever installed.

The y-pipe was the hardest part and it was easy. It took a little thought figuring-out the best way. Basically we got the two inlets going into the headers attached, and then just hammered on the catback's inlet section to get it to slide into the y-pipe.

The only problem, if you can call it that, is that the driver's side rear O2 wouldn't reach the bung. I used the two O2 extension included for the front O2 sensors, so I decided to just plug the rear O2 bungs. I went to Napa and bought a couple 18mm x 1.5 oil drain plugs and removed the old rear O2s from the harness.

I took the car for a drive and there was no y-pipe banging, no issues whatsover.

I'm really grateful for being led in this direction while I was trying to figure-out which headers to get. These headers are awesome in every way, seem to flow like crazy, added a little spice to the exhaust sound, and look great in the engine compartment. A product that truly lives up to its reputation in every way.

 

Good stuff. Now get it back to the dyno to see what you picked up I did the same thing with my Y-pipe getting it to fit, and it's been fine ever since.

-J

 

Just to add, the dipstick tube slid through the maze of piping, like it was designed with the dipstick in mind, and my buddy underneath was able to guide it into the hole. I used a rubber mallet by tapping lightly to get it to seat into the hole.

I was able to install the rear plug wire on the passenger side by snaking my arm up there and pushing it home. It's pretty hard to reach from up top with the headers installed. It seems even thought was given to that troublesome spark plug. I'm so impressed! I'm thinking about calling Nick and thanking him.

 

lastcall, I'm glad you checked in here. You're the main person I wanted to thank. So thankyou for recommending these headers to me! Everything you said was spot-on and I couldn't be happier. Thanks again!!!

This morning I'm going to scan my car to see where the LTFTs are and adjust accordingly. Maybe tomorrow I'll hook-up my LM-1 and get WOT dialed-in. After that it's off to the dyno, and I'll post results. I do know that with the new heads and ARHs the car feels sick. I've been chirping tires and I'm not even trying to. I've got this shitty-*** grin that won't leave my face. And the 4.11s go great with my cam and heads. I'm having too much fun!

Later. And thanks!!!!

 

Glad I could help. Plenty others convinced me as well, and they were worth the money. Paired with cats, cam, and Magnaflow the car sounds absolutely awesome. Good luck on the tune and new numbers, should be a nice bump!

-J

 

Good to know. I want these headers, but I am really debating on going with the catted Y pipe and getting a magnaflow, or to get duals.

 

They are a great product. I love mine and like you said they were extremely easy to install, and I did them by myself.

 

ARHs and Magnaflow seems to be a popular combo. I'm pretty happy with ARHs and a Hooker CB except it's not SS, but it sounds good, not obnoxious.

I think lastcall runs the ARH/ Magnaflow combo, maybe he could fill you in. True duals is probably the best of all though but I have no experience there.

Whatever you do, you'll love the ARHs. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the notes! I'm installing mine this weekend! (About f'n time if you ask me!)

 

You installed them yourself! You guys amaze me. I can see that it would be doable, but that extra pair of hands makes it totally painless.

It must have been a little tricky to slide them in and getting them to not fall back down while you got out from under the car. How did you manage that, just curious?

 

Are you lowered at all? What's your ground clearance like?

 

Just take off the heat shields and it's all down hill. You made a great choice. Congrats. Have fun!

 

I'm lowered about 3/4". SLP Eibachs.

I didn't measure the clearance but it's better than it was when I had shorties and aftermarket y-pipe. The ARH y-pipe fits close to the undercarriage and still doesn't bang. Amazing. I still have to be careful over speed bumps. I can go out and measure the clearance if you want. Let me know.

 

I sure do... waaaaaaaay quieter than TDs. I only have ~700 miles on the setup so far, but the magnaflow is starting to get a bit louder. Few notes so far: you can't hear the cam chop (barely if you're standing right behind the car), it is so damn quiet inside you can carry on a conversation windows up, down, whatever... There is zero drone, zero rasp, and it's quiet everywhere except WOT, where it has a tone similar to my buddy's C5 with B&B bullets (loud but not harsh, like someone turned the "treble" on the car totally off). HTH. TDs were nice but around here I didn't need any more attention than the car already attracts.

-J

 

I got mine on this weekend and I love 'em! Got a good tune too and man can I tell the difference! If you don't have a set aready go pick them up. I am just about to order my magnaflow to kill the rasp (all of it, I hope).

 

Glad we help all you guys acheive your performance goals. If you have any questions give me a shout

 

I am at stock ride height. Putting them on myself was easy. I did not remove either of the heat shields. I just slid the header in from the bottom and found something for it to rest on, then from the top held it with one hand and with the other hand i held the gasket up to the flange and stuck a bolt through the flange and gasket. Then just ran the bolt in with my fingers. Once the header was slid in from underneath it took my like 5 mins to get all of the bolts in by hand

 

 

oh ya, I love my ARH too. Had them off changing heads, and just normal jackstands no problems needing more room. Having the jack the car way up, and that scary stuff. I was just as impressed with everything going back together so nice. They "are the best" as everyong that has them says. So everything fit back together just as smothly as new. No prying , hammering, or leaks. Like some of the cheaper headers get after being taking on and off, get worn. I have the larger 1 7/8th too, stock wires are fine too. I just cut a little slice on the end hex in the boot, on a few so they had a 1/4, from 1/8 for a little more air room. But lots of room to change plugs, and no melts boots or any harness wireing.
I can get to the starter fine, changed it with out touching the headers/Ypipe, another cheaper 1 7/8th header I had to take the Ypipe down, lossen the header to swing it away from the motor just to get the starter bolts, and starter out. That was stupid The oil filter, oil plug, the 02s, the slave bleeder. Isn't super close the the cluch hyd. line boiling the fuild so the car dosnt shift smothly when its hot. I have some pics of mine




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hmmm, sounds like my install but I used the arp studs for the headers and that made it even easier to install.

They are a great product.

Enjoy.

Brad