Weather permitting this coming weekend, im going to start on the removal of the transmission to replace the flexplate and install the TC and replaces a few items, so im going to install the Speed Engineering headers I got for the car.

Any words of wisdom? Any does and donts from anyone that has done the header install in their driveway? Im going to be doing the motor mounts also, so a lot of things will be removed and out of the way to accomplish other tasks..

thanks..

 

Remember to disconnect the battery before you start disassembly.

 

yea did that "After" I was trying to loosen the bolt that holds the ac dryer and the ratchet hit the battery terminal

so that was removed as soon as sparks flew..

 

First remove the mani's and ypipe to get them out of the way. Leave the a/c and alternator in the car and just remove the entire stand and clamshell in one piece through the bottom. I removed one side at a time and just used a jack under the oilpan with a 2x4 on it to lift the engine enough to get the stands and mm's out. No need to loosen the trans mount either.

 

Be sure to leave the long bolt that goes through the mount and stand loose so the clamshell can wiggle enough to fit flush with the block without causing the stand to rock off the kmember. When all clamshell and stand bolts are tight then tighten the long bolt going through them.

 

now when you refer to the clam shell are you speaking about the motor mount replacement? the exhaust is already out of the car, the trans will be next as I need to replace the flexplate and torque converter. so im collecting a lot of notes and steps to make sure I can accomplish each task without spending days at this.. it will be mostly me by myself for most of it, the other stuff that requires more help, ill have someone helping..

 

It depends where you bought them and what kind of motor mount replacements you have. The only way I have ever seen them is just the inner replacement mount. I have always used energy suspension black poly mounts on all 4 of the cars I have done the install on. If you ordered replacements from GM they might be a one piece replacement already assembled but IDK. The clamshell bolts around the actual rubber motor mount piece and bolts to the block. One side is flat and the other side is"M" shaped. The clamshell is a two piece design thats riveted around the rubber motor mount. The rubber motor mount keeps the steel stand from rubbing the steel clamshell thats bolted to the block.

 

This is what I got
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/en...w/make/pontiac

once I have the trans out of the way, ill do the motor mounts first, then the headers, then the trans..

 

Yeah those are like the ones I always get.

 

Sound with the exhaust and trans out of the way, installing the mounts should be pretty straight forward right

I noticed that one of the bolts is pointing toward the front I think so removing the entire bolt is obviously not intended for that one side correct?

 

Keep the clam shells on the side same side you took it off of.

 

Cool

Any chance there is a good source for bolt sizes? just so I can have the right tools with me under the car and not having to go grab other sizes cause I got the wrong ones..

I mean I have a lot of sockets and few wrenches and such, just want to have the common sizes available to me..

 

I would leave the trans attached until the mounts are done. This way you still have two anchor points for the engine and its not trying to rock all around while you have one side out. Trust me.

 

Get the car as high as you possibly can...

 

And, if the headers are coated:
1. Wipe the greasy fingerprints off w/ alcohol.
2. A fan blowing under the car, will help w/ coating break in.
3. Make sure the tune is good...Run it lean, and it's bye bye to the coating.