LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Header install is a bitch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 23, 2009 | 05:20 AM
  #1  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default Header install is a bitch

Working on getting in the ds header right now.
Both stock manifolds and all egr/air garbage is gone and the stock Y pipe with cat is out



Seems I need to "massage" the floorboard with a hammer right by the slave cylinder a little and grind on the k member to let it slip by and up.



That pretty common?


Oh, I also found that 3 of the spark plugs on the ds were loose and the pass side manifold only had 5 bolts in it wtf! lol



Maybe shell run a little better after this, doing my taylor otvc wires and TR6's gapped at .035 for a little you know what down the road.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 07:07 AM
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

What headers are you installing? Some grinding, bending, massaging, and cursing is normal if you're doing LPPs.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #3  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

The AZSMs in my sig
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 12:44 PM
  #4  
BizZzatch350's Avatar
Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,794
Likes: 15
From: T E X A S
Default

OTVC looks cool, but you can easily route them with out it. It's just the back two on each side you have to get creative with and route them through the motor mounts, follow the oil cooler lines on the d.s and kinda come around on the plug. The p.s side just have to follow the same kind of logic. A lot of issues are caused by worn motor mounts.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:32 PM
  #5  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Well I've tried grinding the k member and massaging the floorboard. Also have the oil filter off on that side and it's just not happening.

Looks like I might be able to do that side from the top if I disconnect the steering shaft. Any ideas?
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:35 PM
  #6  
Lt14mla's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Default

oh yea we had to do some serious floorboard flattening to get mine in. pretty common on lt1's from what i recall
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:44 PM
  #7  
crzytown69's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 574
Likes: 0
From: charleston wv
Default

man that sucks you gotta grind and BFH it good luck and it will be worth it in the long run
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:45 PM
  #8  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Thanks guys. Anyone put the driver's side in from the top? I think I'm gonna try it.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 23, 2009 | 06:58 PM
  #9  
Badazz 97 TA's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Default

you need to remove the steering shaft regardless of which way you put them in. Thats your problem. remove the shaft and it will go in no problem. also dont break the coolant sensor by the #1 spark plug
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:03 PM
  #10  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Well I already broke the sensor lol.

Problem is, I did remove the steering shaft and it still will NOT go in. No matter how I try it from the top or the bottom it refuses.

Denied.... LOL

I'm ready to set it on fire. Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong. Do I have to take the motor mount loose on that side and jack up the engine?
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:13 PM
  #11  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Does anyone have pics of notching the K member?

I can't believe I'm having this much trouble when people with long tubes have them that slide right in. WTF
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:18 PM
  #12  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Also looks like I could remove the first primary on the ds if I finished the cut the bandsaw made. It's almost all the way through and that would let my #1 primary come apart like hooker headers do.

Should I try it that way?
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:25 PM
  #13  
smb72's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem, PA
Default

I never had to do any of the sort to install my long tubes. Never removed the steering shaft out or cut up the k-member. Remove all spark plugs and pull out the long bolt for the motor mount. Use a floor jack with a piece of wood and jack up oil pan or bell housing. Jack slowly and check everything till its up as far as it will go. After some scratches in the header it'll be in. Grab a buddy to hold the header and lower the jack, install bolts and your done. Do the same on the other side. Also. put the car up on jack stands so its up as high as it can go, makes the job easier.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:31 PM
  #14  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

The car is high enough, the header can stand straight up and down.

It's a mid tube so not super tall.

I guess that is my next thing to try, undo the motor mount
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 08:54 PM
  #15  
caldercay's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Lt14mla
oh yea we had to do some serious floorboard flattening to get mine in. pretty common on lt1's from what i recall
Maybe "common" for midtubes on an LT1 ... the Kooks went it with almost
zero effort. I did have to jack up the engine on both sides, but I replaced
the motor mounts at the same time anyway, so that's a moot point.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 09:00 PM
  #16  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Where is the best place to jack to lift the engine on one side? I have the nut off the motor mount bolt and want to lift the engine and push the bolt out.

When I jack on the bellhousing it just lifts the car straight up, doesn't twist the engine.

Under oil pan with a piece of wood? I'm afraid of bending it though.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 09:28 PM
  #17  
smb72's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem, PA
Default

I have done mine both ways. Oil pan first and then after I rebuilt my engine, I used the bell housing. I did find some dents in my oil pan when the engine was out, not sure how they came about thats why I used the bh the last time. Plus I didn't want to mess up a freshly painted oil pan.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 09:34 PM
  #18  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Has anyone unbolted the K member and let it down on the drivers side?

I swear that looks like what needs to happen. Guess I'll try jacking the engine and getting the motor mount bolt out first.

Should I remove any of the tranny cross member bolts to let it twist? Or just the motor mount
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #19  
michaelz28lt1's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
Default

Just take out the two motor mount bolts, put a jack with a piece of block on the crank pulley and jack up. You might have to jack it up just a touch to take some pressure off the motor mount bolts so you can slide them out. Its very easy to do and they will go right in. When I did my Pacesetter Longtube headers I didn't touch any thing but the motor mount bolts to slide the headers in.
Reply
Old May 23, 2009 | 11:19 PM
  #20  
gregrob's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 4
From: 6,000+ feet
Default

Im gonna try taking the first primary tube off and see what happens
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:36 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-04 18:13:20


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE