jethot header problem, need help
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Houston
alternator bracket shouldnt be an issue when installing the headers, atleast it wasnt on the 3 sets of headers ive put on my car. For that bolt, I used a socket, extension, swivel joint, and 1/4' Drive Wratchet if that helps at all.
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
yeah, thats the exact combo im using. im just having a hard time starting it for some weird reason. well sooner or later it will go in, thanks for all the help. one more question, did you need 2 harness extensions for you o2 sensors, one for each side?
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From: Houston
I had the edlebrock, the hooker shorties, and now the ASM's, and i didnt need O2 extensions for any of them. Here's an old shade tree mechanic trick that comes in handy a lot, especially with sparkplugs and other tight places...get the bolt, find some very small tubing that the head of the bolt will fit snugly in. Now cut the tubing however short or long you want(prolly 3-4 inches for that bolt but i cant remember for sure), and put the head of the bolt tightly into one end. Now you have a thin piece of rubber tubing with the header bolt sticking out one end. Basically, its a home made 2-3 inch, tight fitting, narrow, extension you can use to turn the bolt by hand without having to get a wratchet, socket and extension down in the engine bay. It works WONDERS.....try using that to get the bolt started, once its started and in a little bit, you can just pull the tubing off and put the socket/wrench on it. See if that works for you, if it doesnt, we can try to figure out something else.
Last edited by Gangly; Jun 14, 2004 at 04:32 PM.
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well, i got pissed and just bent the AIR tube out of the way, now i can fit my hand in there. but, i got it started and i don't think there is anyway the socket is gonna tighten it even if i grind it down and i can't use a wrench. i dont think the bolt is gonna work. which brings me to HOPEFULLY my last question, what if i use the ARP bolt and say screw the alternator bracket? there will still be 3 brackets holding the alternator, wouldn't that be enough??
Originally Posted by warbird27
well, i got pissed and just bent the AIR tube out of the way,
Originally Posted by warbird27
well, i got the driver's side bolts all down no problem, the passenger is just about done. i just can't seem to get the first bolt started. ive messed with it for hours and cannot get it started, im using the original bolt so i can still use the alternator bracket. any ideas??? ive already shaved down the bolt a little, its a tight squeeze. i think im gonna have to rip some other stuff out so i have more accessibility. also i have a shaved down 3/8 wrench, but it won't fit onto the bolt that is between the egr and primary. these damn bolts are giving me the most trouble out of the whole project.
1. Have you removed everything that's in the way?
2. I had to very slightly dimple the first header tube to get the front bolt going.
3. I also used a small craftsman wrench with a "side bite" end. Can't remember the proper name for it, but the open end of the wrench is at 90 deg. to the rest of the wrench. Actually, I think it's called an ignition wrench.
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well i ditched the alternator bracket and finally got all the bolts on. one big down fall, my dad was tightening the 5th bolt down from underneath the car and it is now officially cross-threaded. its in there good but not in right, im sayin **** it and am just gonna leave it. i now have to wait for a new oil dipstick tube cuz i broke it. well it will finally be done tmrw after being under the knife for a week ( took my time ). i just wanted to say thanks for all the help, i really appreciate it.
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From: Savannah, TN
Originally Posted by warbird27
well i thought i had all the hard stuff tackled. getting the header in was no problem and my buddy got the egr lined up and on. but now, we spent like 3 hours just tryin to figure out how to get the bolts on and tightened. we can get to some of the easy ones, but the primaries seem to get in the way of getting any sockets on or anything to tighten the bolts. i bought ARP 12pt header bolts, plus i have the ones from jethot, and i got the originals. but we can't seem to find a way to tighten the bolts b/c of the header. this is definately the most PITA part that i did not expect to have. everyone told me to get the arp bolts, is there some special tool that will go onto the bolt and clear the header so we can tighten them?? i should have definately spent the cash to have gotten this done. any help is greatly appreciated, we're done for the night until tmrw at 4.
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well im almost totally done. i ran into 2 problems, 1st i broke the oil dipstick and im waiting to get that, 2nd i had to get freakin stitches in the tip of my pointer finger and ring finger from smackin the damn heat shield putting my ypipe on, not fun.
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From: Houston
I did the same thing but on the heat shield under the passenger compartment. Sliced the top of my pinky knuckle almost completely off. Damn thing hurt like a bitch, but its healed now and the scar is so small im ebarrased to tell anybody about it, hehe.
