Header install Question........
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Header install Question........ Someone told me here at work that I should replace the gasgets on the intake manifold and valve covers because I have to remove them to fit one of the headers in. Do I have to get gasgets for those? I didn't think they had gasgets. 
I was also recommended to use new GM gasgets over the ones that come w/ the headers.......What do you guys think?
I was also recommended to use new GM gasgets over the ones that come w/ the headers.......What do you guys think?
Originally Posted by 00Vette
Someone told me here at work that I should replace the gasgets on the intake manifold and valve covers because I have to remove them to fit one of the headers in. Do I have to get gasgets for those? I didn't think they had gasgets.
I was also recommended to use new GM gasgets over the ones that come w/ the headers.......What do you guys think?
I was also recommended to use new GM gasgets over the ones that come w/ the headers.......What do you guys think?
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
I would replace rather than reuse any gasket that has any kind of torque spec attached to it. i.e. the intake manifold gasket (if you really need to remove it to install headers) but the valve cover gasket is probably ok to reuse. When I have done headers in the past, I used copper gaskets on them due to the extreme heat that they deal with. The gaskets that came with the kit are likely to be ok, but not top of the line. The company isn't going to spec a product that it sees as overkill.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by Poik
I thought the LSx intakes had o-rings?
But the valve covers should be okay to reuse!!!
-Tru-Ice-
I'll use the ones with the kit......
The instructions call for removal of the intake manifold to get to the air pipe in the back to re-route it to the header. And you have to remove the valve cover on the passanger side to get the header in from the top. Apparently its easier than coming from the bottom.
You can re-use the rubber o-ring intake & valve cover gaskets as long as they aren't nicked. But the metal GM exh gaskets are FAR superior to the paper ones that many header companies include. Many people re-use them too....
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
I just took a look at the gaskets I have, and they look like a thin slice of metal sandwiched between some kind of paper/rubber composit..... How much will the metal GM gaskets run me, and where should I go to get them? The dealerships way way overcharge for parts. 
Trending Topics
UMMM you don't have to take off the intake manifold and the valve cover gaskets are fine to use again...I think you could do it with just taking off the passenger side valve cover by the way.
You want GM exaust manifold gaskets I believe from an 00 F-body maybe its an 00 vette too in which case you could reuse the ones you have but I'd go with new ones. You need the one with the round holes where I believe my stock ones were oval.
let me know if you need any help I could PM you my phone number, its not hard but I compare it to F body installs which I've done alot of, compared to the F body and C5 header install is like changing oil
You want GM exaust manifold gaskets I believe from an 00 F-body maybe its an 00 vette too in which case you could reuse the ones you have but I'd go with new ones. You need the one with the round holes where I believe my stock ones were oval.
let me know if you need any help I could PM you my phone number, its not hard but I compare it to F body installs which I've done alot of, compared to the F body and C5 header install is like changing oil
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
UMMM you don't have to take off the intake manifold and the valve cover gaskets are fine to use again...I think you could do it with just taking off the passenger side valve cover by the way.
You want GM exaust manifold gaskets I believe from an 00 F-body maybe its an 00 vette too in which case you could reuse the ones you have but I'd go with new ones. You need the one with the round holes where I believe my stock ones were oval.
let me know if you need any help I could PM you my phone number, its not hard but I compare it to F body installs which I've done alot of, compared to the F body and C5 header install is like changing oil
You want GM exaust manifold gaskets I believe from an 00 F-body maybe its an 00 vette too in which case you could reuse the ones you have but I'd go with new ones. You need the one with the round holes where I believe my stock ones were oval.
let me know if you need any help I could PM you my phone number, its not hard but I compare it to F body installs which I've done alot of, compared to the F body and C5 header install is like changing oil
So far so good 
Had alot of ups and downs already but I'm getting by 
I doubt I'm going to make it up there I'm hoping to make it to PIR (portland international) before the season is over after I get my oil issue addressed. But I do hope to still make it up there for a night at Quizno's or something its just a long drive. We should have a meet at the Mcmenimans in Centrailla
Had alot of ups and downs already but I'm getting by I doubt I'm going to make it up there I'm hoping to make it to PIR (portland international) before the season is over after I get my oil issue addressed. But I do hope to still make it up there for a night at Quizno's or something its just a long drive. We should have a meet at the Mcmenimans in Centrailla
Also 00Vett don't be afraid to jack the motor up a little bit and disconnect the steering. If you want to make it real easy you can cut off the tabs that go to the tunnel (I think) they don't support anything. I didn't but they get caught on all kinds of crap. The drivers is from the bottom and the passenger is from the top, I don't think I even took out the spark plugs on the drivers side. I think the only cut I got was from a paper water cup I was drinking out of taking a break...whereas I give a sacrific to the god of blood checking the oil level in an F-body
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
UMMM you don't have to take off the intake manifold and the valve cover gaskets are fine to use again...I think you could do it with just taking off the passenger side valve cover by the way.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
Also 00Vett don't be afraid to jack the motor up a little bit and disconnect the steering. If you want to make it real easy you can cut off the tabs that go to the tunnel (I think) they don't support anything. I didn't but they get caught on all kinds of crap. The drivers is from the bottom and the passenger is from the top, I don't think I even took out the spark plugs on the drivers side. I think the only cut I got was from a paper water cup I was drinking out of taking a break...whereas I give a sacrific to the god of blood checking the oil level in an F-body
The only thing I'm worried about (which you might not know since your headers have cats) is once you put the 02 sensors in the X-pipe's 02 sensor holes, and plug the 02 sims into the rear wires going to the computer or wherever they go, what do you do with the dangling wires hanging from the 02 sensors that are screwed into the X-pipe? That don't make a bit of sense to me............
You'll figure that out when your under there, you just zip tie them to brake lines or whatever just make sure they aren't near heat. I would try to find someone with edit rather then use those simms or just leave them off you'd be suprised how little the code comes on and when it does you just clear it with the DIC until you can get tuning. That way you can sell the Simms as new.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
You'll figure that out when your under there, you just zip tie them to brake lines or whatever just make sure they aren't near heat. I would try to find someone with edit rather then use those simms or just leave them off you'd be suprised how little the code comes on and when it does you just clear it with the DIC until you can get tuning. That way you can sell the Simms as new.
I'm gonna have to have the car tuned for the headers.........Or I won't get the most gains out of them. Who should I have tune my car? I guess I can cross that bridge when I come to it. I have to get my car out of the shop so I can get my headers in first.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
Yes but I added them later, I have the old style x pipe but then I only paid $600 for my headers So I only have the front O2's the back are deleted.
So I only have the front O2's the back are deleted. LOL that was at Woodburn and that was WITH Cats!! Without the cats the car was ridiculously loud, wish there was a switch I could turn it on an off with I liked it, just too much for day to day driving espeicallly since I live in a townhome with the bottom floor garage. My neighbor is hella cool a bit of gear head but even he said it was a little loud...
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
LOL that was at Woodburn and that was WITH Cats!! Without the cats the car was ridiculously loud, wish there was a switch I could turn it on an off with I liked it, just too much for day to day driving espeicallly since I live in a townhome with the bottom floor garage. My neighbor is hella cool a bit of gear head but even he said it was a little loud...
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Stanwood, Wa.
Originally Posted by 00Vette
I'll be doing the install of these headers the last weekend of September. I'll PM you if I need any help. Thanks for your advice......... The instructions I got to install these headers looked pretty strait forward. It'll be a little time consuming, but I'm in the military at McChord AFB and we have nice garages to work on our toys (for a very small fee). They have bays with full mechanics lifts, air tools, you name it they got it. So that should help a ton.
The only thing I'm worried about (which you might not know since your headers have cats) is once you put the 02 sensors in the X-pipe's 02 sensor holes, and plug the 02 sims into the rear wires going to the computer or wherever they go, what do you do with the dangling wires hanging from the 02 sensors that are screwed into the X-pipe? That don't make a bit of sense to me............
The only thing I'm worried about (which you might not know since your headers have cats) is once you put the 02 sensors in the X-pipe's 02 sensor holes, and plug the 02 sims into the rear wires going to the computer or wherever they go, what do you do with the dangling wires hanging from the 02 sensors that are screwed into the X-pipe? That don't make a bit of sense to me............