Good Golley.. so ever since I moved to Liberty I have no close by car buddies.. so I have to install my headers myself... GOOD GOD.
Day 1: I was able to get the plug wires off and coil packs on passenger side and the entire air intake area in about 2 hours. I then unbolted the driver's side header which took about 1 hour.
Day 2: I was able to remove passenger side header, drop it down as well as the driver's side. I dropped the exhaust from the end of the y-pipe and removed all the cats and o2 sensors. Total time .. 2 more hours.. I then by myself pushed the drivers side header up.. and with a bungee cord in place.. supported the weight from the latch on the hood while I carefully placed the gasket and threaded the bolts! whew.. this was time consuming and very awkward by myself and I said the "F" work no less than 30 times as I dropped the socket/wrench and occasionally a bolt.. causing me to crawl under the car for the header bolt.. I then proceeded to the driver's side alone as well.. which is more challenging.. but got it in place.. same deal.. bungee to support the weight.. and threaded in place. All in all another 4 hours.. (2 per header)..
What remains? I need to button her back up now with the coil packs/plug wires.. and put on the new air intake.. probabl 1 hour for that whole job.. and then install the y-pipe and rest of the exhaust.. I am going to leave the stock exhaust on at first to see how she sounds before desiding on the loudmouth.. I'm probably about 2 hours worth of actual work away from firing her back up for the first time in 30 days.
Then.. OFF TO THE DYNO FOR RESULTS!
Sorry.. just figured I would update everyone!
[ 03. April 2003, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: J.R. Mayer ]
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
I can relate to working on a car and drop something. How are the hands looking?
Posted by CK-1 99SS (Member # 93) on :
Thats too bad.. I am glad that my buddies are helping me to do my headers this weekend.. Hopefully its not too bad..
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
Part of the difficulty may have been caused by putting 2 headers on the drivers side and none on the passenger side ... d &r ...
Sorry ... couldn't resist pointing out the minor error in your description. Posted by J.R. Mayer (Member # 713) on :
OHH MY GOSH... upon looking.. poSSum is right... the car is going to run rough with both headers installed on one side of the car.. What was I thinking?!?!?!?! AHHH! Posted by J.R. Mayer (Member # 713) on :
quote:Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS: I can relate to working on a car and drop something. How are the hands looking?
Not too bad.. suprisingly.. not as bad as the time I removed the heads.. heads are a whole new game.. Suprisingly, I would say I have less than 3 little tiny nicks on my hand from the work... but I've got that nasty (cant get my hands completely clean thing) going on right now... no matter how much I wash Posted by sscamaro (Member # 1330) on :
I see you made a good choice in the headers you installed. I also have the FLPs. I tried to install mine myself,but could not get the spark plug wires off, so I gave up. I had them installed by a guy who knows what he was doing. It took him 2 hours for the whole job. Cost $325.00,but worth it. Did you put the exhaust wrap and heater around the Y-pipe? If you didn't it will band on the floor board. See pictures in my sig of the wrap. I also have the GMMG chamber cat back on mine. Did you put the ORP on or the cats? It will have an awsome sound, beleive me.
[ 03. April 2003, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: sscamaro ]
Posted by Leadfut (Member # 1375) on :
quote:Originally posted by J.R. Mayer: [QUOTE]but I've got that nasty (cant get my hands completely clean thing) going on right now... no matter how much I wash
Try using some oxiclean or orange clean. Works for my husband.
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Thanks for the update, sounds like you are progressing well! Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Should have called - I'd give you hand!
At least you know it's done right.
Posted by Kevin V 2002 SS (Member # 1025) on :
J.R. my son recently put headers on his 02 Z28 and he took his loudmouth off because he thought it was too loud. I'll be putting on headers and hi-flo cats in the fall. I'm thinking of going with the SLP dual-duals (unless I find something better) and an electric cutout. My son installed some kind of muffler system and the electric cutout as did another friend of mine. My son said it came in real handy when a cop pulled up next to him, he just had to push the little button and close the cutout.
Posted by leadfoot (Member # 695) on :
Shoot im glad I live near a bunch of nice people (Doug 97 SS, Gonzo, 99hoss) or I would be SOL on putting parts in. Those people have tought me alot. If you want to hear teh LT and LM combo look over on www.f-bodyhideout.com and click on the video section. There is a video there on the install of my headers. Posted by tbyrne (Member # 424) on :
The bungee cord was a good idea! If you guys find that it's kind of tight to slide the headers in loosen the engine cradle a little (remember - a little). This will give you enough room to get them in there.
Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
What, Natalie didn't help you? That certainly sounds like a chore...but at least it's a fun one. I can't believe you barely nicked your hands...hell, mine usually look like they went through a meat grinder from merely detatiling the engine bay.
Posted by J.R. Mayer (Member # 713) on :
quote:Originally posted by OBSSD: What, Natalie didn't help you? That certainly sounds like a chore...but at least it's a fun one. I can't believe you barely nicked your hands...hell, mine usually look like they went through a meat grinder from merely detatiling the engine bay.
Believe me.. I was shocked too... normally my hands are worse.. things went suprisingly well.. I noticed things were a little easier than they were on my 98 SS.. since the coil packs are cleaned up and on racks.. EGR was in more subtle place... some just cleanup stuff made it a littl easier.. plus a couple of wire harnesses were tied back better than on my '98
Posted by CK-1 99SS (Member # 93) on :
J.R. How high did you end up having to get your vehicle off the ground?? and also what did you set your car on when it was that high..
Posted by J.R. Mayer (Member # 713) on :
Curtis.. I just used my trusty 3 ton Craftsman jack.. on a good spot underneath on the frame.. then for safety.. I put the 2 floor jacks un neath the car just "in case" the car fell for any reason.. I have never had a problem with my jack.. but "just in case" I always use the floor jacks.. I had the 3 ton jack up about 3/4 of the way.. one side of the car at a time.. perhaps 1 1/2 feet off the ground?
The FLPs fit like a champ.. very little maneuverning to get them in.. getting the old headers/exhaust manifolds off was the harder of the two challenges.
Posted by J.R. Mayer (Member # 713) on :
One of my favorite most impressed parts was the fact that the passenger side header doesn't even get CLOSE to the wires that come up the passenger side wheel well side... on my 98 SS my hooker shorty headers were "VERY close" to touching.. on the FLPs.. they are at LEAST 3 inches away or from ANY wires of any kind. So far I am very pleased with the fit of these headers.
Posted by Stealth Performance (Member # 1072) on :
Posted by Z4CSS (Member # 1639) on :
J.R. I just put SLPs headers and Y on my 35th (I already had the CME). Friend & I got use of lift and power tools (plus occasional help of mechanic) and it was still a "major", "all day" (no lunch either) 9 hour project with many problems on the install (especially the passenger side) header, plus even after the install of the headers (which did not go as the instructions read), the crowning blow was the wiring harness had to be lengthened (sp?) so it would be long enough to fit thru the hole as required and connect to the sim's (there was absolutely no way it would reach without either being on-top of, or touching the headers), etc.
Our hands and arms came out with lots of scratches, cuts, etc. also. As they say, "We feel your pain"
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
d &r ...![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
