Then you're not counting header install, you're counting O2 sensor, plug wires, spark plugs and header install, yes thats going to take significantly longer than just installing headers. O2 sensors take no time at all to change when you're doing a header install, take a hammer to your old o2s and break them off on the pipe (dont worry you can still remove them if you plan on selling your old manifolds and y-pipe) that way you dont have to waste time removing them, this trick works well when just changing the o2 sensors as well if you dont have a special o2 sensor socket, you smash the o2 sensor and then a normal socket will fit and work (although the passenger side manifold needs some grinding if your socket is thick walled)

 

Even though it still takes a lot of time. You have to remove the dipstick and rebend it and reinstall it which is a PITA. You also have to do something about AIR/EGR either you have to remove it or reinstall it. I believe most of the commonly used headers require jacking up the motor. Once you've done a header swap you'll know whats all involved. I use wrenches/ratchets to remove my O2's not hammers.

 

Why bother if you're not reusing them and not reusing the pipe their in?

 

With coated headers, alot of people do reuse the O2 sensors for the "break-in" period of the headers before installing the fresh set of O2 sensors.

 

O2 sensors and plugs are part of a header install. How do u replace the header if you don't remove the O2 sensor? And just try to snake the header flange around the plugs while they're in the car, you're going to break half of them i guarantee it. You can't just only replace the header, theres other things around it limiting it's path. And why would you break your O2 sensors off if they're not bad? It's good to keep extra sensors around for diagnostic purposes down the road.

 

Yep, I had Pacesetter mid tube headers installed in my '94 z28, got car back 6 hrs later, first thing i noticed when I drove the car was that they leak... Nothing i can do about it. If i dont pay.. they put a void on my car.

 

Most header installs would require the wires to be routed away from the headers, we spent probably 30 minutes doing a good job of that..

Unhooking emissions and reattaching/deleting them should be factored in since they're part of any header install, unless deleted already. (same w/ o2's noted above, I used my old ones for the break in period since my headers were coated).

For us Higher milage LT1's spraying down bolts with PB blaster is neccessary, removing the starter may be neccessary too for getting at the Y bolts.

My steering column needed some work to clear my Mac's.

I would say < 3-4 hours is not impossible, but not without some help, a lift and every tool you needed at your fingertips, have done the installs lots of times etc. 5-8 Reasonable for the do it yourselfer on jack stands.

30 minutes though?
I'd be scared of any shop told me to sit back and wait itll be done in 30... It takes me 15-30 to do an oil change once you factor in clean-up and putting things away...

 

You put things away?
Keep in mind if its a shop they don't worry about clean-up and many don't worry about putting things away, when I worked at a shop we just had a tray full of tools "putting things away" consisted of tossing whatever tools you had out into the tray and making sure there were no extra nuts or bolts that were supposed to go in and got overlooked for whatever reason.

 

part pitch!!

when you do headers, you usually want one of these...
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=505116