I am about to install pacesetter long tube headers and y-pipe into my 97 Z28. I have painted the headers with a ceramic coating and will be wrapping them as well. Just wanted to see if anybody had some helpful hints. I have installed hooker headers in a 93 once and it was a pain in the ***, any help is appreciated!

 

I just installed longtube headers on my 95 Z. As you stated,it's a pain. Passengerside I had to pull the motormount bolt and lift the engine off the mount. Oil tube had to be pulled out as well, then the header went in from the bottom. Driverside was tight, I removed the plastic steering shields from the steering shaft, headers still wouldn't go on, had to remove the steering shaft all together. I ground the shaft down while it was out, tryed to bend the header tube a little, but the stainless header didn't bend as easy. You will have to bend the tube that is at the knuckle of the shaft a little, or grind on your steering. It took me 7 hours.. But this was on my back with jack stands. Hope you have a lift. Good Luck.

 

I would drop the engine out the bottom if I was gonna do this. Way easier to do it that way. Then you can see all the wires, etc in the way much easier. Would probably take less time to drop the entire engine, install the headers and put it back up then try to fight with the lack of space under the hood of an f-body.

 

I put both my headers in from the top on a 97 camaro, but it was a pain and took some time. For the passenger side i pulled the oil dipstick tube, valve cover, and alternator off. On the drivers side i just unbolted the steering knuckle. It was all worth it in the end!

 

Now that I have dropped the engine and trans out the bottom I would say it is damn easy and pretty fast. Last time I did it I took about 1 hour to get it out the bottom from start to finish. I put on pacesetter LTs and did it outside of the car. I have a 94 and had to hammer a flat spot into one of the tubes on the passenger side because the transmission bellhousing was all up in the way. I had to wrap a part of mine as well because the oil pressure sensor wire was touching the LTs.

 

Biggest suggestion I can make is invest in some stainless band clamps- you don't have to weld or worry about using the crimp-style clamps that ruin the collector.

I have taken mine off more than once and didn't have to fight with at all- when you weld you are screwed, and having the crimp clamps you are going to have a hard time getting them apart as well.