I am installed MAC Mid-Length Headers and ORY-pipe tomorrow.

As of right now. I drenched all the manifold and collector bolts with penetrating oil.

So hopefully by tomorrow it will help my tear down of the stock parts.

The engine looks very clean, and clear of rust in most spots.


Now..


Does anyone have any tips for me???



Thanks in advance

 

Not really related to the header install, but once you're in there..might as well change your plugs/wires.

 

Agreed, if they haven't been done, now is a good time. Same thing for the motor mounts. Spraying everything down with penetrating oil is a good start. Removing the coolant temp sensor from the drivers side head is also a good idea so you don't snag and break it when putting the header in. I learned that lesson the hardway. When you pull the sensor, put a catchpan underneath it as you will most likely leak some coolant out.

 

website in the signature....page 11

step by step on how i installed mine...very informative i'm told

 

Oh, I'd say the header install and plug/wire changes are very related. Excellent tip, and I second, third, and even fourth it!

If you have access to air (impacts are nice for loosening up the old y-pipe even after penetrating oil), some room to spread out, it'll also help a great deal.

I have some decent pics of when I did mine but they're not up a website. I could e-mail them if you're interested.

 

I have an electric impact gun...are you taking about an inpact rachet..or can i fit a gun up there.

 

Good luck!! post pics!! (of your bloody knuckles)

 

I didnt do it today. I am going to wait till I get the O2 sims so i dont have to deal with the SES light, I want to do it right this time.

 

You could use an impact and a long extension to disassemble the y-pipe. As the the actual manifold to head bolts, you won't be able to fit an impact ratchet in there.

 

Yea. I wish i could fit a impact gun up there for the manifold-to-head bolts. IF only life was that easy...but then again it could break a bolt in the head and make my life miserable.

 

If you spray down all of those bolts really good with PB Blaster, you shouldn't even need an impact, or hopefully a whole lot of "muscle." I soaked all of those bolts for a few days, when the day came for disassembly, every single manifold bolt came undone with very little effort applied on the ratchet.

 

I started soaking my bolts about two weeks before hand and still needed the gun, with an extension and a swivel, on the y-pipe. And yeah... PB Blaster like 2000GTP said... good stuff. The manifold bolts came out ok. I've read horror postings about bolts breaking on the back side ports in the heads... you know... the bolts you can't get to without pulling the heads off, of course... can't remember if they soaked them or not. So just use a ratchet on those and some patience and all should be ok. If they feel stuck, soak them some more.

 

Patients is key. Getting the old stuff off is pretty easy. Test thread all bolts before mounting up headers to make sure threads are clean. Don't over torque bolts to heads as just trying to go to 20 ftlbs and I ripped out one set of threads. Aluminum is weak. Really not bad job as some say. Just take your time. Oh and get the car WAY up in the air when it comes time to get new headers in as it will be much easier then. I think passenger side went in from bottom and drivers side went in from top. Good luck.