ok, overall the headers aren't horrible...especially for the price. But when I first went to install em, it took some work...the holes for the o2 sensors weren't big enough, so I had to file them and open em up more, while being careful not to mess up the threads on the O2 bungs. Then I couldn't get the #7 plug in without unbolting the header. But besides that they've been fine...until the past couple weeks, I started noticing an exhaust leak. I got underneath and looked at the bolts that connect the header flange to the y-pipe and sure enough they were mighty loose. Seems the genius engineers at pacesetter thought nylon insert type locknuts would be good for that particular application. Well, apparently the melting point of nylon is significantly lower than typical LT1 exhaust gas temperatures, because what little plastic remained was blackened and just kinda hanging outta the nut. As soon as I touched the nut with a wrench the plastic fell off.

It was hard enough to reach some of those bolts/nuts with a wrench to tighten em the first time around, and now I hafta redo em all. I somewhat tightened all of em and it's better but not perfect...just gotta motivate myself to crawl under there again.

Would lock washers help keep the bolts from working loose again? Or is there something else I should try? I don't particularly feel like crawling under my car every few weeks to tighten those bolts back up...

 

Use 1" stage 8 bolts. They won't back off if you install them right.

For #5 & #7 plugs I put a plug socket on the plug and wrench the socket out with a 5/8"(?) wrench.

 

Aren't those just for where the header connects to the head? I'm talking about where the outlet of the header connects to the y-pipe. My header bolts are actually fine...I tightened them again a couple weeks after my install and they've been fine ever since.

 

Collector bolts? My mistake I guess I need to pay attention

BTW: how did you try to get #7 when you were installing the plugs?

 

I tried #7 from every conceivable angle...couldn't even get it started let alone get a socket over it (even my homemade version of the SLP spark plug socket. There just wasn't enough clearance between the #7 primary tube and the spark plug hole...if I woulda got the accel shorty plugs, they prolly woulda worked. Maybe if I don't have long tubes yet by the time it needs plugs again, I'll try those next time (hopefully I will...just been tryin to build it up on a strict budget lately).

 

I used NGK TR-55s and I believe I had to get it hand tight and finish the way I described, I have Bosch platinums in now and the same method worked for them

It seems Pace Setters aren't very consistent from on set to another......I wish I had shelled out the cash and done LTs in the first place....

 

I've always had good luck with collector bolts by using split lock washers and double nutting them. Actually, with the two nuts jammed together, the lock washers were probably unnecessary. Just a little overkill.

 

those headers are pieces of sh!tz...I had em on my old 97 and aside from the 2400 stall i put on the car biggest mistake ive made yet...crappy quality.. crappy performance...you get what u pay for

 

Stage 8s come in all different sizes, not just applications for header bolts.
A flat washer and a lock washer under the nut should do just fine.