I'd like to try to install longtube headers by myself. I've never done it before. Will I be able to do it without moving the block? I'll have the LT's, the gaskets and all the hardware needed, along with the y pipe. About how long should I expect this to take me? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

If you've never done it before, I would give yourself all weekend to do it. Make sure you soak all of the bolts the night before you start the job with PB Blaster and it will help a lot. As far as moving the block, it really depends. I got mine in without moving the block. I didn't even have to disconnect the steering linkage or remove the starter. The set that I installed before that didn't go in so easy though. That time I had to jack the motor up and actually notch the K-member a little bit to get them to slide in.

 

Its not that hard. Get the car WAY up in the air so you have room to work underneath it. Remove the factory y-pipe. Remove the bolt for the driver side motor mount, and jack the motor up on that side. Remove your steering linkage, remove the manifold. Slide the header up in from the bottom, and install. Re-install steering linkage and motor mount bolt. Remove the pass. side motor mount bolt, jack that side of the motor up. Remove the oil dipstick, and the old manifold. Slide the header up in there, install. Re-install motor mount bolt, bolt on y-pipe, and your done. It took me about a day and a half by myself to do my longtubes.

 

thanks for the quick responses guys....I'll have a friend helping me out and he's done this type of thing before, only not on an F-body. I'm pretty excited to see how the engine performs with the headers and Y. How much of a noticable increase do you think I'll see from these. I'll also be install my TB bypass...I know it's not much, but for 9 bucks you can't really go wrong, haha.

Looks like everyone that posted on here went with the same headers I'll be going with as well. Pacesetter. Testimonials anyone?

 

There's definitely a seat of the pants increase from headers. The sound is worth it if nothing else. Doing a header install is nothing technically, it's just undoing bolts. No precision work to it. If your friend hasn't done it on an F-body before, then his past installs aren't really going to help him out much this time around. Good luck with the install anyway, it's a heck of an experience.

I have Hooker LT's on my Z. I heard a few too many stories about warped flanges on the Pacesetters so they scared me away.

 

uh-oh....warped flanges? man, I'll have to check into that a little more....because I wanna do this once and never again, haha

 

Z28ROXY, how long have you had your headers installed?

 

I've had pacesetters and Jet-Hot's. The Jet-Hot's were a much better header in my opinion, but the Pacesetters fit much better and are a whole lot easier to work with. The Jet-Hot's were equal length primaries and had a better flange than the PS's. For some reason I like the sound of the Pacesetter's better though. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but they seem to have more of a mellow sound than the Jet-Hot's.

 

i had my whole front suspension out when i did my headers, made it ALOT easier. still a BITCH to get some of those bolts in behind the alternator and on the rear of the block. and that air tube might bust a couple knuckles, its a 1/2 inch wrench, not a 13mm...dont strip it like i did

 

Installation is a pain no matter what. Check out this article .

http://www.z28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100225

 

Do Pacesetters require removal of the oil cooler, or is that an issue only with Kooks headers?

 

Installation for the first time is a royal pain. The process is relatively very simple, but actually doing it is a different story. The BEST thing you can do is not let it get to you, to stay focused, keep your cool. Patience will get the installation done and done right. A hot temper and fast pace might still get it done, but you will probably have a few things later to regret.

 

Those damn bolts are a PITA! If at all possible get a high torque impact!

 

I had an entire array of tools to assist me on my headers when I did them. I soaked all the bolts as told and it didn't help for some of them. My soultion? the torches. Cut them right off.

My best advice is be ready for some intresting problem solving work. Also, when dropping the manifold watch that sensor that is hanging out of the head. Thats the coolant sensor and if you crack it, it can cause a world of weird problems. Don't be suprised if you have to extend some wiring. I moved some where in the neighborhood of 20 wires so they would't burn. varying from 12 gauge to 20.

VERY IMPORTANT Make sure to have fun. It may be a royal kick in the face but have some fun with it and appreciate the stuff you have now learned about the car. It's very cool stuff.

~Jim~

 

Hummm i dont know what kind of cars you guys are working on, but i had my pacesetter long tubes in my 96 ws6 installed in 5 hours, complete from removing the exhaust, to final install. Why are you guys removing the motor mounts? Totally not needed, your giving yourself less room when you do that, also i didnt remove any of accessories, left it all in place, dont do it its a waste of time. The hardest part is removing the old manifolds, thats it, everything else is a snap. I put them in, in my garage, no lift, on jack stands, and i didnt beat/nick/ or scratch anything, only thing i removed was my steering shaft,and the starter. THATS IT. My dads been building motors and putting headers in for 35 years, and he laughed when i told him these were going to be hard to put in with his help it went so fast, we started at 8am, and had the car out and running at 1. Call b/s if you want, but thats how long it took. This is the second set of long tubes we have done in an fbody, we did our first set in 2000, using flp long tubes in a 94 lt1 with afrs, also took us about 5 hours, this really isnt that hard guys. I slipped mine both in from the bottom, left the plastic on, no sweat, just try to put them up a few diffrent ways, THEY WILL FIT. I have race headers so it made the job a little faster, but hookin up the egr and air pump shouldnt take more then an hour anyway. Good luck, dont listen to all these people who are ripping half their motors and suspensions out and notching the k member, Its a waste of time.

Heres a tip for extra room, take off the oil cooler and get an impala oil filter adapter, its much smaller and saves room