I have SLP shortys with the stock y-pipe now, but I am upgrading to Jet-Hot longtubes and Y pipe. I like an idea of how long it takes to install these headers. Also, are there any special tools needed? Someone told me you have to grind the trans crossmember...
Thanks
Matt

 

The only special tool was a 7/16" box end wrench that I grinded down on a grinder to fit b/t the primary.

Took me about 25 hours. Some people do it quicker. Heard of one person taking a week. So it sorta depends I guess

As far as the crossmember, you don't have to grind anything. I had to grind on the K member to get the drivers side to slid in.

Passenger side, install from top. Drivers side, bottom. Remove pass valve cover, starter, alternator, dipstick oil filter. May have to jack up engine.

Do a search for some guides. BTW, you might want to buy a new dip stick tube. Alot of people f*** those up, I did.

 

When I installed my Dynatech, I bet it took us, under an hour...Just b/c I dont have any emission, A/C, disconnected the steering shaft, and was going with the True Duals, so I didnt have to mess with a y-pipe..

 

took me about 4 hours... dont know where you got 25 from, but ive installed qute a few headers and the longest took me about 6 hours.

Just pull the dipstick out... not really that tough. You might need to bend it, i am not familiar with Hooker LT headers. There is a little bolt atached to the block that holds the dipstick in place... Just remove it and wiggle the crap outta the dipstick to get it out.

 

Yeah, it shouldn't take to long, I believe it took us about 8 hours but that was with PLENTY of beer breaks.

And I have always found it much easier to put them both in going from the bottom. YOu just have to get the car high enough. I couldn't even imagine trying to put the passenger side in from the top.

 

It took me 4 hours to get the drivers side in. Had to grind the k member.

 

I don't have any emissions either. I probably should have mentioned that...
Matt

 

for me to take out my midlengths and to put in my longtubes took about 5 hours. it is not difficult but you might have to losen the motor mounts and jack up the motor to get the passenger side on.

 

It shouldn't take very long unless you have to deal with rusted exhaust manifolds and y-pipe.... OR if they won't fit no matter what you do like in my case. The passenger side took about 10 minutes to fit in while for the driver side I ended up lowering the k-member with the engine and transmission. I tried everything possible before that and it just wouldn't go in. This side probably took me about 10 hours. THEN, once they were in, I found out that the passenger side was too close to the body and it would surely hit it if I ran it like that... so then I had to do motor mounts, which was also a pain. I recommend you do mounts at the same time if you have some mileage on the car or else you'll be stuck with the same problem.

 

It took longer to jack the car up than it did to install the longtubes.
My LT1 is in my 86 Trans Am and it was super easy to install.
To show how easy it is to work on an LT1 in my 86, we unbolted the 4L60E bellhousing from the top of the engine bay, we just reached down behind the back of the motor and unbolted all the bellhousing bolts with a wrench and a gearwrench, then jacked the car up and pulled the tranny.