what a MAJOR PITA doing LT headers is on an LT1
i've been helping my buddy do his on his '96SS and everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong or is going wrong LOL

it was nowhere near this hard to do on my car, of course i installed a tubular k-member at the same time i did my LT's! maybe i'm one of the smart ones


Jet-Hot LT's, he got in on the most recent group purchase they ran not knocking there headers at all tho

we had to grind on the k-member (the lip on the bulbous part that bolts to the inner fenderwell) on the passenger side as well as part of the bellhousing where the starter bolts in, so the header would slide all the way over into the position it needs to be in, oh and the trans mount was unbolted and the motor was jacked up on that side also about an inch or so and there still wasnt enuf room to get it in without grinding

now one thing i dont like is the 7/16" header bolts they supply!
why someone would supply or use these with LT 3/4" headers is BEYOND ME, they are just way too big to use
i took one and attempted to chase the threads of the 1st bolt hole under the alternator and behind the power steering pump, i got it going in less then halfway by hand) with my fingers and now i cannot get it to come back out so i can put in the allen head bolts we are using
there isnt enuf room to get a 7/16" wrench around the bolt because of the primary and the Acc. bracket, which now looks like it will have to be removed to finish this project

LMAO the drivers side header went in flawlessly! so thats one good thing

I vow to never physically help anyone else install Long Tube headers on an LT1 4th gen, however i will show up and drink your beer and point you in the right direction, just doing it from a lawn chair from now on

i needed to rant, i'm just frustrated as all gitout

anyone have any ideas other then taking the accesory bracket off, for getting theat one stuck bolt out?

 

I feel you on that one... it just feels real good once you're done and knowing you did them yourself instead of paying...

 

Maybe you can bend a wrench and call it your special tool. It worked when I was removing a distributor. It probably won't work but It's a thought.

 

It is a bitch....I just did mine last Friday night. On the passenger side all I had to do was remove the starter and jack the engine up about 3 inches.

 

I said that 4 installs ago.

 

I ended up taking a cheap 3/8" combo wrench and grinding the wall of the boxed end to make it thinner so it would fit on the head of the bolts up next to the primaries... Worked like a charm...

 

Ditto, except mine was the 7/16" boxed end.




Dan

 

we got it all buttoned up and drove it today

we used allenhead bolts and had to grind down the head on some of them to clear the primaries and that worked like a charm

7/16" bolts and 3/4" primaries is a PITA
after looking at and fighting with this install, its very easy to see where they could be improved upon