Guys whats up? My name is Josh and i have had my 95 z for a little over 1.5 years now. In that time all i have done to her is SLP LM and CAI. I recently purchased a set of Pacesetter Longtubes, Gaskets, O2 extensions, plugs and LT4 KM. Im 18 with my first semester of college starting August 21st. I'm really starting to have doubts about the header project. I have been reading up on it for months now and I have read so many things. Money is kinda tight, so i had planned on starting the install this wednsday with a friend. I'm not sure it makes much sense to attemp myself, I've read many "Horror Stories" on the install an honestly im getting pretty intimidated. The car is my DD so i need it running within a week, am I just being a little too worried or do i have legitimate concerns? I guys what i need is a few opinions on what to do. Install myself or save for a while and pay a shop?
Thanks Guys ,
Josh
Sorry for the length of this, im just really nervous.

 

My best advice is to spray all of the old bolts down very well with PB Blaster and be careful when taking the stuff apart so you don't snap anything off. If you are looking at the stock manifolds from the top of the car, it looks pretty intimidating because of how compact everything is. Since you will be doing most of the job from underneath the car, you will see that is not as initimidating once you are under there. Other advice would be to either get an over-the-valve cover wire setup or if you do stick with the stock wiring setup, make sure the wires are secured away from the header primaries.

 

i have a couple cans of PB blaster ready to go. I'm just worried something catastrophic will happen then my car will be down. I guess im a little paranoid.

 

I don't see nothing catastrophic happening, some of the common mishaps are the coating on the headers trashing the 02 sensors, putting the plug wires in the wrong order, and people snapping off manifold bolts in the heads. Just take your time, if you have someone helping you, that will make things alot easier.

 

alright man thanks im starting to feel a little better.

 

listen here. I was 16 with very little mechanical skills when i installed my first set of headers on my trans am. I think it was much easier to install pacesetter longtubes then it was mac midleghts. If you need any help, everyone is here for it. Dont waste your money, lots of it, to have a shop install them. You have plenty of time before school starts. Just make sure you have everything you need before hand. I personally have installed/help five sets of headers on these cars and its a simple process. The hardest part in my opinion is getting the car high enough to start out with. It helps to have a good jack that you can lift the car more than three inches with out starting over and blocking it. Ok well i got side tracked and forgot what i was talking about. anyways, do it yourself, everyone here is more than willing, and thousands of people on this board have done them themselves for the first time with success.

 

Well i believe thats exactly what i needed to hear. That makes me feel a lot better I know everybody is here if i need help i just wanted some reassurance. Thanks Again Guys.

Josh

 

I broke a bolt and cost me a ton to get it out. I should have just done the heads then and there. The head had to be pulled and drilled out the bolt. Worst thing I have ever had happen to me. Just be careful and don't force the bolts out. Drivers side rear bolt breaks a lot on these cars. All the others came out decent.

Another trick when you are doing the bolts. Loosen slightly and then re-tighten the bolt a few times, do this every so often as you screw it out. It helps insure to break any crud like rust free that might snap the bolt. I wish I would have done this...

 

Do it yourself and take your time (save yourself the $$ and learn abit about your car while you are at it). Most important, soak all bolts/nuts down really good the day before your install and let them sit overnight to "loosen" up. I have helped install a few sets on LT1's and a few sets on LS1's. They are not bad at all (we did the LT1 in about 6 hours if I remember correctly). Make sure you have a good floor jack and jack stands. You will need to get the car as high as you can to allow for "wiggling" the headers in. We had to pull the starter to give ourselves a bit more room to work in.

Good luck! Have you looked around the board for someone in your area that has installed a set and would be willing to help? If nothing else, an experienced person to "supervise" would be helpful. From what I have found, f-body enthusiasts are always willing to lend a hand.

 

yea, mine is broken on my car right now. Its the main justification for looking for some LTs . If i remember right, they shouldn't even use those bolts for headers so i shouldn't have to mess with it. Am i correct?