warbird27

well i thought i had all the hard stuff tackled. getting the header in was no problem and my buddy got the egr lined up and on. but now, we spent like 3 hours just tryin to figure out how to get the bolts on and tightened. we can get to some of the easy ones, but the primaries seem to get in the way of getting any sockets on or anything to tighten the bolts. i bought ARP 12pt header bolts, plus i have the ones from jethot, and i got the originals. but we can't seem to find a way to tighten the bolts b/c of the header. this is definately the most PITA part that i did not expect to have. everyone told me to get the arp bolts, is there some special tool that will go onto the bolt and clear the header so we can tighten them?? i should have definately spent the cash to have gotten this done. any help is greatly appreciated, we're done for the night until tmrw at 4.

DataChild

i spent 2 days doing this. they just dont thread in right. you hand tighten it till it seems like its halfway in, then it pops out. i was going MAD. i bought some stubby wrenches which helped. just move the header around until it seems level, hand tighten them, and try to get them in. do a search, theres tons of similar threads about people grinding down wrenches, going under the car and using a cheater bar, etc.

Amped96

I have a set of wrenches that I call my "header wrenches." Go to the store and buy you a couple 3/8" wrenches. Then grind them down some on the box end. I have one ground down on one side of the wrench and another wrench ground on the opposite side. You need to get the wall thin enough to clear the header primary, but not so thin that it snaps when you try and tighten the bolt. Sometimes you have to make your own tools. Good luck and feel free to ask more questions if I was not clear enough.

RamAir95TA

Strange...

I used ARP 3/8"x1" header bolts, and there is PLENTY of room between the bolt head and the primaries. If you physically can not get a wrench in there, grind one side of it down. And the reason that the bolts keep popping out is because you aren't supporting the header, and the weight of the header on the bolt pulls it down. The holes in the head for the bolts are slightly chamfered, so they won't go straight in every time.

Support the header, and try again.

LWillmann

I found that if you hold the header away from the head, insert all the bolts into the header and keep the heads of the bolts against the flange, there was enough room for me to get my "thinned" box end of a combo wrench on the bolts. Just work them in a little at a time, and do it evenly.

WS Sick

I allways put the front and back bolt in first , halfway and then get the rest started, it does work much better if you support the header in the correct position about 1/4 and inch from flush to get them started.

Modified wrenches are a must!!!!

IslandZ

Whatever you do, don't do a so-so job, if you think it sucks now, try doing it 3 months from now when you have a blown header gasket (happened to me). cut down an open end wrench and use that, it worked fine for me. Both times
Learned my lesson and am using Stage8 Locking bolts now. Nothing beats never having to worry about those bolts loosening ever again.
Good luck, and patience.

Red96Lt1

That's exactly what I did. But I ended up breaking my headder wrench because I only had one, and all sides of it were thin. Good idea on gettin 2 of them.