Header Install

[militant_x]

Well the title says it all. Some of you might remember a while ago I was all happy about my new headers. Finally got some time where I wont have to drive the vette for a while so I figure ill try and install them.

I was cheap with the money when I got them, so I got headman full length headers. Then about a month after money was good and I got them HTC coated.. Nice and shiny. Anyway, id like to avoid scratches in the coating etc etc during installation. Now im really not too sure about doing this job in the first place, I’ve never done it before… so any tips or pitfalls would be useful to me.

So if anyone has installed headers in an 86, help me out.

Thanks,

-Chris

 

[militant_x]

ok maybe not just 86... 85-91, the TPI vettesthanks,

-chris

 

[ratorto]

header install

Its not a job for the garage mechanic in my opinion.
You'll need some welding and cutting equipment and a lift is a must.
Have it done by a pro and you'll be a happier person for a few hundred bucks!

Se my 87 at http://members.cardomain.com/bobcorvette

 

[Moonunit 451]

Its not a job for the garage mechanic in my opinion.
You'll need some welding and cutting equipment and a lift is a must.
Have it done by a pro and you'll be a happier person for a few hundred bucks!

I'm not so sure any of the above statement is true. It certainly wasn't in my case with the Hooker 2151's, none of it I'm not familiar with the headmans though. Did you get the Y pipe? If not I think that's the first step unless you are going true dual as I did.

How about all the pollution stuff, stay or go? Some people have had fitment issues with various products, you may just have to go after it and see how it goes. The starter will probably be an issue, ecspecially if you don't have the small high torque one.

ratorto Most people here want to do their own work unless otherwise stated. If they wanted to pay for or have others work on their cars they wouldn't be posting. They want possitive suggestion on how they can acomplish their goals. If those goals are truely unreasonable then a response such as yours may be warented. I don't think that many here would believe that this is the kind of thing to hand your car and your money over to someone else for.

 

[militant_x]

ok, first some more information:

I do not have a Y pipe yet, I plan to drive the car open header to the Noel's mufflers and have him put in a an X-pipe in place of the central cat/resonator thing (whatever it is).

The manifold that will be installed probably at the same time as headers (accel lingenfelter superram) will work with or without emissions things, so I dont want the pollution stuff. In Florida we dont have testing. All the pollution stuff that can go, will go.

I would like to keep AC.

I have the regular starter and the 4+3 tranny, that means (I dont know yet) that the clutch slave cylinder might be in the way (but i think its too far back). Clutch line can be bent to go where I want it to go.. ive fought with it before and im not affraid of that part. I have an oil cooler. If I have to buy a new oil dipstick tube.. i dont care.

The headers were HTC coated, so I would like to minimize the damage to them during the install.

Now on what I reallly need to know.

1. How to do this.
2. Do they go in from underneath the car? or from the top?
3. What might I have to "cut and weld" asside from the o2 sensor bung, but that gets done at the muffler shop.
4. what can I do to minimize damage to my expensive (for me) HTC coating.

considering question 2, the order in which I do things becomes critical. So i cant even start yet.

for example, if i go ahead and take of the manifolds before I realize the headers go in from bottom im stuck... I might have to drive the car to a friends house or something. I mean i have jackstands, not huge jackstands or a jack that goes ultra high.

Im hoping that there is a way for them to go in from the top.

also... for those of you who have worked with coated headers, regardless of the type of coating, did you cover the headers with anything during the installation to protect them? Did coating scratch off? If so as a result is the rest flaking off now?

I appreciate all the replys,

thanks

-chris

 

[militant_x]

ratorto, I just check out your 87.... Very nice. Looks alot like what im shooting for. Well im not a fan of the wood dash, but very nice. Anway, in your case (since you seem to have my same headers almost, almost because I got mine coated after I bought them) was there welding and cutting because you decided to keep all the pollution stuff.

I mean, the headers do not come with the egr tube. So was the cutting and welding the fabrication of this part? Ohh and very important... did they clear the starter? Not "was it hard for them to clear the starter", but eventually did they?

Btw, I think I could have access to some cutting equipment, minor*.

thanks for the reply man.. once again.. Sweet 87.

-chris

 

[ratorto]

header install

Chris,
The Hedman headers I used came with the egr tube.
It was not correctly set up, so Hedman sent an adapter, which apparently is only needed on the 87s.
The cutting and welding I referred to was on the pipes (not headers).
Removing the old stuff required cutting and we installed the straight pipes sold by Mid-America to eliminate the cats. Since the Mid-America pipes mate up to the old mainfold some reworking was done to mate them to the Hedmans.
The Hedmans were coated and carefully installed without incident.
The pipes exit into Borlas. They are a bit loud, but sound like a 350 should.
The extra power is very noticable.
Ratorto

 

[militant_x]

Well guys, thank you.

I spent most of today under the car, got the drivers side header in... Only thing in its way was a clutch line. Unbolt slave, move, bolt. done. The other side requires a bit more work. On a test fit they look like they will clear the starter, however, very close to it, hope that coating keeps the heat in. Ive learned that the coating is very durable.. I banged them around a few times by accident and they look perfect. If anyone is in the area, I got them done at Hot Shot coatings.

The passanger side I believe will require me to remove the ac compressor for the moment. The valve cover is also slightly in the way. The valve cover has to come out to get at the ac compressor... so since I ran out of light.... this gets done tomorrow. Also tomorrow maybe... the superam.

Thanks for all the help, Ill post again when its all done. Maybe borrow a camera and take some pictures.


now how to get rid of the air pump?

thanks,

-Chris