easiest way to install headers

**mrcarter** · 01-10-2008, 05:54 AM

which is the easiest way to install headers. Ive heard horror stories of 12 hours and you have to install them from the top. this was stearing me away from doing it myself. Someone said its really only a 3 hour job. any suggestions.

**SSwt00SS** · 01-10-2008, 06:16 AM

easiest way: pay to have someone else do it...

yes there are horror stories out there. it took sometime for mine to go in, 4-5 hrs but i didnt really have some of the issues others had. i didnt have to cut anything (K-member), etc. i did have to go and have the y-pipe i bought modified to fit the headers (bought a 2-piece Pacesetter ORY). and thats about it...

best of luck if you do it yourself. just take your time and be patient. thats really all i can say...

**0rion** · 01-10-2008, 07:12 AM

it is a time consuming job but not hard. An extra set of hands comes in handy. The headers slide in from the bottom which means the car has be pretty high on jack stands. None of it is difficult work really, just take out the old stuff and put in the new.

**blackbird99** · 01-10-2008, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by SSwt00SS

easiest way: pay to have someone else do it...

yes there are horror stories out there. it took sometime for mine to go in, 4-5 hrs but i didnt really have some of the issues others had. i didnt have to cut anything (K-member), etc. i did have to go and have the y-pipe i bought modified to fit the headers (bought a 2-piece Pacesetter ORY). and thats about it...

best of luck if you do it yourself. just take your time and be patient. thats really all i can say...

what brand headers did you install that didnt fit the y?

**andrew69_04** · 01-10-2008, 11:30 AM

i just did a set of mac mids and mac catted y on a 00 Z28 camaro last weekend. removal was simple, the driver side went right in, the passenger side too forever, was hitting just about everything, i pulled coils, dropped starter, loosened motor mount. finally just took a BFH And put a small dent in a tube, then it went in. Not a really hard job, took me maybe 4-5 hours, spent most of the time on that one header.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 01-10-2008, 02:33 PM

Get a buddy to work on one side of the motor while you work the other. The easiest way is from underneath the car, just got to get it high enough with jackstands. You will want a 10mm gearwrench to speed things up some as well. Expect to spend 6-8 hours on the job, but like mentioned before, its not hard or highly skilled, just time consuming.

**SSwt00SS** · 01-11-2008, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by blackbird99

what brand headers did you install that didnt fit the y?

i have the EBay headers or XS headers (stainless steel). i bought a Pacesetter 2-piece y-pipe because at the time July 2006 no one knew what ORY would fit those headers. i felt this was a good direction to go since you could fit both collectors and whatever was left over could be cut to fit or whatever was needed could be clearly seen an added...

**Firebirdjones** · 01-11-2008, 07:39 AM

I recently installed Pacesetters on mine. I use a lift, makes things easier,,,,but both went in from the bottom. I had no issues, both slid right up with no fuss.

As mentioned,, I think jackstands would make things a little tougher,,,it would have to be pretty high,,,plus doing things on your back is never as much fun.

**M-Ten** · 01-11-2008, 07:42 AM

so you don't have to lift up one side of the engine or tranny to get them in? my friend was saying he had to do that on his vette, can't remember exactly what he said .. but you don't have to do either?