Header install tips quick

**davidz28** · 04-10-2011, 04:18 PM

Im installing headers in the morning and wondering if anyone has any extra tips from what i have read i need to remove the coil pack, is there anything else i can remove that will help and can this be done in 6 hours with a lift a 2 guys?

**pajeff02** · 04-10-2011, 04:25 PM

Pull the spark plug wires, and then remove the coil packs leaving the plug wires attached to the coils. Remove your oil dipstick tube and you'll probably have to remove your oil filter. When unbolting the manifolds, take it easy and don't apply too much force. If a bolt starts to feel tight, stop immediately and loosen the rest of the bolts a bit so the manifold has some wiggle room. If it is still tight, then rock it in and out by alternately tightening and loosening it until it frees up. The heads are aluminum and sometimes the bolts are difficult to remove. If you snap one you are most likely going to have to pull a head to fix it. I left the cats attached to the stock manifolds -- no need to remove them really. You will need extensions for your O2 senders, or just get a set of Bosch 13111 senders as they come with a nice long harness.

**davidz28** · 04-10-2011, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Pull the spark plug wires, and then remove the coil packs leaving the plug wires attached to the coils. Remove your oil dipstick tube and you'll probably have to remove your oil filter. When unbolting the manifolds, take it easy and don't apply too much force. If a bolt starts to feel tight, stop immediately and loosen the rest of the bolts a bit so the manifold has some wiggle room. If it is still tight, then rock it in and out by alternately tightening and loosening it until it frees up. The heads are aluminum and sometimes the bolts are difficult to remove. If you snap one you are most likely going to have to pull a head to fix it. I left the cats attached to the stock manifolds -- no need to remove them really. You will need extensions for your O2 senders, or just get a set of Bosch 13111 senders as they come with a nice long harness.

could you reach all the bolts from up top?

**pajeff02** · 04-10-2011, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by davidz28

could you reach all the bolts from up top?

As best I can remember, yes. I did remove the No. 8 spark plug from under the car though. Much easier than from up top.

**My00Z28** · 04-10-2011, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Pull the spark plug wires, and then remove the coil packs leaving the plug wires attached to the coils. Remove your oil dipstick tube and you'll probably have to remove your oil filter. When unbolting the manifolds, take it easy and don't apply too much force. If a bolt starts to feel tight, stop immediately and loosen the rest of the bolts a bit so the manifold has some wiggle room. If it is still tight, then rock it in and out by alternately tightening and loosening it until it frees up. The heads are aluminum and sometimes the bolts are difficult to remove. If you snap one you are most likely going to have to pull a head to fix it. I left the cats attached to the stock manifolds -- no need to remove them really. You will need extensions for your O2 senders, or just get a set of Bosch 13111 senders as they come with a nice long harness.

^^^^ This

Take your time! fallow one of the stickies on the site for header install, it is very helpful... PB-Blast the bolts! Replace motor mounts if needed when headers are removed(recommended)! Bosch 13111 O2's (recommended)! Wear gloves machined surfaces are sharp!

**My00Z28** · 04-10-2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

As best I can remember, yes. I did remove the No. 8 spark plug from under the car though. Much easier than from up top.

i removed everything from the top!

**pajeff02** · 04-10-2011, 06:14 PM

Reminds me... use a flat blade screwdriver from the bottom to pop the plastic pins on your cowl seal. They will shred your hands.

**sjsingle1** · 04-10-2011, 06:28 PM

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133419

pics are always nice

**davidz28** · 04-10-2011, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133419

pics are always nice

thanks! much more helpful and in depth than the instructions i had printed off

**blackbird0230** · 04-11-2011, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Reminds me... use a flat blade screwdriver from the bottom to pop the plastic pins on your cowl seal. They will shred your hands.

Good point here! Wish I had been so lucky

**blue02Z** · 04-11-2011, 07:45 AM

why are you fellas removing the coil packs? no need to imho, neither should you have to remove the oil filter. like they said, be carefull when removing the manifold bolts especially if your are high mileage

**transamtom** · 04-11-2011, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by blue02Z

why are you fellas removing the coil packs? no need to imho, neither should you have to remove the oil filter. like they said, be carefull when removing the manifold bolts especially if your are high mileage

I removed the coil packs and the valve cover and pushed my A/C lines up toward the shock tower and my passenger side header went in from the top.

The driverside slid right up from the bottom,but the passenger side didn't want to go in from under the car.

**pajeff02** · 04-11-2011, 08:03 AM

Provides better access and pulling the coil packs takes all of 10 minutes.

**davidz28** · 04-11-2011, 03:28 PM

got the headers in took about 5 hours did NOT pull the coils packs or starter or filter. i didnt seen much a need or gain by doing this. getting the locking header bolts on and clipped in was the hardest part tomorrow ill start building the rest... oh and i extended my O2 sensors myself and they seem to work fine

**blue02Z** · 04-12-2011, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by davidz28

got the headers in took about 5 hours did NOT pull the coils packs or starter or filter. i didnt seen much a need or gain by doing this. getting the locking header bolts on and clipped in was the hardest part tomorrow ill start building the rest... oh and i extended my O2 sensors myself and they seem to work fine

see i didnt remove any of that stuff either and had no trouble

**jrzdude** · 04-12-2011, 04:04 PM

The only thing I needed to remove were the spark plugs and wires. If you are removing the AIR system, then removing the coil packs on the drivers side will make things a little easier

**TransAmX2** · 05-08-2011, 05:00 PM

Took me about 10+ hours alone to get manifolds out and TSP headers in, both sides from the bottom, in my driveway with ramps and jackstands. 2 hands would speed it up and a lift would speed it up.

**GoldenFlame** · 05-08-2011, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by transamtom

I removed the coil packs and the valve cover and pushed my A/C lines up toward the shock tower and my passenger side header went in from the top.

The driverside slid right up from the bottom,but the passenger side didn't want to go in from under the car.

That's really odd.. On the 4 installs I've done, the Passenger side was the easiest lol, All from the bottom

**silverWS6** · 05-10-2011, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by davidz28

got the headers in took about 5 hours did NOT pull the coils packs or starter or filter. i didnt seen much a need or gain by doing this. getting the locking header bolts on and clipped in was the hardest part tomorrow ill start building the rest... oh and i extended my O2 sensors myself and they seem to work fine

Buy the Bosch 13111 O2's. Your sensors will most likely give you trouble later on down the road. Some guy just had trouble with that. Let me see if I can find the thread...

Edit: went to look for the thread and found it and then realized you were the guy that had that problem and then saw that this thread is about a month old, dammit

**tpilews** · 05-10-2011, 07:13 PM

Just finished the install myself. Did BBK headers and ORY. I also changed out the motor mounts, trans mount, spark plugs and wires. I replaced the O2's since it was about time to do so anyway. Car runs amazing now. Took me about 15 hours over two days by myself in the garage on jack stands. I pulled the starter and coil pack on the passenger side. Both headers slid right in from underneath with no problems.

The biggest issues I had were the header bolts in the far back and the passenger motor mount was a PITA. All in all, I'm glad I did the motor mounts and trans mount. No more shaky shifter. Car feels like a whole new beast now. Getting tuned soon.