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Equal Length Header Install

  • Thread starter Thread starter MAC'n89Blckstng
  • Start date Start date May 27, 2004

MAC'n89Blckstng

Active Member
Jun 11, 2003
1,012
4
36
NJ
May 27, 2004
#1
  • May 27, 2004
  • #1
How hard is it going to be to install my equal length headers, I've heard its tough. How long should it take me?
Thanks,
Jesse
 

N8Miller

I need NOS....make it 2 of the big ones
Founding Member
Jul 26, 2000
2,661
0
0
Kingston, PA, USA
May 27, 2004
#2
  • May 27, 2004
  • #2
I wouldnt say that its going to be hard, just time consuming. get some ARP header bolts though, it will save you some time and aggravation when putting them back on.
as for a time, if your working alone, i would say 8 hours, with a partner, six.
 
Y

yelbigbirdlow

Member
Nov 22, 2003
71
0
6
DFW Texas
May 27, 2004
#3
  • May 27, 2004
  • #3
your going to have to remove the smog pump hoses on the passenger side of the motor, and jack the motor up in order to get them in and you might need new motor mounts to keep them from touching the frame on the passenger side and the steering shaft on the driver side. like N8Miller stated it would be a good idea to get some new header bolts do to the fact that the stock header-bolt heads are big and hard to menuver.
 
9

'90DarkBlueLX

New Member
Feb 2, 2004
26
0
0
Portland, OR
May 27, 2004
#4
  • May 27, 2004
  • #4
The ARP Bolts are nice but the Stage8 are the best due to the lock washers & clips. You will never lose a header bolt or gasket if they are installed correctly in the first place. I ran 5 years with equal lenght BBK's with stage8's and never had a problem. And the allen head on them makes the install very nice if you have the correct socket.

have fun and remeber to drop the H-pipe all the way out of the way before starting.
 

4dStang

Banned
Oct 23, 2002
718
1
0
Near St Louis, Missouri
May 27, 2004
#5
  • May 27, 2004
  • #5
If they are Mac equal length, DON'T use the supplied header to head bolts. If you dont want to spend big bucks on ARP header bolts, go to a parts store and get 3/8" x 1" allen head bolts. They were $6.00 for 16.

Since the install, I have a lot less hair and I still have to swap the mac hex bolts with allen head bolts because I could never get the Mac bolts tight. Plus I have already lost a bolt. Equal length are just plain difficult. Oh, Then I had to cut a spark plug socket in half to get the plug tight on 3rd down drivers side. No socket can reach it.

You will have to remove both motor mounts and the steering shaft. Jack up the motor, then they should slide in from the bottom on the drivers side. I wish I knew that before starting. Pass side I just had to remove smog crap. and do some wiggling. Don't read the instructions, they are worthless.



Have fun!!!!

 

N8Miller

I need NOS....make it 2 of the big ones
Founding Member
Jul 26, 2000
2,661
0
0
Kingston, PA, USA
May 27, 2004
#6
  • May 27, 2004
  • #6
4dStang said:
If you dont want to spend big bucks on ARP header bolts,
Click to expand...

big bucks....???? i paid $12
 

4dStang

Banned
Oct 23, 2002
718
1
0
Near St Louis, Missouri
May 27, 2004
#7
  • May 27, 2004
  • #7
Maybe I was a little inaccurate about big bucks for the ARP bolts. I thought they were more expensive.
 

hemi_fan

Active Member
Apr 8, 2004
279
3
28
Ontario, Canada
May 27, 2004
#8
  • May 27, 2004
  • #8
do you think its possible to do the install without the use of a hoist? or would you be screwed...?
 

SilverFox90

New Member
May 11, 2004
80
0
0
central, IL
May 28, 2004
#9
  • May 28, 2004
  • #9
my buddy got his bbk equal lengths on without too much trouble, he didnt loosen motor mounts or anything, just removed smog pump crap and think he had to slightly bend the dip stick and loosed brake lines to get drivers side in, but he did it alone in about 3.5 hours or less....
 

ironmedic

New Member
Mar 18, 2003
1,361
0
0
Puyallup, WA
May 28, 2004
#10
  • May 28, 2004
  • #10
i just put mine in today without having to jack up the motor. depending on how "convincing" you are, you can probably slip the passenger side one in without jacking up the motor
 

fordman54935

Member
Jan 10, 2003
301
0
16
Wisconsin
May 28, 2004
#11
  • May 28, 2004
  • #11
I was able to put mine in without jacking up the engine (MAC equal lengths). Pull the smog hoses off the passenger side and removing the spark plugs helps as well. On the drivers side, remove the small clutch cable bracket from the strut tower and pull the dipstick out. The hardest part about installing mine was aligning the bolt holes (MAC headers have 4 separate flanges, one for each tube) and those are tough to line up, but with patience and a helper it goes quick. Do yourself a favor though and put the best set of header gaskets on it that you can afford (or is available). I used Fel-Pro 1415's with much success. (after blowing a less expensive set first )
 

MAC'n89Blckstng

Active Member
Jun 11, 2003
1,012
4
36
NJ
May 28, 2004
#12
  • May 28, 2004
  • #12
Thanks alot guys, I'm going to try and install them this weekend as well as my lowering springs. Do I need to get new header bolts? or can I just use the factory bolts. I bought these headers used, so they didn't come with any bolts or anything.
 

N8Miller

I need NOS....make it 2 of the big ones
Founding Member
Jul 26, 2000
2,661
0
0
Kingston, PA, USA
May 28, 2004
#13
  • May 28, 2004
  • #13
MAC'n89Blckstng said:
Thanks alot guys, I'm going to try and install them this weekend as well as my lowering springs. Do I need to get new header bolts? or can I just use the factory bolts. I bought these headers used, so they didn't come with any bolts or anything.
Click to expand...

see my first post above about the arps.
 

93 teal terror

Founding Member
Jul 13, 2001
971
62
69
Durham N.C.
May 28, 2004
#14
  • May 28, 2004
  • #14
Shouldnt take more than 2 hrs tops. Dont have to raise the engine either but some find it helpful. Unbolting the passenger valve cover and sliding it back really helps too. Youll also probably want to tie your a/c lines and smog tubes back with some wire or something so they dont burn.

oh yeah and fordmans right definalty dont put the crappy gaskets that mac gives you on there
 
9

9 Deuce GT

Member
Dec 10, 2003
550
1
16
Geneva, NY
May 29, 2004
#15
  • May 29, 2004
  • #15
SELL THEM WHILE YOU ARE STILL SANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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