They can be installed in place without removing the K-member. You have to remove the midpipe, starter, and steering shaft/knuckle. Then loosen the engine mounts, jack up the engine roughly 2 inches, and then start to remove/install the new headers. Ratchet wrenches make these install alot easier. Two or three of the nuts are a bear to get to, but with patience you'll get it.
Good luck - PM me if you have any questions. I did mine over three nights at about 2 -3 hours a night.
The newer cars must have less room than the 98's. I changed mine in the apartment parking lot one day without jacking the motor or removing suspension. Just starter and steering. Its a knuckle bustin bitch for sure. Have some 1/4 drive tools available with universals and extensions.
Oh yea.......don't waste your time with the shorties if you haven't bought them or your mid-pipe yet. Just my opinion. I don't think they help much and considering the install hassle, might as well get all the hp you can from this swap.
Well i would go for long tubes and get more HP, but im in a tight money situation and im pickin up these slightly used to frpp shortys for dirt cheap. My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad! so i am doing this as a solution, hopefuly i wont have to drop any suspension or raise the motor, i work for a ford dealership and have acess to a lift and tools, so hopefuly i will be able to get the job done with only removing the starter and steering shaft. Wish me luck....
Well i would go for long tubes and get more HP, but im in a tight money situation and im pickin up these slightly used to frpp shortys for dirt cheap. My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad! so i am doing this as a solution, hopefuly i wont have to drop any suspension or raise the motor, i work for a ford dealership and have acess to a lift and tools, so hopefuly i will be able to get the job done with only removing the starter and steering shaft. Wish me luck....
Good luck man, I am in the same boat with my BBK's, putting them in sunday in my garage with 2 jack stands and a floor jack... Anyways, sure you will do fine, but I am pretty sure you will need to jack up the engine at least a few inches, which really isn't that big of a deal. Follow a good set of intructions and you will get er done.
My main reason for getting them is because i already baught a bbk O/R X pipe, but my driver side manifold is cracked or somthing, it just wont seal so it leaks exhaust like no other, and i mean bad!
If you're leaking, it's probably the bbk X leaking where it connects to the header. The flange on the X hits the shouldered studs on the header before the ball-and-socket connection is sealed. Go to Napa, get a header stud kit #600-1819 and replace the shouldered Ford OE studs, then put your X back on and see if the leak is gone.
Sure would be easier than changing out the headers for a 1-2 hp gain. Sell the new shorties and get something else.