header install

armin92284 · May 11, 2004

im installing some bbk shorty headers. I have never done this before so could anyone give me some advice. Also, the 1 5/8 will fit in place of the stock headers right?

ECU5.0 · May 11, 2004

yep, those headers will fit. take out all the spark plugs and start takin header bolts out. probably a good idea to hit them up with some pb blaster or something like it an hour or so before you do it. make sure you get the bolts going to your h-pipe also. it will help you a lot with taking the bolts out. also, just take a deep breath and stay calm if you start to freak out over the bolts on the h-pipe by the starter, had someone about to kill someone the other day tryin to get them off, you can do it...just take your time

also, get a good set of header gaskets, some dead soft copper gaskets or something. and after you get them on drive around and make sure you dont have any leaks and than let it cool down and tighten all the header bolts back up

90mustangGT · May 11, 2004

Good advise ECU5.0. The header to H pipe bolts are probally going to be the biggest PITA. In my experience you need a ratchet/breaker bar and a long extention with at least one swivel if possible and hit it from under.

88stangmangt · May 11, 2004

took 2 people to get my h-pipe bolts off one in the bay and one under i didnt think it was hard just time consumeing. my stock headers sliped out with the motor mounts still inplace never installed shortezz cause i hate them. but i imagine if you cant get them in then take out the motor mount bolts and raise it up with a 2x4 on your oil pan.
it is very easy to do and you will have fun make sure you use a razor to scrape the block clean so you get a good sealing surface or you will blow the gasket(i cant stress this enough). and have to do it all over again.

P.s. dont use the gaskets from BBK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are junk trust me compressed cardboard wont last.

Whytry91 · May 11, 2004

Definately get a couple extensions and a swivel like mentioned above. I believe you need to pull the dipstick tube out of the motor and feed it back through the headers and back into the motor after installing the headers.

you may need to take the O2 sensors off to get at the H pipe bolts, just be careful with them. make sure you label the spark plug wires to make your life easier,

Make sure you get all the old gasket material off the heads.

sheff2720 · May 11, 2004

definatly get an extension so you can get to the h-pipe bolts.. i got an 18in one with a swivle joint and that helped out ALOT.. and its makes it alot easier if you have two people for the h-pipe, one under the car to hold the bolt so it doesnt just spin and the other to loosen it.. just be paintent, its a pita but worth it

shorty1993 · May 12, 2004

i may be the only person who has experienced this but not only should you check the header bolts after the intial run but also after about a week and then again in about another week. i put mine on ran it down the road, retightened waited a week then retightened again. never checked on them till i got this nice little helicoptor sound from the passenger side. maybe just my bad luck. as mentioned above get new gaskets, i could not afford the copper when i put mine in, BBK might as well not even send the gaskets. cheap is an understatement. i used mr gasket ultraseal. $11 a pair. ok here is everyone a good laugh. when i went to get the gaskets they were out on the shelf, so i asked the guy working if they had any more in the back. he says seriously "why waste all that money on gaskets, just get some RTV" ......i went to a different store. never heard of that one before, Advance Auto Parts..no knowledge required. i also had a lady there argue telling me that my car had rear disc instead of drum. as if i would not know. moral of the story avoid Advance Auto Parts (at least in this area). ok i feel better now

CobraWannabe · May 12, 2004

I WISH I had the problem of bolts not coming loose. One of my header to h pipe bolts keeps loosening. I lost it once and when I replaced it with another 18mm bolt, it seemed to have a good amount of play around the bolt. Are they like that? Now I am too scared to tighten it too much cus I dont want to strip it. Is there a way to lock them down? Will lock washers work? Sorry, I don't want to take over the thread. Good luck with your install.

Blue89gt · May 12, 2004

shorties will go on easy as pie... when you get the headers off you'll see, the shorties go in the opposite of removal. try doind some 1 5/8 LT's in your garage... that took me 12 hours. but the shorties before that took me 5 hours total.

gasket. if you can get them, get the bassani re-usables. thay have a replacable section, they never leak.. I replaced my gaskets 2 times before i got the bassani gaskets. im so happy.

on the bolt loosening thing. tighten it up and then put an extra nut on afterwards. then hold the first nut with a wrench and then tighten the second nut to the first. it will not some loose, and you dont have to torque the poop out of it..(its called double nutting)

good luck hope this helps.

Dieter.

shallto · May 12, 2004

I haven't heard anyone mention this. You may need to dent the driver side header to prevent it from rubbing the steering shaft. I know a couple of people who didn't need to, but most people put the header on and then had to remove it because it rubbed. Good luck.

ECU5.0 · May 12, 2004

shallto said:
I haven't heard anyone mention this. You may need to dent the driver side header to prevent it from rubbing the steering shaft. I know a couple of people who didn't need to, but most people put the header on and then had to remove it because it rubbed. Good luck.

yep...didnt think about that one. my headers are like that.

armin92284 · May 12, 2004

and how do i go about denting it?

ECU5.0 · May 12, 2004

hammer...just dont dent it too much. hopefully someone will post a pic with what it looks like. but remember id try to test fit the header before you go bangin it with a hammer

89CopCoupe · May 12, 2004

*The 2 'o2' sensors take a 7/8" wrench or o2 socket.
*The 4 collector (h-pipe to header) bolts are a 3/4" with a long 1/2" extension works well.
*The 16 header bolts are a 7/16"

Make sure the flanges are straight b4 bolting them onto the heads.....quality control

I bought some thick ceramic gaskets from Spectre and Spectre header bolts a 1/2" longer with the 7/16" hex head instead of the supplied gaskets and 3/8" hex bolts.

Tighten....get good and hot.....cool down and re-tighten.

armin92284 · May 13, 2004

still havent gotten it in. Something is ******* up. The passengers side is all lined up and bolted together but the drivers side is a PITA. Like, when we bolt the header to the block, then for some reason the flange wont line up with the pipe. But if we bolt up the bottom flange of the header to the pipe, then its hard to line it up and bolt it to the block....Ill need some help, this is frustrating!

shorty1993 · May 14, 2004

your hangers for the hpipe should have some room to move forward, if you will disconnect the h from the tailpipe flanges. i had no problem with mine but i know that there is room for forward movement. also maybe i overlooked it but are you doing equal length or unequal. i hear that equal is a real pain

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