header install

[ryan218]

how much of a pain in the a$$ is it to install a set of steel short tube headers in a fox body mustang? should i just pay a shop to do it?

 

[poneypower89]

your dad can't help you do it?

 

[ryan218]

your dad can't help you do it?

he could but he's asleep right now. and i was just wondering if they have to feed in from under the car or if you can get them in from the top. the drivers side has plenty of room to get to the header. the left side is REALLY tight and i have never swapped a set of headers. i know i could do it but i was just wondering how much of a pain it was and what would be the best way to do it? reason why i was wondering about having a shop do it is because they have a lift and i don't. could i get the car high enough to do it by putting it on jack stands?

 

[Vinnietbird]

They go on from the top,and they are easy.Especially if you have the smog delete.I changed mine out on my Thunderbird (same set up exactly) in about 45 minutes.Remove and replace one at a time and you don't even have to lower the h-pipe.Make sure you have aftermaarket header bolts if you're going up in size with the headers because the factory bolts may be too big (The 9/16 head) to fit next to the tubes.All I needed was a 7/16 end wrench and a 1/4 inch drive socket wrench with a 7/16 socket and short extension (plus the h-pipe to headers nuts).

 

[Jaswir]

its easy... don't pay a shop to do that... takes about a hr to do... you will figure it out once you get started

 

[ryan218]

ok thanks

 

[fox-gt]

My experience installing them sucked. My motor mounts were stock and crushed, which caused the header to sit on the steering arm. Got new motor mounts that raised the engine but the arm still hit a little. The gaskets blew out about a week after I installed the headers (bbk stock gaskets are crap). Had to get new gaskets and locking bolts, remove / re-install. Had a shop drop the steering arm and dent the header more to clear the arm, still hit a little.

I am a newbie at car repair, I wish I would have had them installed by a shop.

The ironic part is my engine crapped out a few months later (broken ring) and they came off for a rebuild.

 

[ryan218]

My experience installing them sucked. My motor mounts were stock and crushed, which caused the header to sit on the steering arm. Got new motor mounts that raised the engine but the arm still hit a little. The gaskets blew out about a week after I installed the headers (bbk stock gaskets are crap). Had to get new gaskets and locking bolts, remove / re-install. Had a shop drop the steering arm and dent the header more to clear the arm, still hit a little.

I am a newbie at car repair, I wish I would have had them installed by a shop.

The ironic part is my engine crapped out a few months later (broken ring) and they came off for a rebuild.

yeah, thats one thing i was wondering. if the new headers im buying will clear the steering arm. ill take some pictures

 

[fox-gt]

yeah, thats one thing i was wondering. if the new headers im buying will clear the steering arm. ill take some pictures

here is a pic of my arm clearance (or lack of) before the new motor mounts were installed. I ended up shimming the engine to jack it up until I could get them installed.

Pic

 

[ryan218]

haha

 

[5.0Droptop]

you need to get new motor mounts right away.

 

[ryan218]

you need to get new motor mounts right away.

uhh me or him? im guesing your talking about 66mustang

 

[5.0Droptop]

uhh me or him? im guesing your talking about 66mustang

Sorry, 66/93

 

[fox-gt]

Sorry, 66/93

That was only showing a pic before motor mounts. All is good now.

 

[ryan218]

k