Header install - 10/2000
Installing headers on these cars, is no easy task as most of us know. This was no exception. All together it took about 18hrs for the install. I started around 10:00pm (17mo old prevented an earlier start) on a Friday night, and got started on the removal of the Y-Pipe and driver side manifold (the easy one) before the help came on Saturday morning. I got the stuff I could do on my own done by about 4:30am, and decided to call it a night.
   

Here's Dave trying to get one of the header bolts installed. I used the stage 8 locking bolts, which make things a bit easier on reassembly. Not to mention that you don't have to worry about any of them coming loose down the road. This passenger side was the worst. In addition to installing the headers, I also changed to plugs too. Routing the wires is very tough. I wish my daughter could get under there with me, cause her hands would be just about the right size.
   
Passenger side from the bottom. You can see there is some tape on the headers as we were installing them. This is the sport tape to wrap you ankle or something that you can get at most drug stores. I picked this up at Rite-Aid for about $4.00 a roll. (You'll need about 3 rolls)
     

Here's the underside of the driver side header. AS&M makes their #1 primary tube split apart, and go around the steering column. Well, on mine, it rubs pretty bad. I ended up removing the header (Sunday) and putting a small dent in the primary tube to give it more clearance. That helped, but didn't completly fix it. I've tried re-adjusting the steering column itself, but it seems to keep slipping back to it's original position. I'll get it right one of these days soon, but for now, it's not bad.
 
   
Here's a picture of my cousin Bill. This is a great action shot of him really getting down and putting a lot of muscle into the job. Bill was a great supervisor. . . :-)

In all honesty, Bill really helped out a bunch, and stuck with it all the way up till around 11:30om on Saturday night, so we could hit the dyno on Sunday morning.  298RWHP after the headers.
 

Finished from the top!
   

Lessons learned:

    • Copper RTV is your friend
    Make sure the EGR flange in the back of the manifold is on flat and tight. (Leaks here are very loud)
    So far the copper gaskets are working fine, no leaks at the heads visible
    Tighten all spark plugs after the headers are in place, but before they are bolted in.