I'll be getting new tires in a few weeks and after that I'll be looking into getting a new exhaust. I have a 96 2500 and the only problem I have is I had a partial hip transplant (I'm only 21) and I don't know how easy it will be to get on top and drop the headers through. Any help will be great.
Thank You

 

The only hard part should be trying to get out the old manifold bolts that have more or less welded themselves in. Use lots of chemicals.

If you have all the parts, headers, gaskets, new bolts, I would probably just take it to a reputable muffler shop. That way you can take it back and get it fixed for free if something breaks

 

Some people will probably disagree, but I found that it was really pretty tedious in a few ways (I used Pacesetter shorties):

First, you have to get the old nuts/bolts off, the ones to the rear and on the collector being worse.

Then you have get the manifold out and the headers in with a quality gasket lined up, not really too bad but it helps to have an assistant.

Then comes the worst part for me, putting the new nuts/bolts on. One bolt in particular on the back could only be turned 1/4 turn at a time and is in a difficult position. You also need to get the collector hooked up which may or may not be bad, and mine has egr which is a small hassle.

(Edit). I should add that I am 6'3" and my truck isn't lifted much, the higher the lift and the shorter the man the more difficult this will be.

 

If I know I will be working on the motor for any more than 1 hr I just remove the cooling fan and it's shroud, upper rad hose. This then gives me a nice spot to stand in the engine bay and reach most everything I need to. About 1/2hr to remove the fan and shroud. Some headers go in EZ other not so, same goes with the old manifold bolts and the new ones.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I'd like to do the work myself just to save money and to say that I did it. But it just depends on how my movement is at the time. Haha I'm not as nimble as I used to be.