headers
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Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2007
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From:
headers
anyone know if these will line up to stock manafolds?
http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...A2280A0A0.aspx
if they do how hard was it and how long did it take you to do it...
and what are ur reccomendations on installing them?
http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...A2280A0A0.aspx
if they do how hard was it and how long did it take you to do it...
and what are ur reccomendations on installing them?
Champion
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,739
Likes: 8
From: ct.
installing headers on these trucks is a p.i.t.a. thats why i left the factory manifolds on and opened up the y-pipe. much easier and cheaper. why put headers on and keep the same restrictive y-pipe. if you are gonna do it correct, get the complete package. it will run you close to $900.00 depending on the header coating. opening up y-pipe $75.00
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Record Breaker
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well ive done quite a bit of engine work on other crap.. and just wanted to see what others have done.... i have alot of times on my hands right now and taking off 2 front wheels and riping off the fenders doesnt really bother me as long as i can get to it and it would line back up...
Champion
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,739
Likes: 8
From: ct.
just remember to bag all the shims that come off the fenders and tape which ones go back together. it is a simple job, but one wrong shim in the wrong area causes miss alignment. the shorties are nice and will bolt up.
Professional
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 139
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From: NY
I am still in the process of installing the header's. During the removal of the manifol, I came across two bolts that did not remove, I had to use a torch to get them off. During installation of the headers, I messed up the gasket and had to order new ones. When I finally got everything in, I stripped the intake manifold. Right now my truck is in a shop being rethreaded. Superdak is right, it is a p.i.t.a.
Champion
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,739
Likes: 8
From: ct.
i know coondog05 put his on. took about 6 hours. he went through the same thing ramos did. and todd has the body lift
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Professional
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 139
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From: NY
It was the first time I did it. I purchased it from carparts.com. The advertisement states, easy bolt on installation. It is not that difficult, if everything goes smoothly. Each manifold has 8 bolts, which can be difficult to remove. You might need to jack the vehicle up to remove it. I had the passenger fender removed, since I was fixing a leak coming from the body seam, this helped but you can do without.
I installed gibson headers on it, the driver's side was really hard to install. I purchased gaskets from www.airram.com, which helped a lot. When you put the headers in, you first put the four bottom bolts first, along with the gasket. The way the gaskets from airram were made caused the gasket to stay up close to the engine, which helped when putting in the headers. The instructions stated to remove the steering shaft, along with the starter i think. I did not remove either one. To gain access to this area, I removed the driver's side tire. The hardest part is tightening the bolts that are behind the tubes of the headers, this also make torqueing them impossible, you will have to hope that you are torqueing it at the correct specification, 30-35lb of torque. I bought a set of ratchet wrenches. The hardest part for me, again was the driver's side, although I was able to ge this one on. When tightening these bolts, depending on the shape of your headers, you will probably have to tighten all the bottom bolts from underneath the truck.
I think installing headers in general are a pita. If you do this, make sure there is a local shop willing to work with you if you screw up. I highly recommend ordering the gaskets from airram.com. If you end up using a torch, buy the yellow propane one along with the appropriate nozzle.
I think installing headers would probably be best done when the vehicle is new, before any corrossion starts. When removing the manifold from the y-pipe I busted every single bolt. Luckily, the bolts completely broke off, had I stripped one I would have had to use vice grips, which would have been difficult due to the lack of space. Also, PB buster is a must, spray all the bolts down with this, maybe the night prior and then as often as you can. Don't expect to get this done in one day if you've never done any exhaust work.
Imagine this scenario: You bust all the bolts from the Y-Pipe but successfully remove them. You are able to remove most of the bolts from the manifold, end up breaking some of them. You are down to 2 bolts, one is stripped and the other one won't break loose. What the heck do you do? Torch the bolt until it is red hot, this might help, worked for me. I let it soak overnight with PB blaster. The one that was stripped is stuck, you cannot fit a socket wrench in there. You can barely fit vice grips. You are stuck. You end up calling Dodge Dealership to find out they don't deal with performanc eparts such as headers and no one else is willing to work with you but one local mechanic who was refered to you buy the local performance shop, but he cannot accomodate you until the following week. Now you are stuck, you can't drive your truck anywhere. Even if you put the manifold back on you cannot attach the y-pipe back to the manifold due to all the broken bolts. Plus, you don't know how to remove that stripped bolt because you either don't have the tools, not enough space or simply don't know what to do.
This happened to me, luckily I have 2 other vehicles. I got that stripped bolt out with vice grips. My only problem was that I stripped the intake manifold while torqueing the final f*****g bolt. All I'm saying, is prepare for the worse case scenario. There is a reason why no one wants to work with headers.
Tips, have a torch, vice grips, pb blaster, ratchet wrench, remove tires, socket wrench, hammer-I hit some of the bolts with a hammer to break them loose I used a metal rod and place it on the head of the bolt and pounded it with the hammer, I used a socket wrench where I could fit it in for any bolt. The bolts on the manifold are metric. For the driver's side, I was able to get an extension from outside wheelwell and break loose some of the bolts. It is tough. Another downside about having headers, is that you will have to retorque them periodically, at this point I never want to see those headers again.
I installed gibson headers on it, the driver's side was really hard to install. I purchased gaskets from www.airram.com, which helped a lot. When you put the headers in, you first put the four bottom bolts first, along with the gasket. The way the gaskets from airram were made caused the gasket to stay up close to the engine, which helped when putting in the headers. The instructions stated to remove the steering shaft, along with the starter i think. I did not remove either one. To gain access to this area, I removed the driver's side tire. The hardest part is tightening the bolts that are behind the tubes of the headers, this also make torqueing them impossible, you will have to hope that you are torqueing it at the correct specification, 30-35lb of torque. I bought a set of ratchet wrenches. The hardest part for me, again was the driver's side, although I was able to ge this one on. When tightening these bolts, depending on the shape of your headers, you will probably have to tighten all the bottom bolts from underneath the truck.
I think installing headers in general are a pita. If you do this, make sure there is a local shop willing to work with you if you screw up. I highly recommend ordering the gaskets from airram.com. If you end up using a torch, buy the yellow propane one along with the appropriate nozzle.
I think installing headers would probably be best done when the vehicle is new, before any corrossion starts. When removing the manifold from the y-pipe I busted every single bolt. Luckily, the bolts completely broke off, had I stripped one I would have had to use vice grips, which would have been difficult due to the lack of space. Also, PB buster is a must, spray all the bolts down with this, maybe the night prior and then as often as you can. Don't expect to get this done in one day if you've never done any exhaust work.
Imagine this scenario: You bust all the bolts from the Y-Pipe but successfully remove them. You are able to remove most of the bolts from the manifold, end up breaking some of them. You are down to 2 bolts, one is stripped and the other one won't break loose. What the heck do you do? Torch the bolt until it is red hot, this might help, worked for me. I let it soak overnight with PB blaster. The one that was stripped is stuck, you cannot fit a socket wrench in there. You can barely fit vice grips. You are stuck. You end up calling Dodge Dealership to find out they don't deal with performanc eparts such as headers and no one else is willing to work with you but one local mechanic who was refered to you buy the local performance shop, but he cannot accomodate you until the following week. Now you are stuck, you can't drive your truck anywhere. Even if you put the manifold back on you cannot attach the y-pipe back to the manifold due to all the broken bolts. Plus, you don't know how to remove that stripped bolt because you either don't have the tools, not enough space or simply don't know what to do.
This happened to me, luckily I have 2 other vehicles. I got that stripped bolt out with vice grips. My only problem was that I stripped the intake manifold while torqueing the final f*****g bolt. All I'm saying, is prepare for the worse case scenario. There is a reason why no one wants to work with headers.
Tips, have a torch, vice grips, pb blaster, ratchet wrench, remove tires, socket wrench, hammer-I hit some of the bolts with a hammer to break them loose I used a metal rod and place it on the head of the bolt and pounded it with the hammer, I used a socket wrench where I could fit it in for any bolt. The bolts on the manifold are metric. For the driver's side, I was able to get an extension from outside wheelwell and break loose some of the bolts. It is tough. Another downside about having headers, is that you will have to retorque them periodically, at this point I never want to see those headers again.
Last edited by ramos160; Jan 11, 2009 at 01:56 PM.
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Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2007
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From:
ight good info... ive done some exhaust work.. so i kinda got the idea of what im getting into... im pretty sure these come with new gaskets so thats ok....
oh and i have a local place on hand thats done all my work if i do f- up LOL
i mean like ive rebuilt a trans am motor how hard could 2 headers be?
oh and i have a local place on hand thats done all my work if i do f- up LOL
i mean like ive rebuilt a trans am motor how hard could 2 headers be?
Professional
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: NY
ight good info... ive done some exhaust work.. so i kinda got the idea of what im getting into... im pretty sure these come with new gaskets so thats ok....
oh and i have a local place on hand thats done all my work if i do f- up LOL
i mean like ive rebuilt a trans am motor how hard could 2 headers be?
oh and i have a local place on hand thats done all my work if i do f- up LOL
i mean like ive rebuilt a trans am motor how hard could 2 headers be?
Sounds like you will be successful. Goodluck.
Below is a link to the gaskets I was talking about.
http://www.airram.com/product.php?ca...&productid=292