Thread: Installing Headers

I just ordered my headers finally for my car, they are the ZZP stainless headers and i ordered them with a catted downpipe. I was going to get TOG's but all together they came out to be more expensive than the ZZP headers.

Basically I just want to know since it will be my first time installing headers on any car, let alone my GTP, if there are any pointers/instructions you guys have when it comes to installing them, what tools I will need, and if there are any things I should look out for when I am installing them.

Any information you can give me will be appreciated

Take off the stock manifolds

PB Blast the living crap of your stock manifold bolts For sure...make sure you've got something to clean up the blood you lose too

haha yeah figured that. cool, will i need to rock the engine forward? and how exactly is this done? im also gonna need a torque wrench right? i have one but it only goes from 25 to 100 ft lbs, no lower.

Originally Posted by 2000GTP

haha yeah figured that. cool, will i need to rock the engine forward? and how exactly is this done? im also gonna need a torque wrench right? i have one but it only goes from 25 to 100 ft lbs, no lower.

Just unbolt the dogbones and have someone pull forward the engine as much as you can, or get a strap to hold it there, its not going to go anywhere or ruin anything as long as you dont pull too hard that it hits the fans. Don't really need a torque wrench. Did you delete the egr or get the headers with the egr option?

I used a ratchet strap to pull the engine forward.

Originally Posted by QwikGT

if you want, you can bring it to the shop, ill ask for a price for you

thanks nick, but i dont know i kind of want to do it myself. i like doing this kind of work, i think i could do it, just gotta take off a day and i could probably do it in 6 hours i would say.

Originally Posted by FoSHO99

Just unbolt the dogbones and have someone pull forward the engine as much as you can, or get a strap to hold it there, its not going to go anywhere or ruin anything as long as you dont pull too hard that it hits the fans. Don't really need a torque wrench. Did you delete the egr or get the headers with the egr option?

and i got the ones with EGR, i wanted to keep it, i dont like to mess with the emissions system too much

Imo don't torque the bolts just get them tight enough. I torqued mine to spec when I installed my plog and the bolt snapped, lucky for me I snapped a bolt in the L36 heads so i don't care.

I'm a torque nazi (comes from my military tech training). I've never had anything break when using a properly serviced torque wrench and torquing to the proper specs. Some sort of assembly lubricant is also a good idea (in general, probably far from necessary for something simple like headers).

The worst part about exhaust work is stuck bolts. Beyond that it's easy.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

I'm a torque nazi (comes from my military tech training). I've never had anything break when using a properly serviced torque wrench and torquing to the proper specs. Some sort of assembly lubricant is also a good idea (in general, probably far from necessary for something simple like headers).

The worst part about exhaust work is stuck bolts. Beyond that it's easy.

yea, i hope my torque wrench will be good for it because it starts at 20 ft lbs... i got the bigger one and i dont know why. ill check the torque specs

anyone know about how long it should take to install them?

Originally Posted by 2000GTP

anyone know about how long it should take to install them?

Depends on who is doing the installing.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

Depends on who is doing the installing.

oh alright. well basically its my first time doing it... and im pretty good at doing small things on my car, this is one of the first "big" things im doing. could i figure like 5 hours maybe? because im just trying to figure ouot when ill have time

yeh its not that bad i think it took me and my friend like 5hrs.... if u need a hand im close

Originally Posted by kingd44

yeh its not that bad i think it took me and my friend like 5hrs.... if u need a hand im close

alright cool man thanks. i think i should be able to do it though. hopefully evrything will work out all right when i install them

should i buy new manifold bolts in case the stock ones break?

Originally Posted by QwikGT

the headers should come with new bolts. my togs did. email zzp and ask

yea you would think they would... they better after spending 860 on headers and a catted downpipe! ill e-mail them