Passenger Side Header

poormillionaire2 · #1 08-18-2006, 02:44 AM

I can't seem to get the my passenger side longtube header in my car. I have everything I need out of the car and the car on jack stands that are on cement bricks. I don't know if I can/need to go higher or what. But the header won't go in top or bottom. (I know its suppose to go in from the bottom). Is there a special way to wiggle it in or what? And I can't/won't loosen motor mounts. That is just out of the question. Is a pacesetter LT on a 94 Z28. Thanks.

Earlsfat · #2 08-18-2006, 11:26 AM

I was told engine has to come out to put headers on... not sure if that's just for my application or all applications, but...

poormillionaire2 · #3 08-18-2006, 11:47 AM

People have installed LT's on their 4th gens without pulling the motor, but access to things would be easier with the motor out of the car.

But I think I am at the verge of giving up now and I think I am going to loosen the motor mounts and jack up the engine ever so slightly. But I don't know the first thing about doing this. Could someone help me and tell me where to place the jack on the motor and where to loosen the mounts. Do I loosen them from the motor or from the frame?

bobss396 · #4 08-18-2006, 12:48 PM

If the mounts have the long bolt through them, just take off the nut and pull them out. You will have to jack up the engine to take some of the load off them. I generally jack the engine up under the oil pan using a block of wood or plywood padded with some junk carpet. You can use a floor jack or bottle type jack. Watch out that the distributor cap doesn't hit the firewall and other things don't get stressed in the process.

Bob

poormillionaire2 · #5 08-18-2006, 12:51 PM

All that weight won't damage the oil pan if I do that? Could I possibly put the jack closer towards the passenger side, because I think I only need to move it a few inches. But doing this really makes me nervous. I hope it doesn't rain today so I can finish this up.

bobss396 · #6 08-18-2006, 02:13 PM

I have had the engine weight crease the oil pan before, but they've never leaked after or had any other problems. Try to spread the load out as much as possible with a piece of plywood and thin carpet. You want to get the jack as close to the center as possible so it won't slide out and let the engine drop. I've seen guys lift the engine by the dampener but don't recommend it for fear of bending the crank snout. This is only reason #432 why I don't like headers in passenger cars.

Bob

poormillionaire2 · #7 08-18-2006, 02:33 PM

Yeah, these headers are becoming a bitch. I decided to jack the back end of the car up so I could get the front end higher to get the clearance I needed. It worked, but now, I still can't get it all the way up. The EGR thing on the header won't clear the bend in the fender wall. Any suggestions there? I am beginning to hate this.

FormulaLT1 · #8 08-18-2006, 06:34 PM

Sorry but in some cases it is required to loosen the passenger side motor mount and slightly lift the engine. If you won't do it. It may never go in.

poormillionaire2 · #9 08-18-2006, 08:20 PM

Thanks for that great news.
I am going to try and attempt it tomorrow when I have more light. Nothing like trying something major for the first time in twilight hours.

So, how exactly do I go about doing this? Place a jack under the engine, lift it slightly to take pressure off the mount, loosen the bolt and take it out, then jack the engine a few inches? And when all is said and done, the engine should drop down into the mount perfectly so I can put the bolt back?
I am so not sure about doing this, but its a last resort.

FormulaLT1 · #10 08-18-2006, 08:57 PM

Depending on how far its off (a few hairs versus a few inches) you may want to attempt to jack the engine with the mount in place. You will get around a inch or so of lift with it in place and it may just be enough to squeeze it by. However if this is not enough. You want to jack up the engine only enough to take up slack. Then remove the mount bolt (you may have to lift or lower to get the bolt out, the idea is to take pressure off the bolt). Then continue to ljack the engine so it pivots and then attempt to slide the header in. Most important part of doing this is to remember to use wood in between the jack and the engine so as to not cause damage. Good luck. Also I don't remember for sure what need to come out to have access to the bolt and I removed alot of things such as my air conditioning compressor so I can't tell you if its in the way or not but a few things may have to come out.

poormillionaire2 · #11 08-18-2006, 09:25 PM

I tried that already, with jacking the motor up with the bolt still in. I don't think it worked. But I didn't go up high because it was on the oil pan. But I can't find any place to jack the motor up other than the oil pan. And putting that much pressure on it makes me nervous. Are there any other options that I'm just not seeing? But I'll try it all tomorrow and let yea know how it goes. And if I don't log on anymore, that means I broke my car and technically don't have a camaro anymore.

cuda_dude · #12 08-18-2006, 10:10 PM

headers are like a puzzle... you may not think it will go in but the slightest little movement or different angle and it pops right in

poormillionaire2 · #13 08-19-2006, 01:30 PM

I almost spent an entire day devoted to trying to get this header up with no dice. I freakin hate this car right now. The damn EGR tube on the back of the header is what's causing the hang up right now. I really don't know what to do. It seems like I've tried every angle, twice, top and bottom. I guess I'll go back out there and do it again.

So Cuda, did you have to mess with the motor mounts at all, or did you wiggle the header up as is? I need hope here people.

cuda_dude · #14 08-19-2006, 02:17 PM

nope, never touched my motor mounts

cuda_dude · #15 08-19-2006, 02:17 PM

get us some pictures so I can see if you have anything in the way or to atleast see what you're working with

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