Okay, I took back the Hedman headers I got for Christmas and exchanged them for the correct set of shortblock headers and I also bought the Y-pipe I needed. I started with the passenger side exhaust first. I got the manifold off. When it came loose another contraption came with it, it has a moving piece inside that looks like it opens and closes the pipe. What does this thing do, and do I have to do anything to take care of what it does? Also, I accidentally broke off a wire that looks like it comes from a sensor, it is between the exhaust ports for the numbers six a seven cylindars, does anyone know what that is called so I can get a new one? Also, does anyone have any tips for pulling the old Y-pipe off of the catalytic converter, mine doesn't want to wiggles free. Lastly, do you need to twist the header to get it to slide past the air conditioning mounting bracket? Thanks for any help. There will probably be another post tommorrow when I get started on the drivers side.

 

i know for sure the thing yo ubroke, its between the last 2 cylenders on the pass side? thats the coolant temp sensor for the fans. part store has it. the other peice that opens and closes apears to be the thing that directs air form th esmog pump to the manifold, out compleatly, or to the cat.

hope it helps and good luck, i'll be doing it soon to so post your thaughts/tips

-Stell

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1988 IROC 305TPI MINT!!
Mods= Accell SuperCoil, MSD 6A, Ported Plenum, No MAF Screans , K & N, 160 Thermostat+ Temp Switch, Relocated MAT, Cold Air

 

On the exhaust manifold is the EFE valve(early fuel evap),, cold it's pulled closed to force exhaust thru the intake & heat it quicker.
I knew what & where it was, but saw the explaination of what it did from someone else on here.

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My Firebird & other stuff

- 4 out of 5 people think the 5th is an idiot

 

Thanks for the info. That EFE valve that you were talking about didn't go back on with the new headers, but the car starts and runs fine without it. Also there was a pipe that came from the cat to that valve, I took the pipe off and now theres just a short tube coming out of the cat. Should I just pinch it shut since there is nowhere for the smog to go anyway? I'll get the sensor fixed too, I was watching my gauges on the test drive after I put in the headers, and everything seemed fine.


As for the job, it was much tougher than I thought. It took two days to do, with my dad helping me the second day. We started the car before we hooked the cat up again. With just the headers it sounds AWESOME!! But after we got everything where it was supposed to go the sound was not too much louder than the OEM manifolds. It has a nice rumble right off idle. Also the car vibrates more. I'm getting a flowmaster muffler for my birthday, and after I put that on the car will sound better and louder. I would recommed the job to a friend, but make sure you have another car to go get parts in case you break something like I did.