I am considering installing dynomax(or another brand) shorty headers on my 91 rs. I took a look at what I will have to take apart to make this happen. It looks somewhat scary. I noticed that I will have to disconnect the a/c and alternator supports. Can someone that has changed out there headers give me some tips to make this easier, how tough is it to do the swap? Is it best to change from underneath the car? Can you do it without losing the freon in the a/c?

 

I would also like an answer to this question... I was just thinking the same thing myself. Any takers?

 

I have a TPI so it may be a different setup. I swaped them without taking the alternator or AC out. So no, you shouldn't have to vent the freon. I've pulled the motor without venting it. If you have to remove the AC compressor from the bracket just move it out of the way.

Its not a tough swap persay, but several things can make it a pain. Getting the manifolds off is the probably the hardest part. Presoak all the bolts with PB Blaster or WB40. I suggest the former. Once you get them out the drives side header went in pretty easily. The passenger's side, for me, took removing the valve cover to drop the header in from the top. Others have had succes getting the passenger's side header in from the bottom. Some have to lift the motor slightly to get it to clear when coming in from the bottom.

David

 

Driver side was cake bit the passenger side is the devil. The hardest part is getting all the old stuff off just like every one says. I belive that I took off the passenger side valve cover, and the starter. I started from below and got the header kinda wedged in the right direction. I crawled out from under the car and pulled the header into place from the top. So I geuss you can say I installed it from underneeth. I know it can be done from under the hood it just depends on headers and how good you are at wiggling and twisting and geometrically visualizing them going in. It was a scary task when I started but I knew millions of poeple have done this for thier first time successfully so why couldn't I. And lo and behold.....I did too