Just wanted to know what i am getting myself into.....thinking about installing headers easy right?? Is it still easy with the engine still in the car, i have done it with the engine out before but never with it in, is it possible to reach all the bolts...and is it even worth trying?

 

I've installed Edelbrock shorties and Hooker long tubes with the engine in, no problems. Read the instructions that come with whatever you buy, some don't and they miss out on little tips that make things go smoother.

 

It is ABSOLUTELY worth it! The low end torque gains from my hedman 68470's alone was worth it! Just be really patient! I still have all the emissions equipment in my '86 IROC so changing the rear sparkplugs now has to be done from underneath, but other than that, no problems! Good luck!

 

so it is def possible to get to all the bolts, i just wanted to make sure it could be done were most of the bolts got from underneath the car or under the hood.

 

there will be items in your way. You will need to remove them to make it simpler. You should remove the starter. You will be disposing of the stock Y pipe and installing a new y pipe so use a sawzall instead of messing with frozen bolts.

You will remove the motor mount bolts and you will be raising the engine. You may even need to remove the one tranny mount bolt or loosen it so you can raise the engine even more.

As long as you are OK knowing that many items will need to be removed as "make-ready work" then you are going in with your eyes wide open.

 

thanks for the help guys....the smart thing would have been to do it 2 weeks ago when i did my t5 swap oh well live and learn

 

And if you have never done small block chevy headers before, coat the gaskets with RTV...you'll thank me later. And I would invest in stubby wrenches 5/16 or 7/16 depending on which size your header bolts end up being.

 

its not quite easy but not terrible. If i can do it you can lol

 

It is easy, just takes a bit of time sometimes. Also, I never had to lift the engine and was able to get everything from the top. Headers themselves depending on what you buy might drop in from the top or bottom. My long tubes went in from the bottom like nothing.

 

Do yourself a HUGE favor, spray all the manifold bolts down the night before with PB Blaster. You will need a breaker bar too. I did everything from the top,i only had to go under the car to cut the stock ypipe off. Oh, and by the way keep a sawzall handy.There are also locking tabs on some tpi car's manifold bolts making it difficult to get a socket around. Just get a small flathead screwdriver to bend them back. I did not have to jack up my engine or remove my starter either. I installed Edelbrock Tes headers. Let me know how it goes.

 

Oh, and most importantly. You will need 90 degree spark plug boots/wires. Shorter plus too. I used Bosch 7985. Be really careful not to break them when dropping in your headers.

 

You better make sure you have a matching ypipe ready that is designed to bolt to those headers too. It will be 99 percent easier after you get the headers installed.