I've got my LT1 sitting in the car, and I've pulled the old lt1 exhaust manifolds off. Now I'm thinking that I'm ready to install my new Heddman Hedders when I read the instructions and find out that I'm supposed to lift the engine 1". After reading this, I think to myself, that's probably BS, so I try to fit the headers in anyway, and the drivers side is close to making it, but it doesn't seem like its going to fit.

Has anyone else installed their headers with the engine already in the car, and did you have to lift the engine up? I really don't want to pull my engine hoist back out of the attic and put it together.

BTW, I want to thank everyone for all the posts of this board. I don't think that I could've completed this without all the information on here.

 

i think by lifting it, it just means putting a jack under the oil pan and disconnecting a motor mount, no big deal imo

Ive seen posts where people had loose motor mounts and they just needed to jack it up a bit and they went in

 

Colt, i installed Hooker shorties w/o lifting the right side of the motor 2-3" as was instructed by Hooker. You have already done what I did, only I was fortunate and did not need to do anything else. Just do what fire350tpi said and give it a shot. Good luck!

 

 

Thanks guys. I've cut the old y-pipe and pulled it out of the way. I'm going to jack up the engine and try to slip the headers on tomorrow.

I did notice that the oil pan already has a dent in. It looks like someone used a crappy small jack on it. I have a good 3 ton jack with a big plate. Should i use some plywood or something as well, just to make sure I don't mess up the oilpan, or will it be OK?

 

i have installed many header configuration on my 86 and never had to move the engine, on the driver side i found that if you take off the valve cover it gives you just enough room to get the header in, with maybe a tiny amount of pursuasion

 

I have a set of Hedman headers on my LT1. Passenger side header went in like a charm, driver side best thing to do, take the valve cover off and it should go right in from the bottom, but you may be able to take it through from the top.

 

I've got the passenger side all in and torqued to spec, but I still can't get the driver side.

I first tried removing the valve cover, and that put me closer to making it in through the top, but I still need another inch.

Next, I tried fitting it through the bottom, but that doesn't seem close to making it.

Finally, I tried lifting the motor with a jack, but the through bolts in motor mounts still had pressure on them. I could hammer them out, but I was afriad that I wouldn't be able to get the bolt lined back up if I hammered it all the way out, so I chickened out on that and lowered the engine.

Is there any chance that I won't be able to get the through bolt back in the motor mount? Should I need to hammer the the through bolt out, or should it just slide out?

 

The motor just has to be lined up almost exactly right for the bolt in the mount to slide in and out without a little persuasion. You could thread it out and thread it back in and that works the best. I also have the Hedman shorties and I got mine in by just removing the valve cover.