I put an LS1/T56 in a few years ago, back before Longtubes were available for thirdgenLSX cars. I finally got around to picking some up from Hawks and wondered how easy it would be with the motor already in (it seems as most people put the headers on the motor, then put it in). Anyody been-there-done-that?

 

I had to unbolt the motor from the pads and the tranny from the cross member, jack it up as high as I could and slip the driver side in first. I think I went from underneith. I didn't have my drive shaft hooked up at the time and I have a tubuler K-member, which gave me alot of extra room that I needed. On the passenger side I had to remove the coil packs and the valve cover and push the motor, over toward the driver side and slip in the from above, its a tight fit but it worked for me. Then drop the motor. Watch the hard brake lines coming off the prop valve, one will run really close to your header and steering shaft. If it does, you can buy some type of heat shielding for it so you brake fluid dosen't boil. Good luck

 

I'm running a stock k member and did a mock up build first. During this I put them in and out twice from below without too much grief

 

Remove the coil packs and slip them in from the top...piece of cake. The Hawks tubes fit really well.

 

Both sides???

I was going to start it tonight, but got backed up at work. Hopefully tomarrow.

 

The side I thought would be easy, was the most difficult. To do the passenger side, I ended up removing the starter, jacking up the motor, etc....

The drivers side, despite the clutch line, brake lines and steering shaft, slid right up, no issues.

Now if I can just get it connected to the rest of my exhaust. I was too cheap to buy the Y-pipe.

 

its a good thing you DIDNT buy the y pipe.

 

Yeah I was gonna say... not buying the Y was probably a good move.

My driver's side header goes in and out from the bottom with no issues and no unbolting.

The passenger side header on my car wouldnt come out... I didnt want to unbolt the motor and all that crap, so I just did my welding under the car. I installed my headers before I installed the motor...so I wasnt sure if they would even come out to begin with... Plus I have a custom HVAC box which ultimatly kept the passenger side header from coming out. If that wasnt there (a/c delete) mine would have come right out with the coils removed.

J.

 

i installed my headers in less then 20mins.

it was possibly the easiest header install ive ever done.... but i do have a tubular Kmember, AC delete box, etc, etc, etc....

it was wierd.. i unbolted the exhaust like it was nothing.. then i stood there for a second with the header in my hand... "uhh, go in from the top or the bottom??".... then i said.. hmm, it MIGHT fit from the top.

i slipped it in, with room to spare so easily that i just reached over and grabbed the gasket and a bolt while holding it up in place.. LOL. i had set aside a whole evening just to put them in, and it took less then 20 mins.... by the end of the night, i had a Y-pipe all welded up and i was cruising.

 

that sounds fimiliar.
nothing in the way on mine either.
starter had to come off, but no biggie.