How difficult is it to swap the heads with the motor in the car? I have an 89 Iroc TPI with Edelbrock headers. Will I have to jack the motor up or is there enough room without doing so? Thanks.

Danny T

 

Its not too terrible. I have an 89 Formula 350 with Edelbrock headers. After the y-pipe is disconnected and the headers unbolted from the heads, the headers flop off to the side and leave enough room to get to all of the head bolts.

 

OK thanks. I forgot if my Y-pipe is welded or not. Guess I'll go check.

Danny T

 

Not the y-pipe to the exhaust system, but disconnect the y-pipe where it attaches to each header. This way when you unbolt the header from the head you have room to move it around.

 

Yeah, doing the heads in the car isn't bad at all. I do recommend you take the hood off though. It just makes it easier to see and get to things without worrying about hitting your head on the hood.

 

Remember you will have to drain the coolant outta the system. Save it all in a clean bucket so you can put it back in after.

 

Those are some good tips, didn't think about the hood getting in the way. Thanks guys.

Danny T

 

..knowledge learned from the bumps on other's heads! I like it!

 

I can't believe nobody noticed that people are talking about two completly different things. He asked how hard it will be to swap HEADS with the engine in the car. He got a response about changing HEADERS with the engine in the car and replied to it as if it were what he asked. Others repliued to the actual question about HEADS. Logically, if you already have Edelbrock HEADERS, why would you want to swap out your HEADERS?

IDK, I have next to no experience with swapping either HEADERS or HEADS, but I thought I'd point that out.

 

L98IROCZ89
I wasn't telling him how to swap out headers. Last time I checked the headers were attached to the heads, and they have to be unbolted from the head in order to remove the head. I was just letting him know that he doesn't need to remove the headers completely to get to the head bolts.

 

OK, I will work on my reading skills!

Studying international econ all night did that to me...

Carry on.

 

Exactly. I noted that I have headers because I figured it would make a difference as to how difficult it would be to swap HEADS while in the car compared to if I still had the stock exhaust manifolds.

Danny T

 

If you are going to be putting iron heads back on the engine be VERY careful when setting them in place. They weigh a ton ( 50 lbs each) and you'll be bending/leaning way over setting them in place, one little slip can ruin the head gasket.