Well, I spent about 11 hours yesterday helping my friend install a set of as&m runners and afpr on his car. 11 hours you say?....Why did it take so long?

Well, first we ran into the problem that my T40 socket wouldn't fit inbetween the tubes on the lower side. So we went out and bought a screwdriver style T40 tool. Then we were having all sorts of problems getting the lower 4 bolts on the runners. Then I happened to notice his stock runners have a raised section for the lower bolts to go into. Since these bolts are only threaded half way up, they would not go in all the way on the runners. I figured that they would have to go in all the way so that the head would siton the runner to get a good seal.

So, I grabbed a few extra shorter bolts from one of my old tpi intakes and tried that. The problem with that is that there was no way to get the bolt all the way back into the small opening. So, we went to Home Depot and got some 3/4" tubing. I cut the tubes down and used them as spacers to accomodate the missing raised section for the runners. I used masking tape to secure the bolt to the t40 tool and the fabbed sleeve to the bolt. Then I inserted the bolt, threaded it a little. Took pliers and removed as much tape as possible and then tightened down the bolts as far as I could.

Problem being that it was a pita to even get the bolts in there, let alone to know if I was threading them the right way or not.,..and it was dark by this time to boot... So, I couldn't really see much of what I was doing, but I tightened them down and prayed that there were actually secure and that I didn't cross-thread.

We started the car up and everything seemed alright actually. We took it for a test drive. I am by no means a fan of the butt dyno....but I must say....definately could feel the difference. I am sure that this difference wouldn't have been felt nearly as much without his other mods.

He will need to get a chip burned...and while he does that I told him that he should take the plenum off and get it port matched to the runners.

His mods:
350
upgraded and ported vortec heads
vortec intake
1.6 rockers
eldelbrock headers
catback
hardended pushrods
aftermarket lifters
hot cam
afpr
asm runners





How did everyone else install the lower bolts to the runners? Has anyone encountered the same issue?

Was what I did smart fabrication or a quick hack job?...you decide

 

You have to remove the valve covers.

 

We figured we might have to remove them...but tried everything possible not to because they are a pain to remove and get the gaskets to seal up right again....

but....did you use a shorter tpi bolt then for the lower?

 

I removed my valve covers and just poped them in. I think I had them installed and restarted in about 2 hours. BTW Ihave no engine crap in my way. Its just open valve covers.

 

Honestly, it's been so long since I got them I can't remember. Sorry.

 

My AS&M runners came with 4 special fasteners that I used where you had trouble. Maybe they should've been included with your runners but were omitted? They fit fine length-wise and used a 6mm allen fitting to drive them in.

 

The SLP runners I recently installed came with new bolts that had a center with a hex opening instead of a torx. They provided a long thin hex extension for the install.

 

Yeah...my friend bought it used with no hardware.....the correct hardware would have helped

 

I bought new ones and had no such hardware. I guess I'll have to dig them out of the box (stashed away in the garage) and take a look. I always did have sealing problems....