header install

[Rocket50]

I was just wondering how much it should cost to get shorties installed or should I brave it and do it myself? I did my catback but this looks alot more complicated.

[MonteCitan]

It's not all that complicated, however you might have issues with rust/etc

Not sure on price, but unless you have a lot of patience and/or tricks up your sleeve (torch?), you might want to take it somewhere's

I put them on my 89 in the driveway with no problems, not sure how much different the strut tower clearance would be on yours, mine came close to the steering shaft (MAC headers) but it cleared it...

Do you still have all the smog pump stuff? If all your bolts break loose, that might be your last hold-up

[Scut95]

I did my shorties on my 95. It was a pain to do/fun at the same time (i like turning wrenches). I had to disconnect my steering shaft and remove the metal bar that goes across the k-member. The easiest way to get them out is to slide them out through the bottom. The most difficult part to do is get the headers in place, get the gasket in there and tightening the bolts. The tightening is the definately the hardest because space is ridiculously tight. On the passenger side i found it easier to get at the front bolts from below. The driver side front bolts have the power steering pump interfere but you can still get in there an make it tight, just takes a lot of short turns. I also had to bend my dipstick tube a little bit. These are just some things i ran into, plus some rust but nothing a little penetrating oil couldn't handle. I don't know how much it would cost for a shop to do it but i'm guessing it wouldn't be cheap. Btw, the way to tighten header bolts is to do it initially, warm the engine up/cool down, warm up again then tighten them while hot. They're going to back out and doing this 2 or 3 times should stop that from happening. I would recommend buying the bolts from summit that lock in. They're expensive (like $50) but worth it so you done have a header leak.

[bbunt302]

Back in the day, I paid $100 to have MAC shorties and a ProChamber put on my '91 GT.

[silverstangboy]

WHAAAA???!!!?

you paid for that

[79Ghia50Stang]

hou think installing headers on a stang is hard? try doing it on a camaro that has a freaking 5.7L 350 stuffed nearly into the dash... that is freaking hard... the LS1's are a little easier but the LT1's and 3.8L V6's are a pain... so i am told lol... i wouldnt do the headers swap on my camaro because i would get mad and break something lol... but i would do it on the 79

[Scut95]

I probably wouldn't do it on the F-bodies either, their ridiculously stuffed in there....Foxes have more room in the engine bay than sn95 cars. The 5.0 is really stuffed in the engine bay on the 94-95's atleast with clearance on the sides.

[ridenmystang]

Ok so im installing my mine this week. Its goin to be close to $300 at the shop or my bf and his friend were thinking about doing it. I believe the starter is in the way and will have to be takin off. Any how to do it on here haha

[MonteCitan]

Quote: Originally Posted by ridenmystang Ok so im installing my mine this week. Its goin to be close to $300 at the shop or my bf and his friend were thinking about doing it. I believe the starter is in the way and will have to be takin off. Any how to do it on here haha

done it... didn't have to remove the starter, did have to loosen the drivers side motor mount completely, and loosen the passenger side, and jack the motor up to clear the steering crap

[rydog]

A tip buy some penetrating oil for 5 bucks and put it on all of your header bolts and collector bolts and let them soak for about 24 hours and they will break loose alot easier

[ridenmystang]

Yeah we did that last night. Im just wondering how long it will take for us to do it.

[MonteCitan]

without a lift, figure on 4-5 hours your first time - takes some finessing

[bullitt482]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scut95 I probably wouldn't do it on the F-bodies either, their ridiculously stuffed in there....Foxes have more room in the engine bay than sn95 cars. The 5.0 is really stuffed in the engine bay on the 94-95's atleast with clearance on the sides.

Hell, I wouldn't even change sparkplugs on an F-body......

[79Ghia50Stang]

yea i did that but once you get the back ones the others seem extremely easy to change...

[silverstangboy]

personally on some cars it would be alot easier just to lift the motor, its not like you have to take it all the way out.

this is what the dealerships do with alot of new cars in order to change the plug's ( a good example would be the LT1's everyone meantioned)

[79Ghia50Stang]

and that is why the dealerships and auto shops charge so much to do plug changes on f-bodies... they think that if the shop manual says to lift the engine a little they have to do it or it will not work at all... it is easy to change the first 4 on a v6 and the first 6 on the v8... it is the back two that are the problems but those are easily changed from under the car... but if i had the cash to let a dealer do it i would let them just to avoid the hassle but once you get the hang of everything it does not take over 30 minutes top...

[silverstangboy]

well, it only takes about 15 minutes to lift the motor and do it... (with dealership tools at hand anyways)

[ridenmystang]

It took longer than that to do mine. It was a freakin pain.

[bullitt482]

/\ Really? Changing plugs on a modular motor with COP's is a cakewalk. 20 minutes max without using electric or air tools.

[redmustang95]

On my 95, i did my plugs within 30. And thats removing the egr hoses and the CAI.

[bullitt482]

Quote: Originally Posted by redmustang95 On my 95, i did my plugs within 30. And thats removing the egr hoses and the CAI.

You still have EGR?