Header help

[grnphnx96]

OK Got a problem here. I'm new to the Trans Am cars. Just bought it about a month ago. The guy who sold it to me sold me Pacesetter Longtubes as well. I'm not sure how exactly to put them on but I do know that the mechanic wants about $600 to put them on. So I figured if there is a pretty easy way to do it myself I would much rather do that and gain the experience. Any help would be appreciated.

[z28 justin]

No easy way to do headers on our cars, lt1's and ls1's are just too tight in there. I've not done it myself yet, but have done plenty of research to see what I'm getting into. From what I've heard it's about a 20 hour job first time. You gotta really take your time, and the night before you start, spray the header bolts down really well with some anti-rust spray. It can be done, but it's a giant pain in the ass.

[j0n]

Originally Posted by z28 justin

No easy way to do headers on our cars, lt1's and ls1's are just too tight in there. I've not done it myself yet, but have done plenty of research to see what I'm getting into. From what I've heard it's about a 20 hour job first time. You gotta really take your time, and the night before you start, spray the header bolts down really well with some anti-rust spray. It can be done, but it's a giant pain in the ass.

the two big problems with doing the headers are a)removing the stock crap(i ended up sawzalling my y-pipe off) and b)getting hte car high enough to slide the headers in.

If you have access to a lift than "b" isnt an issue, but even if you dont it's possible to get em in there with some good jackstands and a good jack.

pick up a couple 2x8s and a few cans of pb blaster before the install. cut the 2x8s a couple inches longer than your jack. Before jacking the car jack up the rear dif and stack a few 2x8s underneath the rear tires to give the rear bumper cover more travel. When jacking up the car to install the long tubes put the jack underneath the k-member until it's at the top of it's travel. Then put your jackstands underneath the "frame rails" just underneath the front of the "Trans Am" logo on your door, like this:



then stack a couple 2x8s underneath your jack and jack the k-member up some more. Then, stack some mroe 2x8s under your jackstands. This should give ample room to install the longtubes. Good luck with em!

[2loco]

They go in from underneith we just put some on a 97 Z28 2 weeks ago, its a tight fit and u will struggle with it wait till winter to install them so if you cant get it you have a few months to work with it, the drivers side is a bitch.

[grnphnx96]

Originally Posted by 2loco

They go in from underneith we just put some on a 97 Z28 2 weeks ago, its a tight fit and u will struggle with it wait till winter to install them so if you cant get it you have a few months to work with it, the drivers side is a bitch.

I've been reading up on the whole procedure and thats what my thought was as well. I figure I can have my 3.73 gears and that will prob. be the last mod of the warmer weather.

[8URPONY]

I've done 3 sets to date. Depending which one you have (LT1/LS1) will determine how much time a difficulty you will experience. I think the hardest part of doing the whole install was removing all the old parts. From there the next hardest part is getting the back two bolts in the passenger side header. Theres just no room to get in there. You have to use like three feet of extensions. You get those back bolts in from there its a breeze. I think the driver side took less then an hour from start to finish. Maybe three hours to do the passenger side. Good luck and enjoy the experience.