I will type this again and hopefully craby will sticky it

Installing Pacesetter long tubes

*** please note, the opinions expressed in this write up are solely those of torque_is_good ( who, has spent decades learning things the hard way),and not the policy of this forum.

if at all possible in your state, get the headers without AIR and EGR as they are much easier to install

things to purchase prior to installation

tie wraps
O2 extensions : www.lsxtune.com has them at affordable prices
Can of liquid wrench or PB Blaster
heat sleeve, approximately 2 feet
new spark plugs
new spark plug wires- jegs 8.5mm yellow wires for about $30 work great
vacuum caps or a golf tee to plug up the egr vacumm until you can get a cap.
Y pipe- preferably an off road Y pipe
if removing the EGR and AIR, a set of block off plates from Ebay or Jegs/summit
most important: a set of Percys Seal-4-Good gaskets ($31 at summit and this is one of those things you learn over decades)

tools other than the usual suspects= a sawz-all and a block of wood

at least one hour before starting, but better the night before, spray the exhaust manifold bolts with PB Blaster or equivalent

jack up car

remove starter

if automatic tranny, remove flywheel cover

remove oil dipstick

disconnect steering linkage and toss away the plastic shield because it isn't going back on

using sawz all, cut off the old y pipe, don't mess with the bolts

remove exhaust manifolds

if you can, remove the AIR and EGR and install EGR block off. Until you can get the EGR tuned out by Solomon www.lt1pcmtuning.com , leave the egr solenoid connected so you don't get an SES light.

remove alternator

remove passenger side valve cover

take approx a 2 foot section of heat sleeve and put onto the ABS line on the front passenger side that runs right to the brake. When you see where the long tube headers run you will be glad you spent the $8 for the sleeve and took the precaution and installed it prior to the headers.

tighten your automatic transmission pan bolts because they came loose (it doesn't hurt to check)

disconnect plug wires from optispark and run new ones being sure to label them

remove the bolt from both sides of the engine mount

It's now time to install the headers and pat yourself on the back for having listened and purchased the Percys gaskets because it stinks doing the job twice or trying to kid yourself that tightening the header bolts will make your exhaust leak go away.


both sides can be installed from up top

the driver side is a piece of cake so hand tighten the screws and then install your spark plugs while the header still wiggles


go under the car, put a block of wood under the oil pan and raise the engine about 2 inches

from up top, feed the passenger side down. If you don't have the egr and AIR it's much easier. Just when you think that it won't go in, shove the engine toward the drivers side and the header will drop right in. Hand tighten the header bolts and install the new spark plugs.

you can now lower the engine but don't put the motor mount bolts in until you are sure you don't need to lift the engine again.

Re-install the oil dipstick and use a few tie wraps to attach your O2 cable to the dipstick

Make note of how close the passenger side header is to the ABS wires and smile because you already installed $8 worth of insurance

Slip on the Y pipe and then go back and tighten the headers

put it all back together but be prepared to have to replace your O2's in about a month because they will become fouled from the goo inside the new headers until it burns off. That will be when you contact Solomon and have him tune your car to delete EGR, tune it for 93 octane, maybe tune out the VATS or anything else and with new O2's, you'll get more power and better mpg.

 

Make sure you get PERCYS GASKETS !

They work great !

Thanks torque_is_good !

 

yea make sure you take the oil dipstick off i broke mine doing my headers! ugh

 

thanks for the post man it really helped alot

 

can this all be done in a drive way and whats the aprox time

 

Yea you can do it in your driveway.

If its your first time doing it, give yourself at least 2 days.

Be sure and take your time. Don't get in a hurry.

Make sure you have someone to help you hold the headers in place while you get a bolt started.

You really don't need any special tools.

Just a jack, some ramps, a nice socket set...and some in wrenches.

Patience helps....haha

 

i do have ramps

after an incident where our trucks tire blew out on a highway and the jack that came with the car was a tiny little sick that wasnt tall enough we vowed to get a better/bigger jack.

i have pleanty of tools and im the most patient of my family so thats not a problem.

thank you i really appreciate this

 

Sure !

Headers aren't that bad so try not to be intimidated. You will do fine.

Maybe you could post some pics of your install !

 

+2 on o2 going out. Its inevitable. Also fel pro gaskets have worked great for me.

 

how are mr gaskets brand? also heat sleeve can I just pick that up from a local shop?