Header install.

noclutch

noclutch

Well-Known Member
#1
#1
Started the header and X pipe install.
Car was on the jack stands for a while soaking the nuts and bolts for the disassembly most of which went fine (so far). Starting on the passenger side I pulled the battery and the battery box first then I loosened the clamps for the axle pipes and slid them back and then pulled the o2 sensors that I could reach. The H pipe came out next, 3 nuts for the flange came out easy but one was spun on and stripped. I had to be creative to get pressure on the nut and get it going over the threads still there. Next came out the starter. I then loosened the nuts on the manifold studs and removed all but two. I removed the engine mount nut on the passenger side and loosened the driver’s side until one thread still held it.
I jacked up the engine to give myself some room and removed the engine mount plate to get to that last manifold nut. Next I slid out the stock manifold and slid in the header. Lining up with the studs I started installing the nuts. I then reinstalled the engine mount plate and tighten up the nuts on the header. I reinstalled the starter and inspected the work and once everything looked ok I lowered the engine.
Personal note: I started the job at noon and by 3:30 I had to drop what I was doing and go get my daughter from work, she got sick. Then I had to stop and make dinner for my wife was at work…hotdogs and mac & cheese and got back to working on the car then the Sabres game was coming on so I had to quit.

I took some pictures and will post some after I am done.

Tomorrow I start on the driver’s side and hope to get it all finished.:D
 
jared88

jared88

Moderator / Member Plus
#2
#2
Its a lot of fun doing this install. I installed JBA Lt's and H-pipe on my 07. What kind of headers did you get? I believe the drivers side was easier but you have to unhook your steering column. good luck getting it finished up.
 
W

Wicked One

Super Moderator / Member Plus / Formally Wicked Xt
Staff member
NYM Staff
#5
#5
Oh yeah!! Headers on the 3valve are no fun. But I still cannot see how a shop can charge $500 to install.


Wait till you have to put the starter bolt back in:D. Tip: extension and go at it from the front.
 
jared88

jared88

Moderator / Member Plus
#6
#6
noclutch said:
Started the header and X pipe install.

I reinstalled the starter and inspected the work and once everything looked ok I lowered the engine. He already put in the starter :smash:
then the Sabres game was coming on so I had to quit.
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I hope you didnt quit for todays game. :(

Wicked Xtreme said:
Wait till you have to put the starter bolt back in:D. Tip: extension and go at it from the front.
Click to expand...
He already put in the starter :smash:
 
noclutch

noclutch

Well-Known Member
#7
#7
jared88 said:
Its a lot of fun doing this install. I installed JBA Lt's and H-pipe on my 07. What kind of headers did you get? I believe the drivers side was easier but you have to unhook your steering column. good luck getting it finished up.
Click to expand...
I got the 3/4 headers, Pypes stainless but not painless. I needed some luck. Almost done.

TBapp3 said:
Pics???? Sounds like some fun....I was thinking on doing some in my 2v also!
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Not fun but a learning experience.:awesomework: Headers were always easy but that was when there was not so many connections and I had a lot of room. I hope you have an easier go at it.

Wicked Xtreme said:
Oh yeah!! Headers on the 3valve are no fun. But I still cannot see how a shop can charge $500 to install.


Wait till you have to put the starter bolt back in:D. Tip: extension and go at it from the front.
Click to expand...
I have the cash for the install but I wanted to do this like I did the cams and the rest of the work only exception was the gears, time was against me and had someone do them for me. Yeah I know what you meant, that starter turned my hands into hamburger.:mad:

Drivers side:
Loosened nut on motor mount and removed it. I then locked the steering wheel when both of the bolts lined up for ease of access. I clock mark both ends and unbolted and removed it. I next jacked up the engine and removed the engine mount plate. Next came the nuts and studs. I was planning on reusing all but one of the studs as one would not fit behind the tube and tried to carefully removed them. One stud would not come out and I almost had to cut it down as it was the very one that was going to be in the way but I let it soak then I took a break and came back to it later and it came out. I then pulled the dipstick chute. After that I lined up the header and installed the nuts and tightened them down, I reinstalled the steering shaft (that was a bitch) and then installed the dipstick chute. I had an easy go at the engine mount plate and then lowered the engine and tightened down the mount bolts on both sides. I lined up all the X pipe parts and tied them into the axle pipes. After I torqued them nice and tight I put the anti-seize on the o2 sensors and installed them. I had to rework the harness wires to get them to reach the drivers back sensor. The passenger sensor needed an extension and it came in the box with the headers. Called it quits for the day. I needed but could not find my zipties or my electric tape to finish under the car. All I have left is the ziptie, tape and drop the car.
Job took longer than I wanted to take on it but being on vacation for a week let me take as long as I needed. I will post more pictures and the audio/vid tomorrow. When it is finished. Thinking of doing a full write up for the how to section.
 
noclutch

noclutch

Well-Known Member
#8
#8
Finished install. Runs like a beast and raspy as I thought it would be. First time driving it in 5 months, felt good.

Stock:


Headers and Xpipe:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faYn36-LjN0"]YouTube - 3v Mustang Engine Setup exhaust sound[/ame]
 
BKD

BKD

Well-Known Member
#12
#12
i just did long tubes in mine...pita prob even more of a pain on the newer stangs ..i would think.....but sounds good man congrats on your own install....always feels good .:awesomework:
 
noclutch

noclutch

Well-Known Member
#13
#13
2007VistaBlueGT said:
The scars are part of the battle. :D

ARH Header Install
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From that write up: This install should not be done by anybody without or with extreme basic tech skills.

Uh, what? Ok, I have mad basic tech skills.....I think.LOL I have done headers on other cars I had in the past, there is no substitute for experience and a good set of tools and someone to encourage you. Websites like these are full of great peope and their examples of encouragement and advice and offering a hand.

I like to take the idiot out of the equation but since I have a 16 year old son who needs the basic tech skills and the colorful language skills the bloody knuckles and a sore back bring, I stepped up. I had to do it to prove to him that if you gather enough information and take your time a man can do for himself that which he desires.

My hands took a bit of a beating but it was worth the experience, I hope to show some gain at the track with this addition but there is no evidence that it will. I will take the car to the tack to test it and will be using the same weight and tires I hope to see a 12.8 before pulling weight and the swaybar.

Unrealford said:
Nice, Alot of work, but I guess its worth it, Shops charge a arm and a leg..
So mods are :
C&L CAI Street,
Brenspeed 93 tune,
UDPs,
CMDP,
LCA,
Comp Cams.
Gears 4.10s
Headers.
Anything else im missing?
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X pipe and bringing to the track a set of DR's just for you.:evil:

I know the stock TC will be limiting the the DRs but that will have to wait for another time. I will be getting a 3800 when the cash is available.

These cars a blast to work on and my son is starting to see the light but the damn kid likes camaros (transformers movie ruined him) but i can't blame him, I started out with a 1st gen camaro myself in 82'. :D
 
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