Header install update

[JL8Jeff]

I finally got around to trying to intstall the passenger side header today(Pacesetter longtubes on a 96 SS). Well, I do not recommend doing this yourself in a garage. Especially if the car is a 96-97 with an automatic and you're installing emissions legal Pacesetter headers. I don't even think having a lift would have helped much. I had the car jacked up at least 3' and there was no way that header was going in place. I unbolted the motor mount completely(figures, I just swapped that out on Thursday) and I finally had to hacksaw off the ear of the automatic transmission bellhousing area to get the header to clear. The AIR and EGR tubes cause problems and you have to jack the engine up too! The coating took a beating but the header is now up in place, but still not bolted up yet because the EGR tube is too close to the transmission dipstick tube so I have to reroute the EGR pipe. 5 hours worth of work on it today and it's still not bolted up yet. The 94-95 emissions headers might be a little easier because the AIR tube isn't as long. The non emissions headers would probably go in pretty easy but is still looks like you might have to jack the engine up.

[foff667]

wow, remind me not to buy an lt1 car again :lol: LS1+pacesetter non emissions headers FTW

[BigAls87Z28]

*glances over at 72's engine bay*

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaats gotta suck.

[NJSPEEDER]

hehe, 2nd gen engine bays are easy to work in. :)
it already passed inspection, time for the !emissions and you life will be much easier.

[jims69camaro]

*glances over at 72's engine bay*

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaats gotta suck.

not to rub it in, or nothing, but i could put you, your '72 and a small pack of wolves in my engine bay and STILL have room to work. how it went from my engine bay to the sardine can of the fourth-gen-LS1, i'll never understand. life was so much more simple with a cavernous engine bay. i guess it's all part of the conspiracy of the Manufacturers not wanting us to work on our cars anymore. why else would they install a computer that rejects things like headers, clear-open intake tract and a cam change? ****, the engine should be grateful that we care enough to make it run its very best as opposed to the slobs that don't even change their oil...

[Savage_Messiah]

I have plenty of space in my engine bay ;)

[JL8Jeff]

Actually, the Hooker headers on my old 68 with the LT1 was real close on the passenger side due to the AC stuff. AC sucks. It was almost impossible to get that end header bolt in on that car.

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, I look foward to trying to fab up something to bolt up the AC compressor after I install the headers. I belive Hooker makes brakets and what not.

[Savage_Messiah]

AC? you don't need that crap!!!

[BigAls87Z28]

Being a rare option, I kinda wana keep it. I dont have the luxury of Ttops like I had with the 87. Its already been retrofited for R134a for me too...and I just so happen to have a few cans I "bought" when I worked at Strauss.

[Savage_Messiah]

and by bought you mean employee pocket discount? lol

[Brando56894]

not to rub it in, or nothing, but i could put you, your '72 and a small pack of wolves in my engine bay and STILL have room to work. how it went from my engine bay to the sardine can of the fourth-gen-LS1, i'll never understand.

thats what my dad says about my car compared to his 68 bricklin, hes like that thing is empty compared to you car


i guess it's all part of the conspiracy of the Manufacturers not wanting us to work on our cars anymore.

same thing my dad thinks, he like why else would the put your engine halfway under your dash so that you cant work on it, you have to bring it to the dealer for everything.

[ar0ck]

Like my ex-gf's dad used to say "The day the muscle car died was the day you couldn't see your feet standing over the engine."

[BigAls87Z28]

They did it for crash test reasons, and weight balance as well as give the car a more aerodynamic shape.

[turbo96z28]

They did it for crash test reasons, and weight balance as well as give the car a more aerodynamic shape.


and now look at where we'll be in 09.......i can only hope they made the engine bay retro!

[BigAls87Z28]

Dont have to go retro. GTO is more modern then the Fbodies, and the engine is out in the open.

[IROCZBeast]

I think I'm just going to go with the non-emission headers... lol