2nd Gen headers

[andy78TA]

Hey everyone,
I ordered a set of headers for my T/A and can't wait for them to come in.. of course they are backordered, but while I wait I am trying to figure out if there are any tricks for installing them.
Some people tell me they are the biggest pain in the a** to install, others say they really aren't that bad. Either way, they are ordered and are going on the car when they come in ha.

A few people have told me it is easier to put them on if I unbolt the engine mounts, others have told me not, so I am curious about this. I have heard from almost everyone that I should soak the old manifold bolts with PB Blaster for at least 3 days before I attempt to take them off and I know I have to jack up the vehicle quite a bit in order to install them but are there any other tricks that anyone can point out? I have the pontiac 400 6.6 litre.

Also when they do come in, would anyone be interested in coming over to help install them? Im sure it will be loads of fun :mrgreen:

[WildBillyT]

Defiently soak the bolts. You have an auto so that may be a plus. Did you get the coated or painted headers?

[andy78TA]

the painted ones I think, the ones without the ceramic coating. I always thought they were better but someone told me on another forum that its better to get the painted ones and coat them yourself with high temp paint or wrap them yourself than buy the ceramic coated ones.

[WildBillyT]

the painted ones I think, the ones without the ceramic coating. I always thought they were better but someone told me on another forum that its better to get the painted ones and coat them yourself with high temp paint or wrap them yourself than buy the ceramic coated ones.

In my opinion you got bad advice. The paint burns off pretty quick, and the ceramic coating keeps underhood temps down. You can wrap the headers but that traps condensation and the headers can rust out faster.

Don't forget a good set of gaskets, too. Typically the ones that come with headers are pretty cheap and don't seal so well.

[BonzoHansen]

alternative thinking is you get regular ones, install them, see if they fit, need dimpling, etc., then get them coated.

but that advice was bad, lol.

[andy78TA]

Yeah Im not really sure, I always thought it was better to get the ceramic ones but I got a lot of people saying that the ceramic cracks. I just ordered cheaper ones for now (hedmans) thinking I could upgrade later but since they are backordered I might be able to change it. I'll have to look up the price difference and see if its worth it... It might be around the same price since I would have to buy the wrap anyway...

[andy78TA]

The ceramic coated ones are more than 2X the price of the painted ones so I might have to still with the painted ones... Is there any place around here that will ceramic coat them?

[WildBillyT]

The ceramic coated ones are more than 2X the price of the painted ones so I might have to still with the painted ones... Is there any place around here that will ceramic coat them?

Jet-Hot will but they are not cheap.

Supposedly Summit's house brand headers are pretty good and are reasonably priced with ceramic coating.

[andy78TA]

Unfortunately summit does not make a set that will fit my car... the cheapest ceramic coated ones I could find are ones called patriot exhaust headers at $370, at that price I would probably pay the extra $30 for hedmans though as I have heard of them and I haven't really heard of patriot...

[BigAls87Z28]

Actually...not totaly bad advice.
I have ceramic coated hooker LT's, coated from Hooker, and that was trash within a year of owning it.
I heat cycled it and everything. My 87's shorties were coated by a 3rd party, and they are in great shape.
Get the coated...or buy them from Jet Hot or something.

[JL8Jeff]

There's a place in Bordentown or Burlington that does coating but it will probably cost the same as buying coated headers. At least with the painted headers you can test fit them first unless of course your car is your daily driver and you can't afford the down time. Jet-Hot does sell a lot of headers already coated as well so you can check their website. The painted headers will rust but it's not like they will fall apart real fast so you might be fine running them if funds are tight.

[WildBillyT]

Have you looked into used headers? If you get a set of old rusty ones in decent shape you can send them off to get coated and maybe save a few dollars.

[Pampered-Z]

Agreed ceramic is probably the best, but it doesn't always last, I was super careful not to scratch my coating and it still rusted around the welds within a year.

On my third gen I had painted headers ( some flat black coating ) and the look like crap after a few weeks. I pulled them off and painted them with Eastwood exhaust paint and it held up nicely.

On my 4th gen I have jethot coating and it started to rust around the welds at the collectors in a year. I repainted then with the product below and it is still in good shape.

http://www.eastwood.com/silver-high-temp-coating-kit.html

This does nothing to protect the header, Jethot coats inside and out so the headers last, the paint only makes them look pretty.

[deadtrend1]

I've had the Jet-hot coating on two sets of headers for a few years with no issues. I've had the pace setter coats urn to hell in less then a year.

So I would get uncoated and send directly to jet-hot. That way you get their lifetime garuntee. Or, see on their websit if you can order them directly through them. www.jet-hot.com (http://www.jet-hot.com).

oh, and the sterling 1300 finish is the best bang for your buck there.

[usp55]

I slapped a set of headers on my 71 firebird no prob, ofcourse there was nothing but an engine on the frame.:mrgreen: I went with summit brand headers ($100) good for now just to get it up and running but will be looking for a set of coated tubes later. have heard very good things about eastwood header paints when applied right.

on another note i have had coated pacesetters on my camaro for over two years now and the headers themselves look ok but the ypipe has lost its coat and is rusting.

Where r you located?

[JL8Jeff]

Johnson's Powder Coating in Burlington does a nice header coating.

www.johnsonspowdercoating.com

I think somebody on here had their headers done there.

-

[BonzoHansen]

I wonder if they can do whole cars. That is what a lot of the high end builders do now, the primer is powdercoat. The whole shell gets done.

[Tru2Chevy]

I've had the Jet-hot coating on two sets of headers for a few years with no issues. I've had the pace setter coats urn to hell in less then a year.

So I would get uncoated and send directly to jet-hot. That way you get their lifetime guarantee. Or, see on their website if you can order them directly through them. www.jet-hot.com (http://www.jet-hot.com).

oh, and the sterling 1300 finish is the best bang for your buck there.

This is the key - you'll pay more upfront, but the coating is guaranteed for life.

- Justin

[andy78TA]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I sent jet hot an email to get a quote so we will see how bad it will be. My T/A is not my daily driver and it is in my garage now waiting for me to come home for xmas break to start ripping it apart so as long as my headers are in by than Ill be ok. I think I am going to stay with the painted though as I can always run them as they are for now and if they start to really look bad I can take them off and send them to Jet Hot, or just buy a ceramic coated set.

As for used headers I look on ebay all the time but apparently headers that will fit a pontiac 400 are not the most common. If I had a chevy engine I would have a lot to choose from but no such luck it seems...

Thanks

edit- I am in central Jersey, Somerville Area

[unstable bob gable]

I'd be mo' than happy to help out w/ yer install. I put a couple of sets of headers on my 79 T/A back in da day, and it was not a bad job. But then again, I have a few tricks I do w/ headers to ease installation that might not be be up yer alley! lol

[andy78TA]

Bob,
Thanks for the support, I am sure I will be wanting some people there. I started to take my car apart today and I am really hoping that I will be able to get these off. I looked at the heads and it looks like the bolts are rusted pretty good and the drivers side head looks a little rusty too... This should be an interesting experience

[WildBillyT]

Bob,
Thanks for the support, I am sure I will be wanting some people there. I started to take my car apart today and I am really hoping that I will be able to get these off. I looked at the heads and it looks like the bolts are rusted pretty good and the drivers side head looks a little rusty too... This should be an interesting experience

Drip some Kroil or PB blaster on the manifold bolts for a few days first. Don't bother with WD-40. Should help your cause.

[andy78TA]

Yeah I just bought the massive container of PB blaster the other day. I plan on hitting the bolts with it for at least 3 or 4 days before I even attempt to take them off. I'll post up pictures of everything as I do it so everyone can laugh at me ha:mrgreen:

[andy78TA]

Jet Hot got back to me today, almost $400 with shipping to coat a new set of headers so it definately would be worth just buying a new set of ceramic coated if the painted steel are bothering me hah

[WildBillyT]

Jet Hot got back to me today, almost $400 with shipping to coat a new set of headers so it definately would be worth just buying a new set of ceramic coated if the painted steel are bothering me hah

Yeah, they quoted me $385 so I passed.

[andy78TA]

I knew it was going to be expensive, but that seemed a little crazy to me

[Tru2Chevy]

If it's a set you plan on keeping for a long time, I would do it. Like was said before - lifetime warranty. If they ever show rust, just ship them back and they'll be re-coated for free.

Helps looks, helps performance.

- Justin

[PolarBear]

I went to Airorne in Connecticut and they were a lot less than Jet hot. I think I paid under $300 with the shipping. I dont know why everyone thinks "Jet hot" first
http://www.airborncoatings.com/pricelis.html

[PolarBear]

Actually I sent the headers back again later becuase I screwed up the coating and they blasted them first and redid them for the same price.

[andy78TA]

So I started working on taking the headers out and of course with my luck I snapped a header bolt on the passenger side. Who wants to help me pull the head as I have no idea what I am doing? haha...


also does anyone know the best way to get to the center bolts on the passenger and drivers side? I have no idea how to get to these as the A arms are in the way. Any insight would be appreciated. thanks.

[B4C]

I dont think you need to pull the head. You can probably get the bolt out once the header is off, just get a pair of vise gripe on there and turn and pb blast the crap out of it before hand.

[benblitz]

I managed to put a set of full length coated Hooker Super Comp Headers (1 7/8 primary, I think) on my 79 Z28 with only having to pull the 2 motor mount bolts out and jacking up the engine slightly. I did scratch them a bit because it is a TIGHT Squeeze doing it this way, especially if you have AC. They did start to rust around the welds a little bit over time but dont look to bad.

Another point, my friend had a stock 79 WS6 Trans Am. Those cars, with that suspension package, seem to sit a little lower then most other 2nd Gen cars. When he put headers on it, once in a while the headers would bottom out on the ground. Some full length headers sit below the engine frame girdle and are easily dented on the ground, when going over bumps or hard braking. I would stick with the cheap headers first and see if you run into problems.

[Tokyo Torquer]

lifting the engine off the monts makes it easier but not always necessary. they go in easiest from the bottom on most 2nd gens. you have to jack the front of the car way way up. large tube headers may require you to unbolt the starter.

mike