This is not a DIY but just an overview of what happenned during my installation.
Last year I did an DIY on my Stillen header+HFC and everything went relatively ok with some medium problems for a first timer and took about 12 hours
This time I was positive that I would cut the time by atleast 4hours.
Which would have happenned if I didnt had all those problems and being the first to talk and be a guinea pig. as every other peoples droped their engine to do the installation ...
let me start with day #1 !
******* ******** !!!
I had some hard time cracking the torque on the nuts that I stripped one (headers bolt) on the passenger side.
So I tried a few things but it was a complete fail !
I had to reinstall the 5 other nuts because something big was planned over the weekend and didnt had time to deal with the rounded nut.
as of now , the car has been sitting on jack stand since last sunday around 12:30pm
im around 24 hours of work !!! what a freaking bitch ,, I ran into problems after problems.
First the damn rounded nut which costed by itself
more than half of the time ,
and then a few hours on the lower steering U-join
then trying to install the driver side header , I had to get rib of the OEM transmission Oil clutch line bracket that my automatic does not use and a few stud to allow the header to be installed
then figuring how to install the passenger side header. which a few studs HAS TO BE SHORTER and 2 NEED to be there during the installation because you wont be able to install it after ! I was lucky on that part
my headers are now fully installed without the 4 sensor I have to extend 2x o2 sensor. which will be done this morning.
my X-Pipe doesnt have any flex pipe , if one side is properly aligned with the header the other one is off by about 3/4 .. I had to pry it quite hard to make it fit , I need another appointment for my exhaust to add the flexible joint + a bung for my AFR sensor.
a MUST have tool would be a S Shaped wrench !!
once the driver header is in , every nut are quite easy to screw back on with either a ratchet wrench or just a 3/8 socket with ratchet.
what I tried on the rounded nut.
- JB-weld
- Red Loctite
- hand saw blade (didnt work well ! not enough space)
- extractor socket (not enough space)
- small long nose vise-grip (not much movement possible)
- a dremel
- dremel with the flexible extension (worked)
Difficulty =
9.5 / 10
if you have a Manual transmission you will have some problem with the bracket for your clutch oil line . and I assume you wont be able to slide in the driver side header. which probably mean you gonna have to drop the engine !
here the fun begin ! a quick view where the rounded nut is located !
here the fun begin ! a quick view where the rounded nut is located !
here the fun begin ! a quick view where the rounded nut is located !
