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Need Advice On Installing Headers

Old Sep 28, 2005 | 12:59 AM
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Default Need Advice On Installing Headers

ya i have a 2001 chevy silverado v8 5.3, i just bought some edelbrok shorties and i wanted to know if you all had any suggestions for installing em? cuz the local shops want to charge me 200 bucks to install em and **** that, thats too damn much, and i was looking at em and it just looks like a bolt on so it doesnt look hard, just put on the gaskets and bolt em on, anything that i should look out for or anything im over looking or something i definately should NOT do, just let me know, thx
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 02:10 AM
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u shuold NOT install them. as 99 of 100 ppl on here will tell you that shorty headers do not have much, if any increase on performance.

ur best bet is to lift the truck a little bit and install them from the bottom however.
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 02:22 AM
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They are not as bad as you think and they are a step above stock so rock on. Just watch out for rounded off bolt heads and **** like that. Ive had that happen a couple times.
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 08:25 AM
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shorties are gunna be cake to install from the top or bottom. just take the manifolds off, put the headers on. definately do not pay someone to do this
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 08:37 AM
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unbolt stockers from block...use swively wrench for the bolts against the firewall, unbolt bottom, you will need like a 20" extension and breaker bar, one of the bolts is unreachable because of the O2 sensor. i cut that one off, i guess you can try to unscrew teh O2 sensor to get to that bolt. unbolt bottom end of steering shaft and push upward into the cab, but make sure the steering wheel is locked in place or else you **** up airbags and steering wheel controls. pull the stockers out now, try to pull that metal ring out of the donut gasket...i couldnt do it, so i bought a new gasket, hook up the new headers with gaskets and make sure the bigger washers are on the two cylinders on each end of the block and make sure the lock washers are worked out and maybe use antiseize and make sure gaskets are seated correctly and now youre done.
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 12:30 PM
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Start your truck and run around town for about an hour, till they get pretty freakin hot. Park the truck and quickly take the bolts off, this should be no problem....

J/K bro definatly do them yourself, they are not hard at all. You have aluminium heads so bolts getting stuck should not be a problem. All I can say is spray some lube one the bolts to loosen them up a little. Also take your time when installing them, especially the rear bolts next to the Dryer for the A/C... Do not strip the threads on the head, take your time a be patient. All the other bolts are usually easy, but the ones in the rear are some times a bitch. If you could install the bolts in the rear first and then go to the ones in front of the engine. other than that that is all there is to it. Oh and make sure to tighten the bolts a little when you go through the first heat cycle, and check them every know and then.

Do it yourself, and buy yourself some 12packs after wards with those 200 dollars.
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 03:05 PM
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thx fellas, sounds good, and ya that 12 pack is gunna be good afterwards
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 03:16 PM
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i had some edelbrock shorties. i wasted time and took out the inner fenderwells. on the shorties you can just unbolt the manifolds. i used a ratchet wrench for them cause it was easy to get in there. pull out the manifolds and drop the headers in. its easy.
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 05:55 PM
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take your time, and be patient with the bolts on the y-pipe. soak the bolts with some pblaster or equivelant on them for a few days before
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