Damn 2 cases, holy crap!! I can do the block and both heads with a can... Get majority off with a razor blade then spray it with non chlorinated brake cleaner and it will literally wipe off with a rag.... Although i typically use a small wire brush, looks like a toothbrush. I usually seat the balancer with the installer and then impact the bolt on and call it good...

 

Anyone with tsp headers, did the headers come with hardware? Like new header bolts? I'm worried a few of my bolts are broken or will break when I take them off. I'm gonna soak them overnight with pblaster but I still don't trust it..

 

Most headers dont typically come with bolts and if they do you probably dont wanna use them anyway!!! As far as taking the old manifold bolts out, take your time and break them loose by hand a few threads, preferably while theyre still warm and you should be fine, the older style 10mm headed bolts were infamous for breaking on their own... When i pulled the 5.3 out of my 99 i had maybe 5-6 bolts left between both banks!!!

 

last stupid question guys, i promise lol! (crossed fingers)

Should I leave my current oil in the pan while im doing the swap, run it a bit after its buttoned up and then do the oil change? just so i dont dirty up new oil with the grease and whatever else? I am on a fairly new oil change, aprox. 1000 miles, so it shouldnt be too bad.

 

Should be fine just dont drop anything in the pan and put a rag in the gap between the block and pan to catch any crap.... But i personally wouldnt drive with the old oil in very long just in event you did accidentally drop something....ifyou get any coolant dripping into the pan change it!!! Speaking of which i need to change mine....

 

ya i was just going to get it to operating temp, not drive it at all.. already have a case of oil and a filter waiting i just didnt want to get it all the grease that is applied on the cam in my brand new oil.

 

The assembly lube will be fine, wouldnt use grease to install anything....hell you could really coat everything in oil considering you arent planning on letting it sit for a while before cranking it up the first time....

 

haha yes i mean assembly lube... i will just use assemble lube and fill with the oil i bought for it.. might just make sure i get to doing that first oil change a little sooner for peace of mind..

Oh, I drive a **** ton of gravel, do you have any experience with electric cutouts that will hold up to the abuse of little rocks being chucked at it? lol maybe i will try and make a little shield for the electric motor.. I have installed a bunch of QTP cutouts on some of the old muscle cars we get in but they obviously do not drive on gravel.

 

Never personally used a cutout....

 

Love my summit brand cut out