How hard is it to swap headers? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

burtial · 03-23-2011, 08:32 PM

I have tools, and am mechaniclly inclined....how long does it take on average to do a header swap?

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 08:40 PM

By yourself, on jacks and jackstands, about 6-8 hours.

It's not hard. I did it myself. It's just a pain to get to the exhaust manifold bolts to get them off and then to bolt up the new headers. Mainly the passenger side. I would definitely recommend an extra pair of hands.

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 08:44 PM

Oh, is it long tubes or shorties? Reason I ask is because you have to weld on shorties. Long tubes are direct bolt on though

burtial · 03-23-2011, 08:44 PM

They are BBK longtubes. Do you have any tips or tricks you learned from your install?

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 08:51 PM

I can't think of any tips off the top of my head. It was pretty straight forward. The rear O2 sensors can be a pain to get off.

Make sure you unhook the battery, but don't close the trunk

Fishdadddy · 03-23-2011, 08:54 PM

You have to weld on shorties???

I don't think so.

burtial · 03-23-2011, 08:54 PM

Why do you need to unhook the batt?

ToolFan66 · 03-23-2011, 08:58 PM

I think he met if your going to weld the shorties while on the car unhook the battery..

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishdadddy

You have to weld on shorties???

I don't think so.

Maybe you should look at what section you are in...

For the v6, you do

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burtial

Why do you need to unhook the batt?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToolFan66

I think he met if your going to weld the shorties while on the car unhook the battery..

No, I would alway unhook the battery whenever working in the engine bay. After I drove my car a few hundred miles, I decided to retighten the bolts again and didn't unhook the battery, and I saw sparks and heard a snap. Thought I might have shorted something. And was lucky I didn't electrocute myself. There are places in the engine bay where you could really get hurt.

ToolFan66 · 03-23-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorMansCamaro

No, I would alway unhook the battery whenever working in the engine bay. After I drove my car a few hundred miles, I decided to retighten the bolts again and didn't unhook the battery, and I saw sparks and heard a snap. Thought I might have shorted something. And was lucky I didn't electrocute myself. There are places in the engine bay where you could really get hurt.

Ahhhh I will keep note of that

... still a good idea to unhook the battery if your going to weld on the car..

bmorecam · 03-23-2011, 09:12 PM

I just finished mine today after 2 days of install totalling about 8 hrs. For me the O2 came easy with no stripped thread on cold, I dont understand the struggle others had with theirs but I guess I was just lucky. The one thing that I will tell you is to make sure that you have the proper tools ready. As long as you can get to some of those tightly located bolts than you wont have any problems installing headers. Our v6 has total of 7 bolts on each header top and bottom making it more difficult to get to, a friend of mine has the v8 and his has 6 all in the middle making it easier to reach. Oh and get ready to get bloody and hurt couple bones.

burtial · 03-23-2011, 09:30 PM

Sounds good guys! I am excited. I think I will do the headers one time, then install the catback another though just to break things up a bit.

PoorMansCamaro · 03-23-2011, 09:53 PM

Good idea. What catback did u get?

03-23-2011, 08:32 PM	#1
burtial Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 96	How hard is it to swap headers? I have tools, and am mechaniclly inclined....how long does it take on average to do a header swap?

03-23-2011, 08:40 PM	#2
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 56,957	By yourself, on jacks and jackstands, about 6-8 hours. It's not hard. I did it myself. It's just a pain to get to the exhaust manifold bolts to get them off and then to bolt up the new headers. Mainly the passenger side. I would definitely recommend an extra pair of hands. __________________

03-23-2011, 08:44 PM	#3
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 56,957	Oh, is it long tubes or shorties? Reason I ask is because you have to weld on shorties. Long tubes are direct bolt on though __________________

03-23-2011, 08:51 PM	#5
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 56,957	I can't think of any tips off the top of my head. It was pretty straight forward. The rear O2 sensors can be a pain to get off. Make sure you unhook the battery, but don't close the trunk __________________

03-23-2011, 09:53 PM	#14
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 56,957	Good idea. What catback did u get? __________________

03-23-2011, 08:54 PM	#6
Fishdadddy Drives: 2010 2SS/RS ; 1970 Firebird Formula Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: West Palm Beach Posts: 1,252 View My Garage	You have to weld on shorties??? I don't think so.

03-23-2011, 08:58 PM	#8
ToolFan66 Drives: 2011 2SS 6.2L W/RS package Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,008	I think he met if your going to weld the shorties while on the car unhook the battery..

03-23-2011, 09:12 PM	#12
bmorecam Account Suspended Drives: jealous vendors mad!! HAHA!! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CYBERGMONSTER@GMAIL.COM Posts: 3,658 View My Garage	I just finished mine today after 2 days of install totalling about 8 hrs. For me the O2 came easy with no stripped thread on cold, I dont understand the struggle others had with theirs but I guess I was just lucky. The one thing that I will tell you is to make sure that you have the proper tools ready. As long as you can get to some of those tightly located bolts than you wont have any problems installing headers. Our v6 has total of 7 bolts on each header top and bottom making it more difficult to get to, a friend of mine has the v8 and his has 6 all in the middle making it easier to reach. Oh and get ready to get bloody and hurt couple bones.

03-23-2011, 09:30 PM	#13
burtial Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 96	Sounds good guys! I am excited. I think I will do the headers one time, then install the catback another though just to break things up a bit.

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