Header install - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Stormcloak · 01-30-2018, 11:26 PM

I know, search is my friend and all...

I bought some SW headers for my car a few months ago, and will be installing them soon (ie, whenever the stupidly cold weather lets up).

Aside from the O2 extenders that the headers / cats came with, I'm looking at new GM gaskets, (#12617944), and some plug wire boots for insurance.

Am I missing anything for the install? A tune will be scheduled shortly after I get this job done, so the fewer surprises, the better

TIA

rebelyell22 · 01-31-2018, 01:32 AM

I didn’t need wires on mine. The factory ones had tons of clearance. An o2 sensor socket might help. Mine on one of the factory manifolds was on TIGHT. I ended up just buying a new sensor. GM gaskets are a must

Olddudesrule · 01-31-2018, 09:04 AM

How many miles on the car now? Sounds like you have everything covered. I reused my OEM exhaust gaskets, but only had 14K miles when I did the install. There are many small, but good suggestions on the diy threads reference header install, though it is a really simple job. Good luck!

Matt8892(2) · 01-31-2018, 09:13 AM

Make sure you take the plugs out. So you don’t crack one. May just be worth it to throw new plugs on anyways since you’re already there. I went with the Taylor 10.4 wires as well. My stock wires touched my tsp headers and were getting damaged. Taylor wires didn’t touch and are much more heavily insulated.

Also spray down all the bolts the night before and the o2 plugs with penetrating oil.

PalmerGA · 01-31-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormcloak

Aside from the O2 extenders that the headers / cats came with, I'm looking at new GM gaskets, (#12617944), and some plug wire boots for insurance.

That should do it. I ran mine w/o plug wire boots for a while, with no problems, then decided to get some (just for insurance). I also reused my factory gaskets with no problems. Installed mine and the SCT tune about 8K miles ago and is absolutely worth it... especially for a automatic - tuned out the AFM and got a more aggressive shift point.

Good luck! TAKE YOUR TIME with the install. There are no shortcuts!

Stormcloak · 01-31-2018, 03:24 PM

thanks fellas.

Smokin19 · 02-01-2018, 06:00 AM

All good advice.

Matty Ice · 02-01-2018, 08:01 AM

Buy a couple of studs to help guide and hold the header in place on the head, especially if doing it alone.
I put a little anti-seize on the spark plugs when reinstalling.

Gasoholic · 02-01-2018, 09:34 AM

One thing you might look into is picking up some Stainless ARP header bolts. Not sure what the quality of the SW bolts are but most of the headers I've installed the bolts that came with them rusted pretty quickly. Then you got nice shiny headers with rusty bolts. Yuck.
I sort of like the OE aluminum boot insulators. I polished mine with steel wool and they look pretty nice. Not expensive and do the job.
Theres some pretty nice Ceramic ones I've seen. I think I priced them and they were around $250.00.

WoodBoss · 02-01-2018, 10:04 AM

You can get nice plug wire boots on ebay for $10, no need to spend $70 or $80 on them, they have worked great. I put them on at the header install. No problems after almost a year.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-1200-S...item2a7b88bcc4

NC_SS · 02-01-2018, 03:54 PM

I got PCM of NC wires, they're tough and made to run without boots on headers for our cars

A year plus later and no signs of wear

LCPLPunk · 02-03-2018, 07:09 PM

I second the cheap wire sleeves, I got mine for like $15 on Amazon....

Indydriver · 02-04-2018, 04:03 AM

My pro installer always uses bolt locks.

ss_redrum · 02-05-2018, 10:05 AM

I did a write up on the install.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516684

01-31-2018, 01:32 AM	#2
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	I didn’t need wires on mine. The factory ones had tons of clearance. An o2 sensor socket might help. Mine on one of the factory manifolds was on TIGHT. I ended up just buying a new sensor. GM gaskets are a must __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

01-31-2018, 09:04 AM	#3
Olddudesrule Resident nomad Drives: 2014 Summit White 1SS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,765	How many miles on the car now? Sounds like you have everything covered. I reused my OEM exhaust gaskets, but only had 14K miles when I did the install. There are many small, but good suggestions on the diy threads reference header install, though it is a really simple job. Good luck! __________________ Sold: 2007 Z06 2002 Viper GTS/ACR 2003 Z06 1965 FFR Cobra 2012 Nissan 370Z ADM LSA Stage II, Roto-Fab CAI, Kooks LTH/HFC's, Phastek CC, ported TB, Mishimoto radiator and oil cooler, BC Racing ER Series CO's, JPSS 32mm Black Magic rear bar, JPSS front inserts, R1 Concepts Premier slotted rotors/Goodrich SS lines, Schroth ASM harness, MGW flatstick, Brey-Krause HB, Tuned by NicD, at Cordes Performance Racing.

01-31-2018, 03:24 PM	#6
Stormcloak slower than you Drives: 2012 C6 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NY Posts: 668 View My Garage	thanks fellas. __________________

02-01-2018, 06:00 AM	#7
Smokin19 Drives: 19' ZL1 A10, w/pdr Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: S.W. ohio Posts: 1,551	All good advice. __________________ BTR Stg II cam w/ 38% fuel lobe, ARH 2" headers into 3" w/cats, AWE Touring, Kong X port, Weapon X triple ht exchangers, NW 103, Rotofab big gulp, DSX lowside, TCM tune, BMR Lockout, Mustang dyno 720 rwhp, 634 rwtq on 93 pump.

02-01-2018, 03:54 PM	#11
NC_SS Drives: 2012 M6 Camaro SS (RIP) Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,684	I got PCM of NC wires, they're tough and made to run without boots on headers for our cars A year plus later and no signs of wear __________________ Speed engineering 1 7/8 LTs, CAI inc Cold Air Intake, offroad connectors, Solo performance axle back with J pipes, tune, and in need of a driver mod LOL

01-30-2018, 11:26 PM	#1
Stormcloak slower than you Drives: 2012 C6 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NY Posts: 668 View My Garage	Header install I know, search is my friend and all... I bought some SW headers for my car a few months ago, and will be installing them soon (ie, whenever the stupidly cold weather lets up). Aside from the O2 extenders that the headers / cats came with, I'm looking at new GM gaskets, (#12617944), and some plug wire boots for insurance. Am I missing anything for the install? A tune will be scheduled shortly after I get this job done, so the fewer surprises, the better TIA __________________

01-31-2018, 09:13 AM	#4
Matt8892(2) Drives: Black camaro 2ss 45th Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Central NJ Posts: 359	Make sure you take the plugs out. So you don’t crack one. May just be worth it to throw new plugs on anyways since you’re already there. I went with the Taylor 10.4 wires as well. My stock wires touched my tsp headers and were getting damaged. Taylor wires didn’t touch and are much more heavily insulated. Also spray down all the bolts the night before and the o2 plugs with penetrating oil.

02-01-2018, 08:01 AM	#8
Matty Ice Drives: 2015 SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 537	Buy a couple of studs to help guide and hold the header in place on the head, especially if doing it alone. I put a little anti-seize on the spark plugs when reinstalling.

02-01-2018, 09:34 AM	#9
Gasoholic Drives: o Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: under a rock Posts: 220	One thing you might look into is picking up some Stainless ARP header bolts. Not sure what the quality of the SW bolts are but most of the headers I've installed the bolts that came with them rusted pretty quickly. Then you got nice shiny headers with rusty bolts. Yuck. I sort of like the OE aluminum boot insulators. I polished mine with steel wool and they look pretty nice. Not expensive and do the job. Theres some pretty nice Ceramic ones I've seen. I think I priced them and they were around $250.00.

02-01-2018, 10:04 AM	#10
WoodBoss "Old School" Drives: 2010 2SS L99 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sherrills Ford, NC Posts: 1,295	You can get nice plug wire boots on ebay for $10, no need to spend $70 or $80 on them, they have worked great. I put them on at the header install. No problems after almost a year. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-1200-S...item2a7b88bcc4

02-03-2018, 07:09 PM	#12
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	I second the cheap wire sleeves, I got mine for like $15 on Amazon.... __________________ "A Camaro in the garage is safe, but that's not what Camaros are built for..." R2C CAI / Apex Scoop / VMAX Ported TB / Speed Engineering LTHs / X-pipe / GPI port/rod-mod intake manifold / Circle D 3200 278mm Converter / 3.91 gears / DynoSteve tuned / 1LE Shocks/Struts/Toe Links / ZL1 Rear Sway Bar / Z/28 Trailing arms / Prothane Radius Arm & Subframe Bushings / BMR UCA Bracket, Steering rack bushing / B&M Tranny Cooler / RX Catch Can / Jannetty Tranny Dipstick / 2012+ Heater Hose / 2013+ Rearview Mirror / Fuel rail flip / Drake shifter / Oil Cooler Delete

02-04-2018, 04:03 AM	#13
Indydriver Drives: '14 2SS/RS Vert 6M/KTU/NPP/DTA/ARH Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,826	My pro installer always uses bolt locks. __________________ Consensus is, by definition, a lack of leadership.

02-05-2018, 10:05 AM	#14
ss_redrum Drives: 2013 LS3 Camaro Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 94	I did a write up on the install. http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516684