Good shop near RI/Boston/Eastern CT to install header?

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Diagonal Pliers come in very handy in this situation, if you're upgrading the OP that is, just tear the heat shield off.

Diagonal pliers, like *cutting* pliers? How's that going to help with 14mm kinda-stuck nut?

FWIW I wanna keep it all intact including heat shield as it's likely going back in at some point. From what I gather I'll have to raise the engine a bit to remove header and overpipe with heatshield intact?

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Diagonal pliers, like *cutting* pliers? How's that going to help with 14mm kinda-stuck nut?

FWIW I wanna keep it all intact including heat shield as it's likely going back in at some point. From what I gather I'll have to raise the engine a bit to remove header and overpipe with heatshield intact?

I was tossing the OP and upgrading to an Invidia OP and had both bolts holding the shield seized. So I just cut the damn thing off and tossed it. But if you're keeping the OP, which is good because the OP doesn't really play an important role in power gain, I advise to not go down my route lol. Yes, you have loosen the engine mounts, just a little enough to raise the engine about 2 inches which will give you enough room to wiggle it out. This is the only part of the process that could be considered difficult. After that is a breeze to complete the header installation.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

I was tossing the OP and upgrading to an Invidia OP and had both bolts holding the shield seized. So I just cut the damn thing off and tossed it. But if you're keeping the OP, which is good because the OP doesn't really play an important role in power gain, I advise to not go down my route lol. Yes, you have loosen the engine mounts, just a little enough to raise the engine about 2 inches which will give you enough room to wiggle it out. This is the only part of the process that could be considered difficult. After that is a breeze to complete the header installation.

To be clear I'm swapping out the overpipe with the ACE350 2-1 collector, so both the factory header and overpipe are coming out. I just need to keep the factory stuff intact for if/when I swap it back in...

I'm thinking:
disconnect overpipe from front pipe, disconnect overpipe from header, raise engine, wiggle stuff out in some order (header then OP?).
Then loosely install new stuff, lower engine and sock mounts back down, then tighten header to engine, overpipe to header, then front pipe to overpipe last. With high-temp threadlocker! Seen multiple pics of the ACE header to overpipe connection coming totally loose/apart :O

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by ZDan

To be clear I'm swapping out the overpipe with the ACE350 2-1 collector, so both the factory header and overpipe are coming out. I just need to keep the factory stuff intact for if/when I swap it back in...

I'm thinking:
disconnect overpipe from front pipe, disconnect overpipe from header, raise engine, wiggle stuff out in some order (header then OP?).
Then loosely install new stuff, lower engine and sock mounts back down, then tighten header to engine, overpipe to header, then front pipe to overpipe last. With high-temp threadlocker! Seen multiple pics of the ACE header to overpipe connection coming totally loose/apart :O

That's correct.


Yes, Permatex 2400 helps a lot which I vaguely remember you should also use it when putting the header bolts back in. I could be wrong. Add anti seize to the Front Pipe bolts because they become such a pain to remove if you ever need to get down there again.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by spcmafia

Yes, Permatex 2400 helps a lot which I vaguely remember you should also use it when putting the header bolts back in. I could be wrong. Add anti seize to the Front Pipe bolts because they become such a pain to remove if you ever need to get down there again.

I got this stuff:

With some PB Blaster I got almost all the exhaust bolts loosened. I broke one of the spring-loaded bolts where the front-pipe meets mid-pipe. Ordered some from Pep Boys...

Haven't loosened the O2 sensors, I have a 22mm ratcheting combination wrench but I dunno if I can get it on the flats to loosen those guys. Maybe header can drop with them installed?

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by ZDan

I got this stuff:

With some PB Blaster I got almost all the exhaust bolts loosened. I broke one of the spring-loaded bolts where the front-pipe meets mid-pipe. Ordered some from Pep Boys...

Haven't loosened the O2 sensors, I have a 22mm ratcheting combination wrench but I dunno if I can get it on the flats to loosen those guys. Maybe header can drop with them installed?

You want to disconnect the O2 sensors from their clips, do not forget which one is which, this is very important. They're not that hard to take off from the header itself, just don't do anything harsh.

[RToyo86]

The bolt to the passenger engine mount is extremely easy To access. Takes no time to pull the bolt and stick a jack on the oil pan and raise the engine a bit. That's probably the easiest part of the entire process.

The amount of effort required fighting taking the heat Shield off vs the 5 minutes it took to pull the nut and jack the engine up to pull the OP out isn't comparable.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

The bolt to the passenger engine mount is extremely easy To access. Takes no time to pull the bolt and stick a jack on the oil pan and raise the engine a bit. That's probably the easiest part of the entire process.

The amount of effort required fighting taking the heat Shield off vs the 5 minutes it took to pull the nut and jack the engine up to pull the OP out isn't comparable.

To be sure, are you saying I only need to disconnect passenger side engine mount?

[RToyo86]

Originally Posted by ZDan

To be sure, are you saying I only need to disconnect passenger side engine mount?

Correct. About 3/4 of a inch lift on that side was all I needed.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by ZDan

I got this stuff:

Just noticed, that's the wrong stuff! Thread *sealant*...

Just ordered some 246 high temp medium strength Loctite from McMaster, will get it on Monday. They don't have it at PepBoys or Home Despot...