Altima Coupe 2.5 Header Installation Write Up...

[dldjros69]

Disclaimer: In no way shape or form do i know what im talking about. This is my first write up and hopefully next time i will take better notes and have more time for the installation and documentation.

Special thanks to my Dad and Uncle Nick

Installation time - 5.5 hours

Stillen Supplied Materials (used)1. Header2. 5 Flange bolts3. 3 Flange Nuts

Equipment needed1. Assorted sockets and wrenches (Im sorry i will try to remember all of them, but this install was chaos and we used a bunch of different things.2. Anti Seize Paste/Lube - i got the tube at auto zone for 4 bucks.3. FSM - EM section page 30 and 314. Penetrating oil/spray5. New Exhaust Manifold gasket (Not supplied) I went to advanced auto and they could not get this item. Try the dealer. I reused my gasket.6. Allen Keys7. Jack stands and floor jack8. Lift or ramps9. Rubber Mallet10. Break away bar

1. Unplug negative battery cable

2. Removal of engine cover and factory air inlet.



3. Removal of the top heat shield

10mm socket (save the bolts if you want to go back to stock) i threw them in the box.

4. Disconnect O2 sensor leads.



At this point if you had an O2 puller you could unscrew the O2 sensor but this can be taken off easily later.

5. Jack the front of the car up. If you have the Eibach and old school ramps like me then you are screwed.

Unrecommended - we jacked the car up with a floor jack behind the right tire. As high as the floor jack would go. We then slide the old school ramp under the front tire and released the jack til it rested the tire on the ramp. We were then able to put a jack stand to the left of the floor jack. Also and finally we put another old school ramp under the rear of the passenger side tire. i was afraid to go under the car but they assured me it was safe. yeah right!!!



6. Now that the car is jacked up, Remove the lower heat Shield.



7. SPRAY SPRAY SPRAY - Unbolting the down pipe from the rear exhaust flange.

Use the penetrating spray. The nuts/studs are tight as heck. Spray and wait a minute or two and then try and break the bolts.



8. The Stillen directions say to remove the alternator to remove the OEM header. We said screw it, we can work around it. Then we realized there wasn't enough room so we loosened it, and finally took it off. We ended up striping the bolt to the header due to not taking off the alternator.

The fix - My dad mig welded the socket to the striped bolt.



Alternator Removed





Much more room

This is the bracket for the engine cover. i suggest removing that for extra clearance.



9. Remove all the nuts from the exhaust manifold.



As provided in the FSM - Follow the uninstall/install sequence



10. Remove exhaust manifold from engine bay. O2 sensor still attached.



11. Begin installation of the header. Use Anti Seize paste (asp) on all bolts. a. This is the step where you install the new header gasket or inspect the old gasket and clean the surrounding area.b. Install the Stillen header to the cylinder hood. Use the two supplied flang bolts and insert them into the two middle spots



Right next to bolts 1 and 3.

12. Cutting - i skipped this. Maybe somebody else can shine some light on this part. Everything fit perfectly and my pops and uncle didn't want to do anything about it. No SEL has been thrown yet, and if it doesn't throw it to often i wont care. Since i have the bully dog gt coming shortly.

13. Attaching down pipe - On the OEM flange there are studs. Stillen has supplied 3 bolts and 3 nuts for this. Make sure to use the (asp).



14. Tighten all nuts starting with the header flange and then the down pipe.

15. Use (asp) on the primary O2 sensor. As the Stillen directions state - only get the (asp) on the threads and not on the sensor.

16. Install the sensor into the Stillen header - the same place is at was on the OEM header.



Since the sensor is lower on the Stillen sensor they sent wires to extend the sensor leads. I did not do this.



Pulled the lead off of that clip there and it was able to connect to the other end. We then used zip ties in a few places to keep the wires away from things in the engine bay.



17. Reinstall the alternator

18. Reinstall engine cover and factory air inlet

19. Reconnect battery

20. Start the vehicle and check for leaks.

Thats all for now

Enjoy

Danny
Modified by dldjros69 at 3:05 PM 7/27/2009

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

lol um wow didnt know u were gettin this lol..........TAKE A VID !!!!!!!!!!

oh and dan im sorry but he stole ur writeup lol not u didjros another kid



wats ur custom title now ?????

btw i just want u to know i read the entire thing and ur dad/uncle def know wat there doin that or u do lol this looks WAY to hard to do

[Marisha]

Awesome write up!!! You made it look simple. How's the ride feeling/sounding now?

[cartersaltima]

awesome write up, cant wait to hear the video!

[dldjros69]

TAKE A VID !!!!!!!!!!

wats ur custom title now ?????

btw i just want u to know i read the entire thing and ur dad/uncle def know wat there doin that or u do lol this looks WAY to hard to do

The video is coming, the gf is working and its raining. i think tuesday is the next clear day here.

No idea what it would be, i just dont want it to be lame.

Yeah its all my dad and uncle, i couldnt have done it with out them.

How's the ride feeling/sounding now?

I havent got many miles on it yet about 20. But over 5k rpm - really really loud, screaming. You can definitly hear the difference at idle and thru out the rpms.

Call me crazy but i feel a ton of power. When the rpms get about 4.5 ish it feels like i have a v TEC AND I GET THAT HONDA BOOST. Be seriously it feels alot different.

Could i have lost a little bit of low end torque, im not sure. Lenard could have gotten into my head. lol

[cartersaltima]

what kind of exhaust do you have? stock, nismo, stillen?

[dldjros69]

what kind of exhaust do you have? stock, nismo, stillen?

Stock, eventually i will have the Stillen Catback but some other things have to fall into place first.

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

The video is coming, the gf is working and its raining. i think tuesday is the next clear day here.

No idea what it would be, i just dont want it to be lame.

Yeah its all my dad and uncle, i couldnt have done it with out them.

I havent got many miles on it yet about 20. But over 5k rpm - really really loud, screaming. You can definitly hear the difference at idle and thru out the rpms.

Call me crazy but i feel a ton of power. When the rpms get about 4.5 ish it feels like i have a v TEC AND I GET THAT HONDA BOOST. Be seriously it feels alot different.

Could i have lost a little bit of low end torque, im not sure. Lenard could have gotten into my head. lol

lol so wat u trying to say my title is lame lol jk.............

u should feel a difference headers are a big mod when it comes to bolt ons. With all the boltons we should be sittin at 2030 whp am i right.....if not more

[cartersaltima]

u should feel a difference headers are a big mod when it comes to bolt ons. With all the boltons we should be sittin at 2030 whp am i right.....if not more

dayumn 2030 off headers thats the best bolt on

[bravey_z12]

great write up i m thinking about getting it but like other members said u ll have a prob when u take ur inspection ,like u really need to put back on stock one and take a inspection thats stuck in my mind clear me up if anyone with any advices

[b88dragon]

AWESOME WRITE IT. And from what your stating I SOOOOO WANNA GET MY HANDS ON THIS. but at the moment funding is low lol. so wont be til a few months later. man, i seriously cant wait to see the video and here this baby out, so anxious i think i jizz in my pants a lito lol.

[JDRosenberg07]

Great write-up man... It's great to hear some positive reviews about it.. You should get even more gains when you get that cat-back exhaust when you really let her breath a little...

The only thing that concerns me is how much louder it makes it.. My exhaust is already plenty loud and I'm already struggling with it to make it quieter.. Although these headers sound to good to give up... Lol

[Ranga14]

dayumn 2030 off headers thats the best bolt on

Yeah, with that much HP, you'd be competing with this guy...

[JDRosenberg07]

Yeah, with that much HP, you'd be competing with this guy...

Jet turbines FTW!!!

Screw a turbo for the 2.5 I'm savin up fit that!

In all seriousness tho I strongly feel that with I/H/E upgrades the 2.5 can have 200+ hp at the crank easy espically if the stillen headers are 10hp at the wheels. I read a technical artical that said you can get 15-20 just from replacing the super restricted exhaust.

[Nissan 4 LIFE]

Wow ddjros69...So you have not had any Check Engine lights coming on yet without modding the B-Pipe like the instructions state...hrmm I may have to throw mine on now and see if I have any issues. Let us know if you get any coming on and excellent writeup. I will tell you all that you Must remove the alternator in order to install these because its next to impossible to get the stock manifold out if you don't...don't even risk it TRUST ME!

[dldjros69]

lol so wat u trying to say my title is lame lol jk.............

Naa ur custom title is good Ghey but good lol. i just have no ideas

great write up inspection, clear me up if anyone with any advices

Next year im gonna try to see if it will pass inspection, and if it fails which it will im gonna go back to the driveway and take it off and then put it back on.

i can uninstall and install my intake in like 8 minutes now. Im sure the header will be the same way.

I/H/E upgrades the 2.5 can have 200+ hp at the crank

i agree, dont forget about the bdog tuner

N4L - throw it on, u will be fine. If it throws a code, u can live with it for 2 weeks til stillen comes out with their flange.

[dangeris]

Great write up Danny....Guess you want me to make this into an article now huh JK

[D-Roll]

Great write up bro! I learned first hand with the 2.5 motor that you must remove the altenator to remove the stock header, makes life so much easier Keep us posted on the gains, thoughts, and if you get the CEL.

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

dayumn 2030 off headers thats the best bolt on

learn to read i meant it as all the bolt ons together..... ive been here alot longer than you im not retarted i know how much hp you can have from the intake exhaust and headers.....not only that but throw in the bully dog and pulley you could be sittin at wat like 40-45hp depending on if the bulleydog does what weve all said it does

[Blackmobile]

he's just poking fun at your typo, all the bolt ons in the world won't be 2k+ whp

[dldjros69]

he's just poking fun at your typo, all the bolt ons in the world won't be 2k+ whp

OP edit

Special thanks to my Dad and Uncle Nick

Installation time - 5.5 hours

18. Reinstall engine cover and factory air inlet

[cartersaltima]

learn to read i meant it as all the bolt ons together..... ive been here alot longer than you im not retarted i know how much hp you can have from the intake exhaust and headers.....not only that but throw in the bully dog and pulley you could be sittin at wat like 40-45hp depending on if the bulleydog does what weve all said it does

yeah no hard feelings just pokin fun. im the jester to your king of lights sire! anyway i cant wait til i have enough money to get mine! these are going to be a must, hopefully once someone has i/h/e they should dyno for sure!

[kyle@stillen]

Very nice write-up!

For those of you wondering, it will throw check engine lights. I would expect the light to come on within the first 500 miles or so. It takes awhile for the light to come, definitely not instantaneous but it will definitely come on!

I'm glad that you liked the header and found the install relatively easy. I'm sure it would have gone smoother with all the right tools but I know how that goes...I rotated the tires on my truck this weekend and it took me FOREVER to find a jack and jackstands that would fit hold my truck off the ground...Not easy after lifting it 7 inches and throwing on 35 inch tires hahaha.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Nice writeup! Maybe i will use it when I install mine (if i ever get it!)

[dldjros69]

Very nice write-up!

For those of you wondering, it will throw check engine lights. I would expect the light to come on within the first 500 miles or so.

Thank you kyle and everybody!!!

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!

SEL thrown at 25 miles, oh well. I spoke with my pops and we are gonna try the second part of the installation this Saturday.

As for videos. I thought my gf camera was the hot stuff, but umm it stinks, and she isnt that good at recording

Ill try and figure something out but for now this may give you a little taste. (best video of 4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwboHOgvdEQ

[b88dragon]

oh man, what a tease, why does the sound, sounds like your covering and uncovering the place where it records the sound, but it sound hot from what i can hear or make of it.

cant wait til you post up another video of the headers, so tempting that i wanna order it NOW even with the overdraft fee lol jk jk.

[cartersaltima]

wow what a tease cant wait to hear the full version! sounds great from what i could hear.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Great write up man! What did you want for a custom title?

[dldjros69]

Great write up man! What did you want for a custom title?

thank you

and sloppy drunk

[SHIFT_COUPE]

hahah you got it man