Has anyone installed headers themselves?

[TeflonG35]

I was just wondering if anyone here has installed aftermarket headers themselves. Not taking it to a shop. I'm looking to know how hard it is. I'm getting over being really sick and I can't be outside jacking my car all up and crawling under it. Even though I want to. Also, If you have had the headers installed at a shop, How much was the install cost?

[cheapazz]

HERE!! I took it on. It took me about 8 1/2 hours to do the install. My buddy at big o looked up the time in their manual and it said 7 hours. The driver side isn't all that bad, I think it took about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, it's just a matter of removing the intake to the throttle body and not having very much room to work. Most of the work is done from the top side. I think there was one bolt on the cats that was from the bottom. I didn't remove my belly pans for the install but I would recomend doing it just for the sake of less headaches while dropping nuts and wrenches and such. The passenger side is another story. The coolant line, ( a hard line) runs directly over the top of the header and must be removed along with various wires and vacuum lines. The headers I bought didn't come with any directions so I had to muddle my way through the install. Then trying to fight the headers in is no easy task either, its really tight. It helps, when you get to this point, to remove the bolts holding the cats in place. This allows some extra room for removal of the stock manifold and to help get the headers in place.

BASICALLY......if yer a wrench with some experience go for it. A novice may find himself in trouble or "in over his head".

Hope this helps some.......HAPPY WRENCHING

[TeflonG35]

Thank you.

[RED_DET]

Most say the amount of work involved isn't worth the gains you receive..

[TeflonG35]

Well I have the headers already so i might as well apply them to my car. It's n/a so i might as well squeeze out what i can.

[tollboothwilley]

Git er Done!

and do a write up/video on it for us all

i'm looking into this one myself and i'd love to let you be the guinea pig

[TISon28s]

Yeah, they were a pain in the ***. Took my friend and I about a day and a half, but we had long breaks in between. On the driver side, we had to disconnect the steering and the a/c compressor as well, for more room to work with. In my opinion, the driver side is harder than the passenger. For the passenger all you have to really do is disconnect the connector for the alternater at the bottom.

PS: don't forget to put the steering back on the way it came off, mark the notches if you need to, or else you will have horrible alignment.

Good luck

[cheapazz]

If yer a car nut, the work is worth the gain........especially if you do the work yourself. The sound gain is good also but the power increase is noticeable. This was my second mod I did on my car after the CAI.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Headers are going to be the first thing I put on my new altima... I'm planning to install myself also...

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Oh wait, I already ordered new clear headlights and exhaust, well it's going to be third...



IMHO, it's well worth it

[TeflonG35]

I may attempt them on Sunday.