New header question

[Lynx]

Hey, just bought a new in the box DC header. Comes with the 3 O-rings but what I was wondering is if I needed a gasket for between the header and the engine block? If so am I able to pick it up at a local parts store?


Thanks in advance
Chad

[Leung]

just to be safe i picked up a new metal one from Autozone. i think it was only 12 bucks at the time.

[Lynx]

just to be safe i picked up a new metal one from Autozone. i think it was only 12 bucks at the time.

Cool, i'll do that then, off to the store, lol.

[Brandoncb7]

Yeah I would go ahead and spend the money and replace since you'll already have everything apart. You going to post before and after vids?

[Lynx]

Yeah I would go ahead and spend the money and replace since you'll already have everything apart. You going to post before and after vids?

I wont have any vids, well.... i might, lol. Depends. I'll deff have some pics up tho!

[deevergote]

It goes on the head, not the block.

And yes, it's wise to have a gasket there.

[Lynx]

It goes on the head, not the block.

And yes, it's wise to have a gasket there.

Sorry, was in a hurry when I typed. I know I should have a gasket, just wanted to know if I needed a new one, lol.

But its all good now, have one ready to be put on once my exhaust cools down.

Anyone have any tips before I begin?

[xaaronx]

a few tips from when i replaced my whole exhaust

1. MAKE SURE YOUR DAY IS EMPTY. i ran into a few problems that set me back a few hours and didn't get it done until dark. i ended up outside with a light hanging off my opened hood

2. impact wrench is a must for the nuts on your header. if you use just your straight man-power, you may break a stud. remember, these 4th gens are about 20ish years old

3. http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...l/DSC_5182.jpg it wouldn't hurt to add a light bead of this stuff on top of the gaskets they gave you for a little reassurance. mine started leaking after a few months and fixed it with this. especially where the manifold meets the downpipe (unless you have the 4 to 1 header. mine is the 4 to 2 to 1 which separates between the manifold and downpipe)

4. if you have A/C, you may need to bend a line slightly to make the header fit. it's not a big deal, just be gentle and don't crimp it.


hope that helps a bit. it's not hard, just don't force things that shouldn't be forced lol

[Leung]

here you go, torque specs for the nuts holding the header into the head.



if you break one of those studs, you can just go down to the PnP and get another, that's what i did when i broke one lol. just becareful because it scared the poop out of me when it snapped. luckily there was enough of the stud sticking out for me to grip it with some vise grips and twist it out.

[Brandoncb7]

The only things I can think of are the copper sealant stuff that has already been mentioned and maybe spraying some penatrating oil like pb blaster or something similar on all of the bolts and everything and letting it sit for a few minutes.

[xaaronx]

OH OH OH

while you have your header off, i would scrub that front part of the block and head. i doubt you'll be taking your header off very often so that's a good chance to clean that up because it will be a lot more visible with a tubular header and no heatshield. i wasn't thinking and forgot to do this when i swapped my header.

[Leung]

OH OH OH

while you have your header off, i would scrub that front part of the block and head. i doubt you'll be taking your header off very often so that's a good chance to clean that up because it will be a lot more visible with a tubular header and no heatshield. i wasn't thinking and forgot to do this when i swapped my header.

i did that too when i installed my megan header. after removing the stock exhaust manifold and the shield, there was all that oil that had leaked and caked onto the block from a bad VC gasket.

good call

[Lynx]

Thanks for the tips. Ive got all the bolts off of the header and downpipe except for the 3 that attach the header to the downpipe. They are a bitch so im getting a cutting wheel and cutting the pipe. Unless anyone has a better way? I only have you average tools so my options are limited

[xaaronx]

just grab a couple of extensions along with a socket and socket wrench and go from underneath

do you have your radiator out? if so, you might be able to drop the entire header and downpipe without unbolting them

[Lynx]

just grab a couple of extensions along with a socket and socket wrench and go from underneath

do you have your radiator out? if so, you might be able to drop the entire header and downpipe without unbolting them

I tried but the two bolts in front of the flex pipe are hooked onto the exhaust in front of the flex pipe. I have to push it towards the rear of the car to get it off. But i just bought a grinder so im gonna have a go at it again, lol.