Ugh... I finally got the passenger side done. It took SEVERAL hours. Not having the right tools, driving up town to get them. Not having bolts and nuts, another trip to town.. etc...
Literally an all day affair. (well from 3-9pm)
(also swapped front shocks, since I had to remove them anyways)

Now Tomorrow I'm going to tackle the drivers side. I have the tire off and the inner fender well removed. The bolts are soaking overnight with wd-40.

But I look and see all the brake lines and fuel lines and I haven't a clue how I'm going to squeeze the shorty headers between them?

HELP?

I bought the headers used, so of course there are no directions, heck I don't know if they even come with diretions.

If you ever installed these, or other shorty headers, please tell me how and help me avoid the pitfalls and snag I hit today.

This has to be, without a doubt, the most difficult mod to do on a lightning.


Someone, anyone, please help...

 

you have to take that side motor mount bolt out, jack up on the tranny housing until the motor moves up some. the engine dip stick tube will need to be removed as well and put back in once your done. its like a puzzle but if you do this it will work. long tubes are so much easier to install!!!!!

 

do you install it over the fram ethrough the wheel opening or under the frame between the frame and the engine.

Can you get to the motor mount through the wheel or do you have to go underneath?



I've read a ton of posts (including the instructions) and i'm not looking forward to tomorrow.


I have a TON of tips for the passenger side install, I'll post tomorrow with a writeup.

 

i don't know what you have done so far, but what i did was.......
-remove the rim/tire
-remove the plastic wheel well
-from either inside the wheel well or underneath take out motor mount bolt
-take up on tranny to move engine up
-i can't quite recall if i pushed it up from the bottom, between the frame and motor, or through the wheel well and snaked it through all the hard lines and around the steering shaft

believe it or not it will fit, good luck!!!!!

 

When I installed mine I had to take the motor mounts out jack the motor up about an inch and push the motor over about an inch for the driver side. Then the header slides up from underneath. I can't remember but I believe you need to put the most bottom rear bolt in first before you slide into position. I believe there is a cut out on the header for it to slide onto the bolt to help line up the header . Then you will need to put back the motor mounts for the passenger side. On the passenger side I had to cut about an inch and a half off the shock mounting bolt and slide the header through the tire well to get the header to sit right . Also disconnect the battery you will be working around the starter on the passenger side. You will get a surprise if you don't. Although I love my headers this install sucked and I will never do it again. Good luck

 

and cover the midpipe with a board or something until you are ready to connect.... <don't ask>

 

That is funny I did the same thing. Dropped a washer and didn't know until it was all bolted up and I was like where the hell is it.

 

A heads up for once they're installed. If you ever hear a buzz sound and maybe feel some vibration for a split second, you probably just accelerated pretty hard after making a turn as you were still centering up the steering wheel. This would be the driver's side header heat shield contacting the steering linkage that runs above it. Happened on my 2000 anyway, took a couple times before I figured it out.

Since then truck was wrecked, fixed, de-modded and traded for an '03. Have not bothered with reinstalling because yes they are a pain in the *** and everyone says they're not worth any gains...go with lts. Would they be worth putting on a truck with a ported blower, 4#lower, cai, Bassani catback and hi-flows?? Anyone want to trade their LT's.

 

WHy didn't you just go straight to the longtubes........

 

Didn't know any better. The mod bug had just bit and I guess I din't use that SEARCH button very well.:o

 

I wanted to, but LT are so damn expensive and you can never find any used for a decent price.

I paid $200 for the shorty's


Thank you Everyone... I put a 6 pack in the 'fridge and I'm heading out to tackle the drivers side.

Wish me luck!


for those who have never done this before, DON'T! It is rediculously difficult and time consuming

 

Are you the one who bought them from me?

Jody

 

I think I was.. I got them off NLOC Classifieds.

No offense, but I hate you! J/K this has to be the hardest mod to install on a lighting. My fingers are cut, bloody, My hands are torn up. I didn't know my arms and hands could contort to some of the angles I had them in yesterday installing those bolts.

I don't know why you removed them to sell them? Once these go on they are NEVER coming off, unless I pull the engine.

Seriously, Thanks for selling them, I was looking for a long time for a pair

 

You'd know if they were mine, because I had just had them ceramic coated and had never been installed since. So they looked brand new. I never put them on my truck, they were part of a trade for some used LT's I had.

Sorry for the trouble, I had no idea!

Jody

 

You guys had to jack up the engine? I didn't, but I did take the heat sheild off of the drivers side. It was causing a rattle in my column mounted boost gauge.