Gibson header install headaches...

[drtswinger]

Did anyone have problems installing their headers themselves? I realized space was limited on the passenger side but wow I'm having a lot of trouble bolting it up. Tomorrow I plan on tightening the bolts, but with the lack of room Im worried about the retightening once hot and regularly afterwards. Anyone have some pointers on this? do they require constant checks, or have problems with leaks? thanks for any input...

[BTLFED R/T]

You should only have to recheck them once. After one heat cycle, recheck them, and they should stay tight. Don't tighten them when hot at all.

[Jontoad]

whats in the way the ac line? the gibsons are like the easiest headers to install. i did mine in the driveway in like an hour with y pipe. i remember having to jack up the passenger side and take off the wheel. i dont remember where i fed the header in from tho.

by the way if you don't get a y pipe made, or order the gibson y pipe and make new 02 bungs for your year, shorty headers aint gonna do shit.

[sicknasty360]

I had a little bit of trouble bolting mine up it just takes some pacients, i also unplugged some plug wires to help with some space issues

[Vaquero45]

shorty headers aint gonna do shit.

? Why not? Seems like anything to seperate the flow from each cylinder will help with scavenging. I'd agree if it's really built, but up to XXX horsepower they should be better than manifolds. Am I missing something?

[Jontoad]

? Why not? Seems like anything to seperate the flow from each cylinder will help with scavenging. I'd agree if it's really built, but up to XXX horsepower they should be better than manifolds. Am I missing something?

if you look at our stock y pipe you will know why. the shorty headers wont do shit unless you get a bigger y pipe. the exhaust wont flow any better with a choke point like that.

[slvr03dakrt]

i agree with jontoad the y pipe sucks I got the guy who did my exhaust to do a header back install with true duals and i picked up .5 in the 1/4mi and 3 mph on the top end.

[BTLFED R/T]

It's been proven that shorty headers on these trucks are not much more than glorified exhaust manifolds!

[Jontoad]

It's been proven that shorty headers on these trucks are not much more than glorified exhaust manifolds!

only because of the y pipe! they are not that bad if you get all that taken care of.

of course the other mids and long tubes are better.

but jimbeam one of the old school chicago guys was in the 13s in a CC back in chris connors 14s forever club days using the gibsons with other minor bolt ons. he was one of the first in the 13s NA.

they can flow just not by themselves.

[BTLFED R/T]

Changing the rest of the exhaust netted me 2/10ths in the 1/4. Swapping to full Spintech setup netted me another .55. They work ok, but people should just save up for the good stuff. :biggthumpup:

[Vaquero45]

Good to know! I had been considering a set, reckon I'll hold out a while longer.

[drtswinger]

Well they are on and good and tight.... Sounds better, not a whole lot diff. than stock at idle but you can tell when you give it some gas. Im waiting on Jegs to send me some heat wrap and wire insulators. The A/C lines seem uncomfortably close to the tubes, as do the plug wires. After I get that on I will post how it drives. I Already have a flowmaster 40 series on, other than that she is stock. I agree the Y-pipe needs to be changed, next on my list for sure. That along with my shaker hood I haven't yet installed should get things breathing better... perhaps another muffler (not a big flowmater fan).