Header install help

[Discus24]

Too bad you don't have one of the TV channels filming your saga, you'd be famous by now. Heck, my wife, who doesn't know a header from a headrest would probably be watching. Thanks for letting any of us contemplating this know what we're in for, and I mean that sincerely. Good luck.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Think I will cut bolt head or more off after loosening bolt up holding dipstick tube in with a small cutoff disc. Should be able to back remaining bolt out with fingers & replace with stud & nut. Drain oil & fish mig welding wire thru dipstick tube & out oil drain after all these issues.

 

[Jwithing]

Think I will cut bolt head or more off after loosening bolt up holding dipstick tube in with a small cutoff disc. Should be able to back remaining bolt out with fingers & replace with stud & nut. Drain oil & fish mig welding wire thru dipstick tube & out oil drain after all these issues.

Not a bad idea. You may have clearance.for the bottom bolt. I've seen others state they didn't have an issue.

 

[Jwithing]

IDK wtf I was thinking... The scope is a pain in the ass to work... If I leave the broken tube piece in there, is it going to cause any harm?

 

[Jwithing]

Had some time to get back at it today. Just dropped the oil pan. Had to remove the "structural dust cover" that bolts up to the bellhousing and to get that off, I had to remove the metal plate under the starter. Had to put the pan down and was able to reach right in and pull the little bugger out. Plenty of clearance at the end as you can see from the pics. It was sitting right next to the plug, but in the pan, the plug doesn't sit at the very bottom, so it would have been next to impossible to fish it out. Was worried about the gasket, but luckily it was still on there. FYI, then pickup tube does have an extremely fine screen on it, which the dealer told me it didn't... Now to figure out how to unbolt the pickup tube and get the new windage tray in...

 

[Pull Ya]

You should get a gold star or something for all the crap you have had to go through getting those damn headers installed.
Jay

 

[Jwithing]

Pic of the pickup tube screen if anyone is interested...

 

[Jwithing]

Windage tray was tricky to remove... Have to go from the front, unclip the fan shroud, position the oil pan as far left as possible and pull the windage tray out to the right. Requires some jiggling and repositioning due to the pulley and the down bolt for the pickup tube. Waiting for the fiance to get home so I can pickup some rtv sealant, but I got the new one sitting in there ready to go. I feel so relieved as it's been problem free today.

 

[Jwithing]

Last bolt for the oil pan...

 

[S0CAL]

You should get a gold star or something for all the crap you have had to go through getting those damn headers installed.
Jay

Seriously. And it was good you fished that out. Man, I have a cold brew here for you (virtually). Your perseverance will pay off!

 

[Jwithing]

Look at the pic closer... Last bolt for the oilpan broke off flush lol

 

[smiley]

I have oem gaskets with my BBK shorties. My mechanic hated the job figured it took over 12 hours he lost track just too tight and poor fit. I paid a crap ton to have them done.

 

[Jwithing]

Can't get a center punch on it, I'm about ready to slather the entire back lip with rtv sealant

 

[crackerjack1957]

Left hand drill bit & screw extractor if drill bit does not back out.
I like to start with center drill to keep hole on center easier.
Plenty of experience, 37 years as a cnc machinist.

 

[Jwithing]

Left hand drill bit & screw extractor if drill bit does not back out.
I like to start with center drill to keep hole on center easier.
Plenty of experience, 37 years as a cnc machinist.

Can't get a left handed bit in there with a drill because of the bellhousing. Trying to drill a pilot hole with an extended bit, but can't keep it even close to center

 

[crackerjack1957]

Damn, I see, you need drill extensions but not everyone has those.
They also make #2 center drill 6-inches long & smaller drills 12-inches long.

 

[Jwithing]

Damn, I see, you need drill extensions but not everyone has those.
They also make #2 center drill 6-inches long & smaller drills 12-inches long.

Yeah, everyone only carries a 1/4 inch shank extension, which is too big.... Guess I'm dead in the water again until I can order something

 

[slightly_low_ram]

I have a deep pond we can roll your truck into, then we'll all pitch in some money and buy you a new truck with headers already on it looks like once you get this bolt sorted out you should be pretty well set. Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Jwithing]

I have a deep pond we can roll your truck into, then we'll all pitch in some money and buy you a new truck with headers already on it looks like once you get this bolt sorted out you should be pretty well set. Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Ha! Not out of the woods by a long shot. The headers look awefully damn close to the steering rod joint... I don't even want to think about that at the moment

 

[Jwithing]

I was definitely off center and used a quarter inch bit... Looks like I started eating into the housing threads. At this point, I think I may need to leave the bolt in there and order some extra long taps to put in some new threads. Idk, at this point I feel like I'm just messing everything up out of frustration and exhaustion... I'm 35-40 hours in at this point....