Tools to make JBA header install easier?

[Throwin Plugs]

Hey guys, putting in my headers this weekend and I should be pretty well covered for the install. Have plenty of tools in my box from my old mechanic gig. However, those of you who have installed them before are there any specific tools you could recommend that you wish you had at the beginning? Stubby wrenches. Flex heads etc? Just wanna make sure I got my bases covered. Thanks!

 

[Wild one]

Hey guys, putting in my headers this weekend and I should be pretty well covered for the install. Have plenty of tools in my box from my old mechanic gig. However, those of you who have installed them before are there any specific tools you could recommend that you wish you had at the beginning? Stubby wrenches. Flex heads etc? Just wanna make sure I got my bases covered. Thanks!

Beer and a fair bit of it,lol. Is your truck a 4X4? If so the bottom dipstick bracket will give you some issues.Good chance you won't be able to get the bolt out of it completely.I back the bolt out ,then work it in and out a few times till you can spin the bolt easily by finger,then cut the head off the bolt,and you can usually remove it by finger then.If you cut it close to the head,you can clean it up and turn it into a stud and just pick up a nut at your local hardware store,if you screw the bolt,you can grab another a bit shorter,or make a stud out of a longer one.Been awhile but i think it's a 8mm X 1.25 bolt ,but don't quote me on that,as i'm older then dirt and alzhiemers has been known to kick in occassionally,lol
Remflex 6022's are one of the best gaskets you can use on them,they also make a good 3" 3 bolt collector gasket. If you have a swivel socket like this,you can usually get at all the bottom bolts using it and a long 3/8" extension. Unhook the steering column at the knuckle,but "do not" turn the steering wheel tie it so it won't spin ,a rope/tie strap etc. wrapped around the wheel ,and closed into the door will hold it from turning
This style 6 point swivel socket in probably 7/16" and 10mm will make the job easier.Damn it looks like they're gold plated now though.I bought my sets years and years ago,sure glad i did,lol

Snap-On 4 Piece 3/8'' Drive 6 Pt SAE Flank Dr Shallow Universal Socket Set (FS) | eBay

 

[Throwin Plugs]

Beer and a fair bit of it,lol. Is your truck a 4X4? If so the bottom dipstick bracket will give you some issues.Good chance you won't be able to get the bolt out of it completely.I back the bolt out ,then work it in and out a few times till you can spin the bolt easily by finger,then cut the head off the bolt,and you can usually remove it by finger then.If you cut it close to the head,you can clean it up and turn it into a stud and just pick up a nut at your local hardware store,if you screw the bolt,you can grab another a bit shorter,or make a stud out of a longer one.Been awhile but i think it's a 8mm X 1.25 bolt ,but don't quote me on that,as i'm older then dirt and alzhiemers has been known to kick in occassionally,lol
Remflex 6022's are one of the best gaskets you can use on them,they also make a good 3" 3 bolt collector gasket. If you have a swivel socket like this,you can usually get at all the bottom bolts using it and a long 3/8" extension. Unhook the steering column at the knuckle,but "do not" turn the steering wheel tie it so it won't spin ,a rope/tie strap etc. wrapped around the wheel ,and closed into the door will hold it from turning
This style 6 point swivel socket in probably 7/16" and 10mm will make the job easier.Damn it looks like they're gold plated now though.I bought my sets years and years ago,sure glad i did,lol

Snap-On 4 Piece 3/8'' Drive 6 Pt SAE Flank Dr Shallow Universal Socket Set (FS) | eBay

Awesome response! Thanks a ton. I was just gonna use gasket maker for the y pipe, I did buy felpro gaskets though for the headers themselves.

 

[Wild one]

Awesome response! Thanks a ton. I was just gonna use gasket maker for the y pipe, I did buy felpro gaskets though for the headers themselves.

These are shorties and not long tubes then.For shorties the gasket maker is what you probably want.For some reason i thought you meant long tubes,for those you need a 3" collector gasket,my bad.

 

[indept]

Beer and a fair bit of it,lol.

This style 6 point swivel socket in probably 7/16" and 10mm will make the job easier.Damn it looks like they're gold plated now though.I bought my sets years and years ago,sure glad i did,lol

Snap-On 4 Piece 3/8'' Drive 6 Pt SAE Flank Dr Shallow Universal Socket Set (FS) | eBay

X2 on the highlighted sentence.
As for the socket, almost $40 US for a socket is way expensive, even for snapon, especially used. That person is trying to rob you.

 

[DILLIGAF]

I just bent my OEM oil dipstick out of the way and bolted it down. Been 5 years now zero issues.

 

[Throwin Plugs]

These are shorties and not long tubes then.For shorties the gasket maker is what you probably want.For some reason i thought you meant long tubes,for those you need a 3" collector gasket,my bad.

Yeah I meant to say these are the shorties. My bad!

 

[Throwin Plugs]

X2 on the highlighted sentence.
As for the socket, almost $40 US for a socket is way expensive, even for snapon, especially used. That person is trying to rob you.

Luckily I have thise (not snap on but similar). Crazy money

 

[Wild one]

X2 on the highlighted sentence.
As for the socket, almost $40 US for a socket is way expensive, even for snapon, especially used. That person is trying to rob you.

Snap-on no longer makes them as far as i can tell,and it looks like guys are selling used ones for a gouge and screw price. I have the full set of them in both SAE and Metric,and i'm thinking i might be able to retire off them,by the looks of the used prices.

 

[Throwin Plugs]

Looking forward to the install. I used to take ARD heads, fuel pumps and turbos out CAT C7's and duramaxs. This shouldn't be any worse as far as cramped space.

 

[indept]

Luckily I have thise (not snap on but similar). Crazy money

I have a set of shorties & deep flex but they're MAC & I bought them over 40 years ago.

 

[Pull Ya]

Good luck with the install, one word of caution though. No matter how much experience people have I can't ever remember reading anywhere that someone said, "Damn, that was fun I wished I could do another set". Wild one is right about the beer--it makes it all better--LOL
Jay

 

[Throwin Plugs]

Good luck with the install, one word of caution though. No matter how much experience people have I can't ever remember reading anywhere that someone said, "Damn, that was fun I wished I could do another set". Wild one is right about the beer--it makes it all better--LOL
Jay

Lmao maybe I should grab a sixer on my way home.

 

[Wild one]

Lmao maybe I should grab a sixer on my way home.

You might want to grab 2 on the way home,lol

 

[bigred90gt]

If you are using the JBA bolts, get a 3/8" flex head ratcheting wrench. I had to use a standard 3/8" wrench, and the amount of turn you can get on some of the bolts is literally a few degrees at a time. The flex head would have allowed better access, and the ratcheting wrench would have saved a ton of frustration.

 

[Throwin Plugs]

If you are using the JBA bolts, get a 3/8" flex head ratcheting wrench. I had to use a standard 3/8" wrench, and the amount of turn you can get on some of the bolts is literally a few degrees at a time. The flex head would have allowed better access, and the ratcheting wrench would have saved a ton of frustration.

Just picked up a set last night after studying the bolt layout. Good call!

 

[bigred90gt]

Just picked up a set last night after studying the bolt layout. Good call!

I bought a full set of metric and sae ratcheting wrenches just for this job. When it came time to install them, after I already had the manifolds out, I realized they sent me 2x 7/16” and no 3/8” in the set. I may have cussed them as I chugged a beer in disappointment.

 

[Throwin Plugs]

I bought a full set of metric and sae ratcheting wrenches just for this job. When it came time to install them, after I already had the manifolds out, I realized they sent me 2x 7/16” and no 3/8” in the set. I may have cussed them as I chugged a beer in disappointment.

Thats rough. I just bought 2 sets (one of each) from duralast. They seem just as good as my matco wrenches, if it breaks I get a new one. I double check it had a 3/8 lol

 

[James OBrien]

I bought these when I did mine a few years ago. I'm actually re-doing mine now as I'm putting heads back on after getting the engine back and with these two tool sets it only took like two hours (oh, and I've got a lift )

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V5EG8G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002U2ODE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Throwin Plugs]

Welp shes in the air, tires off, fender well covers out. Pulled the heat shields off for a check and PB blasting, no broken bolts or studs thank god.

Unfortunately it started to drizzle and I ran outta light (gotta do it in the street unfortunately.) So I'm biting my nails knowing it's on jack stands over night (to be fair I stuck 2 more under the front cross member jussstt in case. Hopefully it goes smooth in the AM!