Well I've read most of the "howtos" for installing your own headers, but I just wanted to add a few pointers for problems that I ran into during my install.

Rusted heatshield bolts---My heatshield bolts were so rusted (even using PB blaster) all but 1 of them rounded off when trying to get it loose. A dremel tool to cut the heads off, a torch to melt them off, or a chisel and hammer to break the heads off may be needed. Nobody mentioned this in any of the howtos that I read.

Extra jack for crossmember---This can REALLY help when you are doing it by yourself and trying to reinstall your crossmember (or your ypipe) so you don't have to try and hold the whole thing up while trying to catch threads with the subframe bolts.

Extra thermal insulation---Cattman sends a small piece for one of the coolant lines that goes near the front header, but I found that a few wires (especially the primary 02 sensor wires) end up REALLY close to the headers. I wrapped them just incase.

Get some friends that will help---It would have taken me half as long if I'd had someone passing me tools and moving things around or holding things when I needed them.

Last one: If you can afford it, just pay somebody to do the install, it was pretty horrible.

 

How much clearance did you give yourself to get these out? I assume you were on jackstands and your back most of the time. How long was the total install? When are you tuning? Did you pick up a rear section too? Any pics of before/after/during/of the headers?

 

You didn't have to remove the passenger side axle? I was just looking under my 03 to see all that would have to be removed to install my Cattman Headers! That's why I'm going with ceramic coating, to lower the header radiated temp and protect all that plastic crap from melting or heat damage! I've plenty of Cool It thermal tech sleeves just for that...I was also able to find some really high quality gaskets made of copper from SCE for the Header to y-pipe connection, cause I thought the supplied gaskets were pretty cheap looking and I only like to do things 1 time...Those p/n's are 4220 ( 2.25" round 3 bolt circle)! I'm shooting for this summer to install mine! Are you running any kind of piggy back Fcontroller? How much more Whp can be made with a fuel controller and headers?

 

I had my headers installed at a shop. There was no need to remove the axle.
I didn't have a driveway or the correct tools at the time. For horsepower increase I gained about 25% , baseline was 208 fwhp. Modded as per my signature

 

Do they salt the roads were you live? That can make a big difference with respects to exhaust/manifold bolts. How long did it take you, start to finish? How long would it have taken if you didn't have the problems with the bolts?

The header on my Accord took 45 minutes or so, but everything was right up front. Dealing with the rear bank and firewall looks like it won't be nearly as easy.

 

It took around 10 hours because of the rusty bolts and each of the oxygen sensors being horribly siezed.

If it was a new car, I can imagine less than 3 hours if all the bolts came loose easy.

 

Hey Guy, Did you have to remove the passenger axle? Are also running a piggy back fuel controller? I got Cattman headers for My 03' auto that I working on the ceramic coating and adding an extra o2 sensor bung! I bought all new hardware along with some copper SCE gasket that fit between the header and the y-pipe, and new Oem exhaust manifold gaskets. I know the old ones can be reused, I just want to have no weak points! I guess i'll measure my O2 sensor's heater resistance and place a resistor there along with that o2 simulator! How much WHP did you gain? I'm already running the Cattman Exhaust system w/ Warpspeed stainless substrate hi flow cat.

 

break the heat shields off. your not using them again.

put up with the install yourself or pay more to install them

i got gaskets from summit racing and oem gaskets as well with copper rtv.
air tools also help and patience is required.
header wrap is optional

 

According to several reputable sources that I consulted, RTV has been known to foul 02 sensors when used on your headers or ypipe.

I'd definately not take above poster's advice about using ANY type of RTV on your exhaust.

The ypipe gaskets that came with it are working just fine... and I had no problems with reusing the stock manifold gaskets.

It sounds like alot of you are over thinking all this.

Also, I did not have to remove the radiator, the passenger side axle, or even unbolt the motor mounts.... You can get at the rear one easier from the top if you unbolt the elbow of the IM.

 

I don't like having the entire weight of my body on top of the engine. I thought getting it from underneath was easier...especially when you tilt the engine.

 

Hey,
I' ve asked you 3 times already, but you have never answered whether or not you are running a piggyback fuel controller. Since many car owners claim our cars will run richer with headers! I'm not sure yet cause I haven't installed them yet! How much WHP have you gained since the Install?????????? I would think them would run a bit leaner than the 10.5 to 1 A/F ratio we're running in OEM stock form!
I'm not over thinking this I'm just making sure all my bases are covered cause if I ever have to remove anything again for whatever reason! I'll be able to reuse those copper gaskets, newly installed hardware(w/antiseize), etc...See when bought my Cattman exhaust it came with some inexpensive gaskets which I used @ the rear muffler assy. When IO was doing some 1/4 mile runs, I was comparing the stock to the Cattman and the inexpensive gasket were not reusable. Matter of fact there wasn't much of it left! So I've installed the Oem stainless multi-layered gasket thru out the Cattman exhaust so I won't have to worry about any burnt out gaskets in the future! It's the little **** that comes back to haunt you when you're tweaking and modded your ride!

 

No problems here with copper rtv.
plus with headers only the primary sensors are left no secondaries.

 

And I haven't answered you simply because my mods are listed in my sig, and I don't feel like I should have to spoonfeed you what you could have read all 3 times you've asked.

I haven't dyno'd yet, probably next week.

 

Stop assuming



Does that look richer than 10.5:1 to you?

 

Hey, I saw your listing....So what exactly is the custom maf/wai consist of? And what is the custom sts? Your vehicle and mine are almost exact copies, except mine is an auto and i don't have heated seats!
How much growl do you get from your Injen Intake w/Cattman headers, Cattman exhaust system installed? When I Installed my Cattman exhaust system/y-pipe a few yrs back the exhaust velocity dropped, when compared to the Oem exhaust system....So I bought the Cattman headers to increase the exhaust velocity(no more precats) and increase the scavenging effect in the combustion chambers will also increase the intake charge velocity! Getting that awesome intake growl back! I don't need to be spoon feed. I'm just trying to learn from those that have preformed mods, I haven't performed yet! I Didn't mean to make you respond so anally

 

Well the custom MAF/WAI isn't an injen intake, so I'm not sure where you are going with that. It growls about as much as any WAI. It's simply made of 3" ID PVC with a JWT popcharger as the filter.

The custom STS is the "free sts" that you could easily search for that most of the 6 spd guys have done.

I DO NOT HAVE A CATTMAN CATBACK. I have a stock catback. If my mod list included a cattman catback, then I would understand why you are implying that I have one, but I'm at a loss as to the reason for your assumption.

My intake noise hasn't changed at all except when I installed the spacers. They cause it to "whistle" alot more under load above 3k RPMs. Other than that, no differences.

The reason I was being '****' with you is because you could have read my signature and answered this question that you asked me over and over. I pointed you to the answer, so I'm not sure what was so **** about it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CMax03
Hey,
I' ve asked you 3 times already, but you have never answered whether or not you are running a piggyback fuel controller.

 

So are you stock/Oem? Of coarse not! So why reply? It's not an assumption...it's how the Nissan engineers kill our power potential @ higher rpm is cool it down in an over rich condition, and close thate electronic throttle butterfly flap! Are you running headers and fuel controller?

 

Sorry about the cattman exhaust assumption! But the Injen intake was listed on your Cardomain site that I looked at while reading your list of mods! I'm an Auto as I stated B4, so no time asking about mods that don't and won't apply (STS)! What does WAI stand for?

 

warm air intake, it's the same as short ram intake.