OK guys, the fun begins tomorrow. My HPC-coated Edelbrock headers will begin migrating to my exhaust ports on each head.

Here are the tips I have picked up from reading on the net, and from various members here on Yotatech:

Seriously though, anything I missed?

PS: I will do a before and after 30 – 70MPH 3rd gear WOT test comparison and post the data.

 

Are you going to weld the new crossover pipe on, or are you taking it to a shop?

 

The crossover pipe actually fits together via supplied fittings. Its where it meets the cat that the weld is needed.

 

Oh I see. Did you buy that welder?

 

No, I didn’t. I plan on making a mark on the flange where it meets the cat connection, then taking it in for a quick weld to a muffler shop. I just can’t make up my mind about the welder situation, and my wife isn’t too happy about the $200 HPC coating charge on top of the $375 for the headers.

“But honey, I made $3500 profit on the 2000 4Runner from ebay!”

- that doesn’t seem to work for some reason…

 

Strange how that works isn't it!!

When I sell something, I have plans for what to spend it on. But for some reason it never works out the way I planned it!!


Remember to take lots of pics!

 

ah man you have no idea what your in for. I mean I guess you do, but that install is a beyach. I didn't do mine, b/c on gadget's site his number one advice was "if you can pay someone else to do it, then go with that" But I was there when the guy put mine in, he busted his knuckles numerous times, he cussed more times in a minute then I do in a week. =) and he spent damn near 5 hours on it (included lunch). At the end he said "this is so not worth $250." Which is what I paid to install them.

At the end of the day, while the gains were noticable, it wasn't what I expected. So I started saving up for the supercharger. I should have done it the other way around. Gotten the supercharger first and the headers second. oh well, live and you learn.

Good luck with it though. Oh and I want to see the pics with blood!

 

I want to know before and after fuel mileage. I heard that it might make a 2MPG differance. If that is true they would pay for themselves eventually.

 

defeinite improvement in gas mileage. At least until you put 285's on. :pat:

 

The only other thing I would do, and its mostly for those like me that are curious, is after you get one (or both) of the stock manifold(s) off, lay it next to the new header and take a couple of pictures. In doing so, also lay the old gasket across the new header, just so you (and us curious folks) can visibly see the differences.

I have used (and re-used) stock gaskets with aftermarket headers before with much success (during my Ford days), so I wouldn't worry about that. What kind/type of material are the new gaskets that came with the headers?

 

The good news (I think) is that I have two things going for me that most people do not.

1. My wife and I carpool, so I can take my time. It could sit for over a week if need be.
2. I have a 1” body lift, which I hear helps with the install because it obviously lifts the body away from the engine, allowing more room to work with. We’ll see.

I still don’t know what to do about the gaskets. Milan (Fatty CBR) tells me that the Edelbrock gaskets are crappy. Even with the slightest leak, the hot exhaust gasses will burn through the material. He told me to consider the stock gaskets. I guess I will have to see what type of condition they are in.

I track my fuel mileage religiously, and you can count on before and after figures.

 

They look like fiber with metal netting sandwiched in the middle...if that makes sense.

 

Are you doing the install by yourself?

 

I am, which is normally how I do things. However, observers will not be turned away if they wanted to take a look.

 

Are you taking the day off tomorrow?

I'll be in the area around noon.

 

Unfortunetly not...I will be starting around 6PM tomorrow night though, and going into Saturday ~

 

I see.

I am off of work at 5PM..

 

Just a word of caution-

I had a shop install mine. They called me up and said that the whole works wasn't fitting together properly. I drove down to the shop and looked everything over and sure enough, the passenger side collector wasn't bent correctly from Edelbrock and prohibited an otherwise easy connection. So, the shop had to coax everything to fit together.

 

Thanks for the tip!

KING- I PM'd you my cell...

 

Is there some reason, besides money, that you would reuse the stock manifold gaskets rather than buy new stock manifold gaskets? If the stock ones are the best, would not "new" stock ones be better?
Just curious,
Mike