justin00v6
06-14-2003, 12:49 PM
Since I've put LTs on and taken stock headers on and off a bunch of times I figure I would write up a few tips.
The stock header studs and bolts holes are M8 with a 1.25 pitch. You may want to pick up this tap before you start in case you manage to tear up a hole. Sometimes metric taps can be hard to find.
Doing headers is really pretty easy if you take your time and are patient. The bolts are not in the best place but with a few tools you can get to them just fine.
For these purposes 13mm and 1/2 are interchangeable, so are 3/16 and 5mm.
I like to have on hand:
3/8 and 1/4 drive ratchet
13mm deep socket
5mm short socket
13mm box/open end wrenches
Nice to have:
13mm wrench "gear wrench" or craftsmand brand
1/4 and 3/8 u joints
short 1" extensions for 1/4 and 3/8 drive
13mm short socket
1/4" air ratchet or 3/8"
13mm medium socket
(pick any of the above to make your job easier)
Sometimes you need the leverage of the longer 3/8 drive or the small size of the 1/4 drive.
Stock headers are held on by studs. 13mm locking nut and the studs will take a 5mm socket on the end.
The air ratchet can make things go much faster, you can get a 3/8" air ratchet in there but its harder to move around. If you only have a 3/8 air ratchet to work with try and get 13mm sockets in that size, the added length of a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter can limit its usage.
The ratcheting box wrenches can make things go faster. The craftsman sets are close to $100 but places like lowes sell the gear wrench brand seperately at around $10 each.
If you are installing LTs undo the steering shaft by pulling the bottom little bolt all the way out and then tape the shaft in the up position.
Some PB blaster or similar to spray on stubborn bolts.
Use as many of the header studs as you can IMO...using bolts risks screwing up the threads. Install the studs first then put the header on and then the nut. Often the mac flanges are poorly aligned so its easy to put a bolt or stud in at the wrong angle and trash the threads. Sometimes only a header bolt will fit though due to curvature of the primaries on aftermarket headers. The Mac and www.headersbyed.com bolts have a 12mm head.
The stock ford SS header gaskets are pretty nice, you can probably reuse them just fine.
Thats all I can think of for now.
The stock header studs and bolts holes are M8 with a 1.25 pitch. You may want to pick up this tap before you start in case you manage to tear up a hole. Sometimes metric taps can be hard to find.
Doing headers is really pretty easy if you take your time and are patient. The bolts are not in the best place but with a few tools you can get to them just fine.
For these purposes 13mm and 1/2 are interchangeable, so are 3/16 and 5mm.
I like to have on hand:
3/8 and 1/4 drive ratchet
13mm deep socket
5mm short socket
13mm box/open end wrenches
Nice to have:
13mm wrench "gear wrench" or craftsmand brand
1/4 and 3/8 u joints
short 1" extensions for 1/4 and 3/8 drive
13mm short socket
1/4" air ratchet or 3/8"
13mm medium socket
(pick any of the above to make your job easier)
Sometimes you need the leverage of the longer 3/8 drive or the small size of the 1/4 drive.
Stock headers are held on by studs. 13mm locking nut and the studs will take a 5mm socket on the end.
The air ratchet can make things go much faster, you can get a 3/8" air ratchet in there but its harder to move around. If you only have a 3/8 air ratchet to work with try and get 13mm sockets in that size, the added length of a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter can limit its usage.
The ratcheting box wrenches can make things go faster. The craftsman sets are close to $100 but places like lowes sell the gear wrench brand seperately at around $10 each.
If you are installing LTs undo the steering shaft by pulling the bottom little bolt all the way out and then tape the shaft in the up position.
Some PB blaster or similar to spray on stubborn bolts.
Use as many of the header studs as you can IMO...using bolts risks screwing up the threads. Install the studs first then put the header on and then the nut. Often the mac flanges are poorly aligned so its easy to put a bolt or stud in at the wrong angle and trash the threads. Sometimes only a header bolt will fit though due to curvature of the primaries on aftermarket headers. The Mac and www.headersbyed.com bolts have a 12mm head.
The stock ford SS header gaskets are pretty nice, you can probably reuse them just fine.
Thats all I can think of for now.