header install

[lil' jon]

I installed my pacesetter headers a little while ago. I'm still having a little trouble getting the old o2 sensors out of the stock manifolds, any suggestions?
I put a few coats of vht silver paint on them and cured them in the oven. I also bought a can of copper spray-a-gasket and coated all the gasket surfaces with that (using felro gaskets).
This thread would be useless without pics so here ya go:
Painting:


Curing:


Installed:

strut tower brace is missing...
And I've been working on a custom s-pipe:

...still plenty of work to do there

I guess this thread is kind of pointless, just thought you guys would like to see some shiny parts haha.

[97rs4life]

Re: header install

you don't plan on eating in that stove anymore do you???


Usually you have to take a torch to the manifolds to get the old o2s free. They can get pretty rusted in there.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: header install

you don't plan on eating in that stove anymore do you???

That's the same thought I had. I wouldn't eat anything out of there.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: header install

Oh, and take those POS Felpro gaskets back and get the GM ones.

[ACiFiC]

Re: header install

thought copper gaskets were the way to go.

[97rs4life]

Re: header install

thought copper gaskets were the way to go.

the SCE copper gaskets, not fel-pro

[lil' jon]

Re: header install

I hope the oven is ok haha, I've baked a few frozen pizzas in there since then. They tasted fine and I don't have brain damage yet...
So I'm gathering that the felpro gaskets are garbage? Think the 3 coats of copper spray-a-gasket will help at all?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: header install

No, cause the fel-pros are flat metal, OE gaskets are crush to fit.

[lil' jon]

Re: header install

alright good to know

[Choppers]

Re: header install

yea get the SCE gaskets. I like mine so far.

[ssms5411]

Re: header install

I've ran felpros with copper spray for 3-4 years now, no problems, ran 125-150 shots of nitrous and held up great( I like their design becuase you can put 2 bolts in and then slide the gaskets in and then put th rest of the bolt in , makes it real easy to line up and get the copper spray to seal perfect). But since I have the copper ones now , I will use them with copper spray once my new heads go on. Also use copper 3 bolt flanges with copper spray on the Y pipe and it works great. I had a set last 8 years with no problems.

[enzia35]

Re: header install

Great pics, always good to see someone working on these f-bodies.

[BallerMaro13]

Re: header install

unfortunately, despite all of your work to coat and bake them, everything is going to peel right off in minutes.

i did the exact same thing, coated - baked - coated - baked --- and within 20 mins it all came right off from the heat. good luck haha.

otherwise, nice looking install :tup:

[enzia35]

Re: header install

For O2 sensors, just go with new ones.

[lil' jon]

Re: header install

Damn I hope the paint holds up better than that, no big deal if it doesn't though.
I guess I should get new o2's, but I didn't plan on spending the extra money on them. Anyone know a good place to get them cheap?