UPDATED: headers on but need help asap!!!

['94firebirdv6]

well yes they do go into the block. i guess dreams really do come true [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]
anyway i worked on it again tonight good news:
i took a hacksaw blade and sawed by hand for like 2 hours to cut off that bolt(center, top bolt on driverside with bracket connected to vaccum line) as soon as i cut through it the whole manifold broke free of the head. its still attached to the y but after that driver side manifold is out! i just need to get some vise grips and remove the stud.
Bad news:
still havin trouble w/ pass. side i need to know what is that pipe that threads into the manifold beside the egr and how do i get it off? also the one bolt i cant get to is the one in the very front bottom right by the AC compressor. my haynes manual says you gotta disconnect the ac. im hopin i can just undo the bolts and get some clearence without having to completely discharge it and remove it from the car. did u 3.4 guys have to take your ac out of the car to put on headers?
thanks

[Predator Bird]

ahhh yes the bottom bolt toward the front. we were able to get it out w/o taking off the a/c. of course it took about 3 hours. we had one person under the car put the wrench on the bolt while a guy above the car turned it little by little. i forget how we broke it free, but it was a long process b/c only those two could see the correct angle that their hands would fit.

as for the pipe the egr is connected to, just remove all the bolts and that thing should either come out or swing out of the way.

['94firebirdv6]

thats good news about the ac. i did not want to have to discharge that sob.
what do you mean by swing out??
it is threaded into the manifold. what is that for? does it go on the new headers?
thanks alot

[AlienInv8r]

If it makes you feel any better, I'm having a b*tch of a time with rusted bolts as well. I've only spent 2 hours though and am already getting frustrated, lol, dont have the patience you have. I'm letting it soak for a bit in penetrating oil right now.

['94firebirdv6]

i just hope that no one ever has to go through what i did to cut through a bolt with a hacksaw blade by hand. :eek:

[Predator Bird]

are you talking about this? i forget what i did w/ it. i know it wasn't a problem for me. i either took it out or worked around it.

[crasher]

I wish I wouldn't have read this post since I"m going to be putting headers on my 94 3.4 probably in about 3-4 months

[BLLDOGG]

have fun ;)

j/k.....with correct preperation, its no big deal

['94firebirdv6]

predator:
no i already took that off. behind that is a pipe that threads into the manifold but dont worry about it now cuz i got it off.

i miss having my car. i didnt have time to work on it at all this weekend. and i wont be able to tomorrow either. :( between games, practice, dances, work and school there just isnt enough time in the day

[MDCamaro]

I have a 97 A4. I used lots of wd40 and whatever else I found laying around. Took two days. Dropped the starter. Sawsall the y pipe. Forget the collector. Sawsall the heat shield. Most of mine were studs. Half came right out. The rest needed every craftsman gimic wrench I could find.

I used muffler cement to seal the air tube for the EGR pump.

The Pace Setter headers fit great no leaks.

Tighten the header bolts 3 times. First cold, second the next day after you smoke the headers in the drive way, third about 2-3 days later cold,

[TealV6]

What headers are you installing? I'm not sure if I was just lucky or what, but I've done 2 different header installs on 94 3.4L's in an afternoon. One with manual, one with auto. The auto was the worst.

PB blaster and heat are your friend. You need to soak for time. Multiple times a day you need to go spray the bolts down. Then while removing them... use the heat. It can be as simple as MAPP gas, but OXY would be better.

Steve

['94firebirdv6]

pacesetters

alright heres the update:
tonight i completely removed the driver side manifold, swapped O2 sensor to headers, and cut out the y pipe that goes to the driver side. only 2 more bolts on the pass. side and the old logs are out of the car

[TealV6]

With Pacesetters, make sure you have the O2 bung re-tapped. There welding sucks and leaves lots of slag.

['94firebirdv6]

what do you mean by slag?
my O2 screwed in fine.
last night i got the bolt off behinf the ac in 10 mins :D
i just unbloted the ac compressor from the bracket and that gave me enought clearence to get a socket on it. the old logs are almost off!

i'll post a comparison pick of manifolds/headers
its pathetic how restrictive those things are

[AlienInv8r]

Originally posted by '94firebirdv6:
what do you mean by slag?

Slag is all the excess stuff from when you weld. Usually the sheilding around the welding material and oxidation and splatter leave residues if you weld bad. So he probably means the threading may not be perfect anymore from slag getting in it during their welding.