Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

[azadian2b]

Would anybody WHO HAS DONE THIS JOB BEFORE be available to help me install Pacesetter headers on Sunday August 10th? Other days during the week are ok too, as long as it only takes 1 day. No welding involved, just installing the headers and Y-pipe. I will take the car to shop to weld to my cat.

I have:
1) Headers+Y pipe+Gaskets+Locking Bolts
2) Basic tools, sawzall, dremmel

Is there anything else that I need? If no one can help out or I don't get a response soon, I'm just gonna take it to a shop, I'm too worried about breaking off a bolt when taking out my exhaust manifolds to do it all by myself.

My address is 13 Collier Lane Morganville, NJ 07751 if you need to figure out distance or directions.
Cell:732-618-7077
email:azadian2b@gmail.com

Car Experience: A4 to M5 conversion(speedo sender being shipped). General Maintenance

[Blizzard242]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

You've done an a4-m5 and you're afraid to change your headers? Common man grow some balls!!

[azadian2b]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

breaking exhaust manifold bolts=EPIC FAIL. I really don't want to deal with that, and I'd just really like some help; I didn't realize my manliness was going to come into question...

[u441105]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

You're more of a man than me, I'm just having a shop do it. Not wanting the headers to drop on my face as I lay under the car was also a big deciding factor.

[azadian2b]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

u441105 did you get any labor estimates yet or do you know anyway in particular who does this? Im assuming its gonna be around 300 and i really dont want to have to pay that...I dont live too far from bridgewater.

[u441105]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

Well the shop I'm bringing it to is in Bridgewater and their estimate was roughly $200 to $300 (probably closer to the $300 end) after lifting my car up and checking it out. I'm bringing them the headers, gaskets, locking bolts, a cat, and a u-pipe they have to fab up for me so it's not just the headers for that price.

They did my catback a month ago and I'd say they did a great job. They didn't weld it, just clamps but I've had no problems so that's why I;m bringing it back to them to finish out my exhaust.

[azadian2b]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

alright, well bridgewater is a little far. Id have to drive without exhaust from marlboro, but could you give me a referral? Feel free to email me. However, if there is anyone out there who could help me do the install i'm still very open to doing at my house...
Thanks guys(and gals!),
Nathaniel McKinnon

[Blizzard242]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

You can do it. Make sure to get some PB blaster. I think anyone on the board that has used it would say the same. That stuff is amazing for bolts.

[screamin 99]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

do it your self its not as bad as you think. is this car your DD? because you may need a little time to get it done right. like they blizzard 242 said get PB blaster, ratcheting wrenches help a lot, a friend (doesn't need to be mechanically inclined, just needs to be able to hold lights and give moral support things like that) also for the drivers side header, you need to disconnect the steering shaft not a big deal. Just think of it this way your just swapping parts you dont need to figure much out. 97rs for life has a great write up on installing pacesetter headers. look that up and good luck

[azadian2b]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

Thanks for the moral support guys. I've read 97rs' writeup and its detail is what is discourageing me...If the instructions were: 1) take out manifolds, 2) put in headers, I'd be like "bring it on". But worring about spark plug wires, o2 sensors, egr hookups etc in addition to rusty out of the way bolts is a different story. If I can get someone who has done it before to help me I'd be all for doing it myself. While this car is not my DD (I don't actually drive right now - I use the train to commute), once school (rutgers) starts up again at the beginning of september, it will be. I just don't have a lot of time and can't afford to just let the car sit. I work weekdays and i live in apartment about 45 minutes from where the car is (at my parents') so I really need my time to be effective. Normally id just do the work, but when i did the a4-m5 swap i broke off the bolts at the end of my exhaust manifold without much resistance at all and I'm just concerned that it will happen again except this time in a much less accessible area.

Still looking for some help!

[stevethepirate]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

I had mine done at harris speed works (bucks county, Pa) and paid $350 or so for the headers and welding the cat. I would have tackled it myself, but I was going on vacation for 2 weeks, and then needed the car to drive back to school the next day. I wish I had done it myself, because they didn't do a good enough job for the money.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

pb blast them the night before, let them soak overnight, hit em in the morning, start the car, let it get warm, let it cool, hit em again, warm it up again, hit em again, and they'll come right out.

biggest PITA was the damn heatshields.

[screamin 99]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

X2 on the heat shields

[azadian2b]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

The hardest bolts ive ever had to get out were the top 2 bellhousing bolts on the A4, and getting in the master cylinder u bolt for the clutch master. How do the heatshield bolts compare to that? Easier/Harder/Stickier etc...

Still looking for help!!! Cmon NJ!!!

[superj988]

Re: Help installing pacesetters central NJ?

getting the heat shield bolts out are easy, but getting the heat shield out is the problem