I ordered the header for my CLS Monday and it is supposed to be delivered as of this Friday. I was looking into installing it at my buddy's shop. He looked up the hours on it and it said 4-6 hours... I can swap headers on my Civic in about 5-10 minutes at his shop....

Am I in for a long job swapping this out or is the book exaggerated? I searched, but doesn't look like anyone has any install info.

PS. I was going to wrap the headers with DEI Titanium Exhaust Wrap, but not sure of how much will be needed for the entire section (3-1 & 2-1). I was thinking 2 of the 2"x50'. Has anyone else wrapped their headers?

 

Unless you run into serious issues its a 2hr job tops. The hardest part will be removing the 3 bolts that attach to the cat. With having a shop and a lift available you wont have any issues.

 

i concur^^^ about 2-3 hours with the proper tools and a lift and about 6-8 in your driveway because of the leverage being a pain and the space.
either way, its still a tight fit with medium-large hands.
make sure you bolt everything up loosely and then tighten front to back...gl

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't want to get into this any have to back out if it takes too long as we're going off it taking 4 hours and we both have plans later in the night Saturday... lol

Picking up exhaust wrap on the way there and wrapping the main 3-1 headers while the car cools down. I'll wrap the rest at a later date as the local shops only have 2"x15' readily available and I can't order any to have here by Friday....

 

The headers were delivered today. I'm wrapping them in DEI Titanium. Only zip ties are holding it until get have all the slack twisted out.

 

very nice job...gl

 

My mechanic buddy was sick all weekend, and I'm not going to install these without a lift and air tools. Makes life much easier. Hopefully next weekend or some time this week.

 

Good choice, believe me on that...lol

 

I'm going to try to install the XS-P headers by myself. I have no air tools or lift.

I have the stock jack that comes with the car, a torque wrench, and a socket set. Think I can do it? I can always rent/buy a real jack from AutoZone if needed.

I have small hands, and don't have an issue with sneaking into small spaces. Think I should give it a go, or just send it to a trusted shop? I kind of want to do it just for the experience (as with everything else I've done.)

 

Not a good idea as standard hand tools will come will stripping/snapping the rusted bolts on the exhaust. And to insure that the header is tightened correctly, you're going to want to have quick access to under the hood then under the car and back again. Make sure you use floor jacks to support the car if you're serious. It's not about small hands, it's about making sure you don't mess something up because you don't have to proper tools.

 

x2 on the jack stands. Lift the car and then put the jack stands under and let the car down on the jack stands. Make sure your parking brake is engaged and put something behind the rear wheels just to be sure.

I'm pretty sure you can tighten the rear (near firewall) nuts from under the car. The front nuts you can tight from the top. It's definitely doable, just a PITA. Get some PB blaster to soak the nuts in prior to jacking everything up. By the time you're ready to start disassembling everything it should be ok but there is a chance that the nuts/bolts are stubborn. All you really need is a cresent wrench and a rachet to attack them from either side. Also need a wrench to remove the O2 sensor

 

Hmm ok. Yea, I don't want to risk an improper install. I'll have the shop handle it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

lol its not rocket science. you cant use air tools for half the bolts anyways because they simply wont fit where you need to get to. the only air tool you'd need would be for the cat bolts, otherwise everything else mostly has to be done by hand. you MIGHT be able to fit an air ratchet in.

 

introducing the wobble head... lol

j/k

I'm used to doing garage work, but I'm getting old (28 feeling like 50) with metal plates in both wrists, a rod in my left arm, a screwed up back, and both shoulders with dislocation problems, yeah... I'm going to the shop with a lift to work on my car in the future. lol

 

the extra time allowed me to rewrap the 2-1 section... Looks MUCH better than before.

 

that looks wonderful, makes me wish i did this too..

Karanx, if you have small hands, then it def. helps with the install, but you def. need jack stands and a level as possible surface. 24" extension for a socket wrench would really help out too, but it still will take you a lot longer to do, rather than a lift, and yes too the PB blaster as well and patience....gl

 

just curious, what header is this?

 

Megan racing. I've ran with their stuff in the past and always had great results. Hoping for the same out of this.

 

DAMN, at least you did something different, eveybody does dc sports or xs power for knockoffs, and of course comptech for the real deal...gl

 

I'm sorry, but if the specs are the same, then why spend the money? Plus megans aren't that cheap...

 

i agree with ya man..have fun with the gains

 

HKS 75mm Carbon-TI Muffler ordered today. Going to try to run a 2.75" once it gets in and my funds go back up.

Of course, I'm not putting on the catback exhaust until the suspension is installed, which will also be Megan true Coils. I just like the ride of the Megans and for the money, they're the best buy in my book.

BTW - I used a 2"x15' for each 3-1 & 1x 2"x50' on the 2-1 and have about 20' left over. In case anyone was wondering or planning on doing this to their headers.

 

Nice choice on the exhaust, thats exactly what i was gonna do next weekend.
I guess ill go with my second choice, which is a spoon n1, so we dont have the same...gl

 

Header was installed in 1hr 15 mins! And that was with me finishing the stainless wraps. The car sounds amazing now. With the factory exhaust, it's like a 350z & a subaru had a baby!

 

PS, custom ice box is next....

 

wow, thats a fast install...cool, now let the mod bug lead you to the next thing...haha

 

TaDuh!

 

looks great, now get the exhaust done...lol

 

I'm going to have the exhaust built/fitted soon, but I'm not going to actually install it until I have it coated & my suspension on. I think a single sided exhaust would look funny while I'm still looking like I'm in 4x4 mode! lol Plus I still need to order the rest of the lip kit I will be modifying for the CL. The first front lip I ordered didn't pan out and I basically wasted $175 & 15 hours of my time. Hopefully the second one as well as the side skirts & rear lip will actually work a little better.

Oh, then I still have to order in my new tires for the new wheels... This is my money pit... Watch me dig! lol