I just got my XS power headers in the mail! two days total to get it shipped from ebay, very quick delivery. i think im going to try to get a digital camera, and do a DIY for these this weekend or next weekend. i have a few questions though. 1, the O rings (compression gaskets) that came with it are basically made of plastic...is that right? and the manifold to head gaskets are very cheap feeling as well, can i just reuse my oem ones? and what tools do i need exactly?

 

From what i read on the other thread.... the o-ring gaskets i got weren't plastic i dont think they were maybe sometype of soft metal but not plastic but were still good to use...... and re-using the oem manifold gasket is ok which i did. Also fsttym1 suggested getting longer/stronger bolts as well. I noticed in my set half of the bolts were 4.8 and the other half were 8.8....so i just went and bought some stronger ones and used those instead.

 

you'll need the O-rings that came with the headers.. DO NOT throw them away. You'll need to use them for the installation. You can still reuse the OEM gaskets that go over the exhaust manifold as well; no need to waste money buying new gaskets.

 

Where on ebay?

 

See the first page Plat.....https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180508



here's the direct ebay link untill it gets deleted---sorry Mods

**mod edit**

 

Yeah, it was under the name "XSP Honda Accord 1998 99 00 01 2002 V6 Header" and it was 110$ plus 32$ shipping. great deal for headers

 

at that price..... if they do crack in a few years,you can change them like socks.

 

[QUOTE=Phesto]See the first page Plat.....https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180508



here's the direct ebay link untill it gets deleted---sorry Mods


Thanks I was looking for it the other day but couldnt find it. I like these better than my Megan since it doesnt have a second stupid flex pipe and its bigger.

 

coming from Megans and now having the XS myself,I couldn't agree more.

 

so what about tools guys? i want to know what i need so i can ask people i know for them, haha

 

Where did you get the stronger bolts from?

 

i was told at a home depot of lowes type of store

 

Cool, I thought the dealer was the only option. Those bolts cost a grip over there.

 

i used an air impact wrench with about 400 lb torque to get the nuts and bolts off of the cat and head->downpipe. use lower pressure to get the nuts from the manifold->head in front. and in back, since my impact dont fit and my air wrench was not strong enough, i just used a rachet with a pvc pipe(ghetto yet cheap way), or just get a breaker bar. if i remember correctly, you'll need sockets 10, 12, 14, and something bigger for something else i dun remember.... . but they're the common size. good luck. oh, and just use a big enough wrench to get the o2 sensor off. i don't remember what size wrench that was either, but it was big. hopefully you'll have all variety of sizes there to work with. good luck.

oh. btw, for the impact wrench, they have electric ones too in case you don't have an air compressor.... but air is the way to go.

 

OH.....

then, you'll need 3 other guys there. one to do the stuff under the car while the other hands him the tools. it'll make it easier on him. then you can have the other guy on the top side to do the stuff in the engine bay while the guy under can watch to make sure.... cuz i don't think you can really see the nuts on the back side of the manifold. and the other guy handing the tools can be your convo buddy for the next 2-4 hours while you tell those guys what to do.... OH, and have a 24 pack(at least) with you or they won't listen....

^^ that's probably the easiest way... have all the tools, 3 other guys, and at least a 24 pack.... cheap and easy and didn't have to break a sweat.... GL.

 

wait, i realize you're only 18.... so, go find another guy that's at least 21 to get your beer for ya... and maybe invite him to come over and watch the other guys work on your car... haha

 

Keep teh O rings and reuse the stock manifold gaskets. The bolts any hardware store or lowes/depot will have. Tools are 10, 12, 14mm sockets. You will need 1/2 inch and 3/8 drive wratchets (to make things easy) and some extensions. You will need a larger box wrench (cant remember off the top of my head the size) for the O2 sensor. Start with the cat bolts as they will be the hardest to get off and the most time consuming

 

02 sensor wrench should be 22mm.

 

what would be the easiest way to jack up your car to do this job?

 

i was thinking about some ramps?

 

If your lowered with an oem lip you won't make it up ramps (my case). So I just used a jack and jackstands. But if your not, ramps are the easiest way.

 

i bought a 2 ton hydrolic jack from pepboys, $19.99

 

hydraulic*

 

where exactly do the o-rings go? is it between the a-pipe and the headers?

 

there are little cut outs where the headers connect to the down-pipe and where the down-pipe connects to the cat. just put them in the cut out and make sure they dont come out when you tighten.

 

can that even handle the weight of our cars? i tried jacking up the tl with a 2 ton jack from pepboys and it would not lift it high enough because the car was too heavy. btw, i hope you have jackstands. i wouldn't risk laying under that much weight without jackstands.

 

I don't recommend relying on a jack alone when working under the car. I have a Craftsman 3-ton jack and I still use jack stands to support the car.

Just my $0.02.

 

well considering the car doesnt even weigh 2 tons, and the fact that your never lifting the whole car or any where near 2 tons a 2 ton jack is more than enough. 2nd, i wouldnt waste money on a cheap jack, IE you get what you pay for. I would buy a good craftsman jack.

 

ALWAYS use jackstands. You only live once! get 6 point sockets so you don't round off nuts and spray them with Seafoam to loosen the night before.

 

i just put the car on one jackstand.
you can install these yourself, it just takes time.
get everything connected before you tighten anything.
i purchased new OEM header gaskets(learned my lesson from the Megans).
i must say these XS headers bolted right up, and you shouldn't have any sound issues.
definitely replace the nuts and bolts with something better fitting.
be careful with the 02 sensor, i found it easier to disconnect the wire harness and take the sensor out after i got the j pipe out of the car.

 

definitely start with the cat bolts...thats where you'll have a problem, if any.
if you take out everything else and get stuck on the cat bolts....thats no fun.
if you get stuck on the cat bolts up front, u can just take it some where and have it done.
and i don't how u could possibly get air impact wrench to the rear manifold.

 

they make small ones, and i wouldnt use it on the exhaust manifold bolts. They arent torqued much at all

 

i used some liquid wrench on my bolts on saturday night, to attempt to work on sunday morning. i worked on it for a good hour before i gave in. those bolts didnt buldge one bit(from the a-pipe to the converter)! i think i might have to get it installed at a shop...

 

Breaker bar and some muscle!!!!! Get your self a 1/2 inch 24" long breaker bar and you will get them right off.

 

All you have to do is heat them with a standard torch (Bernzomatic), then they will come loose with some muscle. Start at the catback, then remove the rear, then front Y-pipe , then exhaust manifolds. Install in reverse sequence. Also, buy some lock washers - if you look at the comptech site, they use two regular and a lock washer on each bolt...

Ramps and two people work fine, should take under three hours...

 

Spray the nuts beforehand with Seafoam spray. Use a cheap breaker (so you don't dent a nice one) and hit it a couple of times with a hammer. They'll come right off. I used all hand tools and had no problems on my '00.

 

Or get a good one that wont dent or break and use a pipe on it for more leverage

 

see now there's not that much muscle involved and the pipe is doing alot of work. lol

 

Not always true. Ive had to use all my muscle Plus a 4 foot pipe to get a halfshaft nut off (and i broke 2 high quality breaker bars trying, so there was alot of muscle involved). So sometimes it does require a bit of muscle.

 

I'm very tempted to get XS headers. I've read the other huge thread but I'm still having trouble believing that a $150 header could actually be good. I know it's only $150 but still, it's time and money. I'm also a little concerned about getting the bolts off; this seems to be a major problem several people are running into during installation. Someone convince me