Bowtie-Bri

My car came with headers when I bought it. To remove them, do they come out from the bottom or up through the engine compartment?

Do I need to remove the motor mount bolts and tilt the engine in any way to get them out?

My car does have factory AC so that will probably cause an issue.

They look like they fit in there pretty dang tight!

oldcutlass

I've always taken them out from the bottom. You may have to remove the oil filter adapter, starter, and possibly raise the engine depending on how tight everything is.

ronskal

Like Oldcutlass said, come out from the bottom.
Raise front onto jack stands- higher the better.
On mine the starter did not require removal but the steering rag joint was disconnected.
The RH side I would remove at least the oil filter but plan on the adapter also.
From there it is dependent on what idiosyncrasies your header brand/car set-up has with regards to if you have to lift the engine................

Rustbucket2

If you don't plan to re-use them or sale them. cut them out with saws all, no need to remove all those parts to get them out! Just a thought.

Bowtie-Bri

Thanks Guys!

seansolds

I don't apologize when I say this, this is probably the worst advice I've read on this site from a safety and damaging stand point. I never heard of anyone removing headers with a sawzall. I would highly reframe from using a sawzall unless you where cutting the car up to be junked.

Rustbucket2

I didn't say cut car in half to get them out!

woodie582

I cut mine out. Sometimes it’s more about the operator than anything else.

coppercutlass

raise the car up ., take all the header bolts off but the front one on the dr. side so you can let the header hang. This will allow you to drop the starter., Now you can remove the header all the way. The Pass. side remove oil filter and adapter then the headers on that side. If you plan on using headers a GM weather pack connector and remote battery cable terminal makes future removal a breeze . I usually drop headers a lot between engine swaps and trans work and what not so I made it easy for my self. I also added exhast hangers in the front so exhaust connection after header removal is easy.

Yellowstatue

It's ALL about the operator!!!

oldcutlass

I don't like to destroy good parts.

redoldsman

Eric, I agree with that. While they may not be worth a lot of money, somebody that does not have a big budget could probably use them. The more we help each other out the better.

woodie582

Obviously cutting would only be done if the components were at the end of their service life.

Professur

While it's a nice idea to save them for someone else ...projects take long enough already. If they're good and you can recover some funds by salvaging them, by all means. Personally, I rank things according to a pay scale. The more I enjoy doing it, the less I charge myself. Something I absolutely detest I might charge myself $50/h. Multiplied by the time expected I use that to decide whether or not to outsource the work to a professional. Recovering old headers would mean working on the car, which I like .. but dealing with rusty exhaust, which I don't. On average, if I don't think I could resell them for more than $100, I'd probably reach for the saw myself. Nice to help out others, but I help myself first.

Rocketman!442

Rocketman!442

Definitely out the bottom, have the car nice and high. I usually remove the drivers side engine mount and jack up that side of the engine slightly to ease in removal. mine is a 4 speed setup with the detached wrap around #7 tube.