|
Bassani header install progress...
Started today about 2pm. Got the K member and manifolds off by about 5. Started on the passenger side and got that one done! Those pesky Bassani gaskets are a joke! I also wasn't too happy about the collector. Didn't just slide on, had to muscle it and use the ol' 2x4 with hammer trick (yes, the pipes were loose and I used antiseize to help). Because of having to muscle it, of course the darn gaskets fell out. I tried just dropping the headers out with the collector still attached, NOT! Had to disassemble the entire side and redo it. What a pain in the ****. Tomorrow I'll tackle the drivers side and then put everything back together. I'm going to fire her up right after I get the K member reinstalled to check for leaks.
As for the looks of the headers themselves, they are a beautiful piece. I took some pics, but am too tired to post them. Will do it later on. For now, SLEEP!!! |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Keep us posted on the install details, and post those pics when you get rested!
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Quote:
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Got a late start today (after 2pm!). Finished up the passenger side with reinstalling the starter and motor mount. I tried installing a set of Energy Suspension poly motor mounts, but they interfered with the Bassani headers. Kind of a bummer, but oh well... Probably with the dremel I could make them fit, but didn't want to put forth the effort. Will just get a torque strap in the future.
Moved on to the driver side. Getting the the tubes in place with the driver side is a bit tricky, and the instructions were kinda backwards if you ask me. Maybe if I hadn't dropped the K the Bassani install instructions would have worked better, but for me, after installing pipe D1 which is the longest pipe, I installed D4 which is the shortest of the pipes and has the EGR. Pipe D2 went next and D3 is where it crosses back over the top of D1. I did make one booboo, and that was not reinstalling the motor mount BEFORE I had the header complete. I couldn't get the last bolt closest to the firewall to go in on the motor mount. Had to go to Home Depot to buy a slighty smaller in length 10mm X 1.50 30mm bolt and washer. The fun part of today was trying to get my tubes out of my Bassani modular X! I forgot to put anti-sieze on the pipes before going into the cats. Needless to say after a couple 1000 miles, they were in there pretty good! Took a lot of curse words to get them out of there! :grr: However, I was not defeated in today's battle :3: Now this is where Bassani's instructions blow chunks to say the least. When you have your stock manifolds, the longest pipe is on the passenger side and the smallest is on the drivers. So I thought that it was going to be the same with the headers in place. NOT!!!! Finally got the exhaust put back together, and remembered to use anti-sieze this time on the pipe joints. Reinstalled the K member and power steering. I did a quick startup of the engine before leaving my in-laws and it does sound mighty sweet! Just so I can be sure to myself, if I had an exhaust leak, it would be very loud at the headers correct? All I could hear was the rush of air being sucked through my ProM 95mm and C&L intake when I went to the passenger side. Tomorrow, I will finish reinstalling the tie rod ends, and put the suspension back together. I promise I will post my pics when I am done, and its not 12:45am! |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
If I would have gotten quoted a price of $600 for the install, I would have jumped on it. However, around here the prices ranged from $850-$1200 depending on the shop. By the time I add on my $300 for the retune and headers, it would have been $2000!
Anyhow, its not that its hard to do, its not knowing at first what to do! If you follow the directions in the thread I posted above with installation intructions, its quite straight forward. Just keep in mind that those instructions are for full length's, so a little modification to them is necessary if installing the Bassani's or JBA's or what ever other brand you are using. The most important thing to keep in mind though is take your time, don't rush it, and don't force it! Anyhow, time to get back out there and finish up... |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Everythhing is complete on the car now! Finished up today around 5 with getting the front suspension back together, changing the oil, and replacing my defective shaker bushings with the new updated black models.
Took her for a test drive, and boy does she sound sweet! Kinda makes me wish I had either my Bassani catback or original Loudmouth's back in there! With the Loudmouth 2's, it sounds like a 60's big block at idle, but very deep during acceleration. One cool thing is I thought I was going to need a realignment, but the car is tracking straight and the wheel is straight as well. I left my camera over my in-laws, so my pictures will have to wait till tomorrow. I did all the work by myself, with the only help coming from my father-in-law lifting the K member back in place. Was it worth me saving $800-$1000 for the installation? H*** YEAH!!! Would I do it again? Don't know :3: All I can say is that I'm glad its done! As for any little secrets that I learned from my experience: 1) Use copper high temp gasket spray to help hold on the header gaskets. They are very small, and when you are installing the collectors, will sometimes fall off (mine fell off several times_). 2) 1/4" sockets with a 12" extension really came in handy for getting the top nuts tightened on the passenger side. For the pipe near the firewall (P4), a swivel socket really helped. 3) DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN YOUR BOLTS! Its aluminum, and with that said, is very fragile. 4) You will have to loosen the dipstick tube guide so you can slide header D2 in to place. Don't retighten until after the headers are complete. 5) On the passenger side for 03 models, make sure you release the O2 wire harness from the engine BEFORE you install the headers. If you don't be prepared to become a contortionist trying to get it done with whatever you can get up there between the frame, sheetmetal, and headers. Or you will have to use a O2 extension. 6) If using the Bassani modular X pipe, be sure to use the longer tube on the drivers side and the shot tube on the passenger side. The instructions for VERY vague about this. 7) If you reinstall the drivers side motor mount AFTER you have the header installed, be prepared to go to Home Depot or Lowe's to purhcase a M10 1.5 30mm screw. 8) A 5mm 6 point socket fits the header studs perfect for removing and reinstalling The main thing is just take your time, and be patient. The install takes time!!!! |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
So all told this took you about 3 days to do?
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
It took me 3 days, yes. But not full days, and by no means working straight. There were several breaks, and several times where I went off and played with my kids some. This is my first time installing headers on a 4.6 DOHC as well. Also keep in mind I did everything by myself except getting the K member back up in place.
Everything on my car I have done myself, except the tuning and the gears. It was a "fun" learning experience by far, and I can honestly see why shops charge what they do for the DOHC header installs. |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Thanks. I'd probably do it the same way... i.e. frequent breaks to keep me from throwing a wrench through a wall or something. :LAUGH:
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
I tell ya, in all truth told here, the only time I got frustrated was on the passenger side when the gaskets kept falling out while trying to get the collector on. Once I sprayed them with the copper spray, put them on there, and allowed them to set for about 15 minutes. When I got to the drivers side, I immediately sprayed the gaskets and let them sit while I was removing the manifold.
The other time was when I was trying to put the X back on, and I had the collector pipes reversed, with the long tube on the passenger side and the short tube on the drivers side (with the stock manifolds, this is the way it works). However, trying to hold the X in place and then realizing that the short tube had to be on the passenger side and the long tube on thr drivers side made me angry and throw few good verbal words in there as well. I kinda felt sorry for my wife, cause the 2 times she came out to check things out was at those 2 moments when I was throwing a fit. |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Well you know what they say, you never really learn how to cuss until you own a car. ;)
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Okay, I know I promised you guys some pics, and the week slipped by. Had a tooth get infected on Monday, and a root canal performed last night on my back molar! Needless to say, I have been in quite a bit of pain this week, so I really haven't been on...
Anyhow, as promised, here are some pics... http://www.mustangmods.com/data/4781/100_0198.jpg http://www.mustangmods.com/data/4781/100_0193.jpg http://www.mustangmods.com/data/4781/100_0195.jpg http://www.mustangmods.com/data/4781/100_0197.jpg |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
hey..................i got a jack just like that one in the 4th pic
i did the same install last year and although it was frustrating sometimes i got it done in one night and although you can barely see them i think they were money well spent :yeh: |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Hehehe.... That jack cost me a mere $20 at one of the tool depot's around here. Nice 4-ton jack too!
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
WOW, those were sick looking headers! how much were they and how much HP did they give you? also does it sound alot different?
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Went to LaRocca's yesterday morning to get retuned.
First pull was just to see where we had to start with the A/F ratio with the addition of the headers. Believe it or not, it really wasn't too far off. Jimmy likes for the A/F to stay within the 13.1-13.5 range throughout the pull. My numbers from last July were 299.3 HP and 319 FT. LBS. TRQ. That was after about 6-7 pulls getting it right. 1st pull made 302 HP and 311 FT. LBS. TRQ. Now remember, this was without Andrew touching anything. Working some magic on his laptop, next pull was 316 HP and 325 FT. LBS. TRQ. However, A/F was a little rich in the normal cruising range, so he went back to work. We settled on 313 HP and 322 FT. LBS. TRQ with the A/F staying a consistent 13.3-13.5 across the entire pull! Timing is and has been set at 28 degrees since last year. So the headers netted a total of 14 HP and 1 FT. LBS. TRQ. However, it gained across the boards throughout the band. As far as being worth it for the time it took to install them, YES! I would do it again, and again. If my car was pretty much stock and I wasn't going to add anything else to it, then no, I would not do headers. I can definitely feel a difference driving the car despite Orange Whips concerns. The car pulls like a mofo and takes off like a bat out of hell. Though they are not for everyone, I really enjoyed the addition and improvement that I have seen, not only by seat of the pants, but from the dyno as well! As for price, I don't want to publish it, but I have sent you a PM with the price that Mark at Lightning Performance gave to me! Mark and his company are A+++ as far as pricing on Bassani products, and a class act to deal with as well! |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Hey want to do the install for me? I would pay you pretty good. Think about it and can you pm me the price as well?
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
If you were in MD I wouldn't mind doing it for ya. But coming from Utah, its gonna be 1 heck of a road trip :)
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Yeah but to have headers on my car that would be..... Priceless!
If I ever make my way up there I would love for you to install them. |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
So the headers netted a total of 14 HP and 1 FT. LBS. TRQ. However, it gained across the boards throughout the band.
thats what i pulled with the same set up, i figure 7 hp for the headers and 7 for the x-pipe. its a very expensive install,but now i got a car with headers like i always wanted. c-dub |
Re: Bassani header install progress...
The headers are definitely a very nice addition, especially if you can do the install yourself. Nice gains across the charts too.
|
Re: Bassani header install progress...
Hey Cdub that is what I go by as well. So you are the one who beat me to the name.
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:24 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
(c) 2002-2013 Mach1Registry.com