Installing Momentum Headers
 

Hey all, just got my headers in today! Ill post a pic in a bit. I have a few concerns before i start... What gasket will fit the headers where it connects to the engine? Just an oem 370z/350z gasket? Im going to start taking my car apart now, will it hurt anything if i take the old headers off and leave them off for a day or 2 while i locate gaskets? Thanks

old gaskets are fine. Make sure your O2 sensors are removed before you attack your stock setup with an impact wrench.

Good luck and God be with you. Start on the drivers side first. If you can't get that side, might as well hang it up and take it to a mechanic.

:iagree: this is a major PITA. I speak from experience. As stated above, use a crescent wrench to remove your O2 sensors before anything, and keep them identified front driver, rear driver, so on. You don't want to mess one of them up and pay $400+ for a new one (although I found some at rockauto.com for like $160 next day shipped from NKG). Patience is a virtue, and make sure you have all the 2' and 3' extensions you need for your ratchets, it's impossible without them.

Your stock gaskets will be fine, just make sure they go on the same way as before :tup: good luck!


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thanks for all the support! Looking like its going to be a snow day tomorrow, so i will have all day to mess around with them... I plan on taking my time and taking frequent breaks (king of frustration) It helps that i do not have my Tp's yet, so if i dont get it done in a timely manner there is nothing to worry about. Anyone willing to give out cell number for text advice on the spot? Would be greatly appreciated! If not no worries. My only big concern is fitment, i know people have put to momentum headers on the 370z, but i still worry for some reason... Ill keep you guys updated on my progress, again thank you!

may the force be with you. i remember installing my HFC's. like its been said, make sure you have all the extensions and what not that you need. or at least an extra car to run out and get some. i cant imagine a header install!

I think it should be about the same. Im planning on disconnecting the back side of the cats then the front side of the headers and taking cat/header out as one piece. I think it should work...:ugh2: Right now im just waiting on a friends jack stands so i can get to work

Will i still need extensions if i do it this way?

Having second thoughts... Maybe its just because i have not had my coffee yet... Looks like i need to take my intakes out, but even still there are a few bolts on the heat shield that are angled funny

You have to take your intakes out first to get to some of the top nuts. IIRC you have to turn your driver side headers a crazy way to get them out, I don't know if you'll be able to turn it the way you need to with the cat installed still. I took mine off in pieces.


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ohhh dude, I feel you on that, when we did the HFCs and messing with the demon bolt, oh it was the biggest nightmare you could imagine, headers are gonna be a nightmare to the 10th power.:roflpuke2::roflpuke2::roflpuke2:

Good luck!

Werd, installing my HFC's took 4 hours... 3 hours were spent on one bolt. :shakes head:

Mine were taken out in a single piece, don't worry about trying to attack the demon bolt. There are plenty of demon bolt minions attached to your header and block that will strip and break.

strip and break?!? I don't like the sound of that... On that note, glad i hit them all up with some penetrating spray and let them sit before i start...

Take your stock header and cat off in one piece. This way, you don't have to fool with that demon bolt. When I did my FI LTH's. The right side only took about 1.5 hours to drop and install the headers. The driver side side took about 5 hours of cussing the heat shield that has to come out first before you can get to the nuts on the block. Once the bolts are removed. You have to turn the heat shield upside down to get it out. You also have to remove the steering shaft off of the rack and pinion to get the old header out, and install the new header. Have fun. :tup:

So the only major problem so far other than not starting yet, was getting my jack under the car... Fucker didn't fit, had to use the one in the trunk to get it started... What a pain

You're installing headers without using a lift of any sort, god bless you

go to the store and get some ramps. Found some at autozone that fit.

I used jack stands when I did mine. :tup:

THIS.

I at least had jack stands and a creeper. I got abs from how much I was sliding under it and them coming back up for something else. Not to mention I did mine in July and I STILL have scars on my arms from shoving them down in the engine bay. I sent you my number, you can text me if you have any questions.


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I used cardboard to slide under the Z. My abs hurt for a week. LOL Took about a month for the wounds to heal on my hands and arms from the ends of the screws sticking out. Look like I went to war with a pissed off putty cat and lost. :icon14:

Its starting to look like i want to take it somewhere to get it done... Got a few quotes upwards for 550... Going to give it a go myself lol

I got mine and full exhaust done for $425. After they did it, they remarked: "If we had known what we do now, we would have charged double." Needless to say, they received more work for my car to help soften the blow.

Yeah, I went to the most ghetto guy I could find, he quoted 8 hours but $300, but since I had shorties, I didn't do it



OP, make sure you don't need your car today or tomorrow, because your work might transfer over to tomorrow

Yeah, FI says it takes them 8-10 hours on average. You should be looking at about $450-$600 to have someone else do it. My buddy quoted me $450 to do the full exhaust and my pulley. If I had known what a pain it was gonna be I might have just paid to have it done and saved myself the headache.


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I would just man up and do it, but being under the car with jack stands makes me nervous. I have seen first hand what working on a car on cinder blocks does to someone unfortunately, and it just weirds me out. (Im not using cinder blocks, im using 3ton jack stands)

Sub'd for progress. GL!!

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Getting to work on the drivers side right now. And thanks Huck, ill probably be texting up a storm (hope you have a messaging plan...)

EASIEST way to get the header out as a whole and putting the headers back in is loosening the driver side motor mount and jacking up the motor to twist it a bit. You'll be struggling to get it out for an hour or so otherwise. I couldn't even get the driver side onto the studs until i twisted the motor a bit. Took me 7 hours WITH a lift. Good luck to you sir. Driver side is the hard side. If you can get that out then passenger side is super easy.

I did my 350z headers in the driveway, took about 4 hrs. It was not really as bad as people made it out to be, but then again, I think I have more wrench time and experience than many who have attempted...I just put in my clutch and flywheel and I looked up at the headers and had serious thoughts, lots of room with no trans! I think for the money I will not go for headers on the 370z, money for the boost fund. I got the 350 headers as a gift. Just take your time and you will get it. a few 1/2" extensions and an impact make the demon bolt take about 10 minutes, I have no idea how I would have gotten it if I wasn't at the shop. Good luck!

Got the heat shield off, and for ***** and gigs i tried to undo the easiest bolt to get to on the headers, and ill be damned if i cant even budge it. I'm using all hand tools... Is it even possible without an impact tool?

I did the 350 with hand tools, use 1/2 drive where ever you can. I wiggled and fought to get the 1/2 in on as many bolts as I could, where I had to use a wrench you need something to extend the handle a pipe or something if it will fit, need that leverage!

if all you have is 3/8 and wrenches, its gonna be hell.

Maybe its time to invest in an air ratchet? I already have the compressor, my only concern is that it wont fit, or be powerful enough to get it done. Thoughts?

I'm using 1/2 inch and wrenches, going to give it another go tomorrow

get some laser penetrating oil too.

95% of the stuff you need to do is all with hand tools. good luck getting air tools in there. if you have a flex head ratcheting wrench set, it will be a million times easier. Yiu have to have a really good set though that works with very minimal twists. My wife helped a lot with her small hands to get in there.

get some pipes and use them for extra torque

On the driver's side. The nuts on the back of the head. I got from the bottom laying on my back. The rest I got from the top. Using a 1/2 ractchet to break the nuts free, then a 3/8's to finish. If you take the driver's side tire off. You can go in between the fender liner and frame rail too, using a long extension.

I actually thought about doing this! But it looks like its blocked, ill check it out for sure!

This just in... Get 6 pack abs instantly after performing a header install on a 370Z!