It took 5 hours with me and my wife completing the task, wich included changing out the engine mounts for the Steeda ones as JBA suggests. It wasn't as bad as you might think. Definetly not as bad as previous years. I called JBA to give a suggestion though, they tell you in the instructions to remove the two large bolts that hold your steering rack and pinion in place to and move the rack forward 2 inches to aid in putting the header in place as well as moving the steering arm from the column out of the way during the install. My bolts weren't coming off, I used liquid wrench and an impact socket with a 1/2" impact and it wouldn't budge. After that I tried a 3' breakover bar and broke my socket! I searched for another method and found that the job of moving the column arm out of the way only required removal of the single small bolt on the arm from under the dash, it took about 45 seconds and I could pull the arm into the car enough to get the job done. I called JBA and they reported they will be adding this to their instructions after researching it.

BTW, the headers are awesome, very loud at WOT and about the same as just axle back exhaust that I had installed previously. Yes, I have the off road H-pipe with no cats! After the SCT tune I applied performance is enough to impress me that this car could outrun my 66 Coupe that runs mid 12's. Can't wait to get back to the dyno or to the local track! C6 vette's beware!

 

OK now, tell the truth. would it have been 4 hours or 6 hours without the wife's help?

The Boss Hog . . . . . .

 

OK now, tell the truth. would it have been 4 hours or 6 hours without the wife's help?

The Boss Hog . . . . . .
[/b][/quote]

Funny you should ask, since we met she has been learning some mechanics as we tackle each project. To be honest this 05 is her car and she drives it at the track more than me. I am just glad she knows the difference between all of the ratched drive sizes, a concept I have found hard for other females in my relationships to grasp. To answer your question it probably would have been 6hrs, at least with as many times as you crawl under and out from the car to get tools or tighten header bolts.

 

Funny you should ask, since we met she has been learning some mechanics as we tackle each project. To be honest this 05 is her car and she drives it at the track more than me. I am just glad she knows the difference between all of the ratched drive sizes, a concept I have found hard for other females in my relationships to grasp. To answer your question it probably would have been 6hrs, at least with as many times as you crawl under and out from the car to get tools or tighten header bolts.
[/b][/quote]



The Boss hog

 

Did you drive it before applying your SCT tune? If so, did the tuner change performance? I got my longtubes and no cat h-pipe a week ago and my SCT tuner hasn't arrived yet so I'm riding around with my engine light on and the performance doesn't seem any different. Just way, way louder!

 

Do you mean performance isn't any better w/ the heaaders, or hasn't got worse with the check engine light. My light has come on twice and each time the computer re tunes itself to, so to speak, "not have the ***** it should". (According to the dealer)

 

I haven't noticed a change in performance since getting them installed, nothing better or worse. There could be a change but it is so slight that I don't notice it. My engine light came on after driving for like 5 miles and has been on since. My SCT tuner should be here any day to fix the light but I was wondering if a tune is necessary for performance after installing headers or is it just for the engine light?

 

I did not drive my car with the tune prior to the header install, I got my CPU back from SCT after the install. I noticed that the first time I drove it it had tremendous power over the previous state of tune, I don't know how much each mod contributed to the power increase. I do know that the check engine light came on shortly after driving because I have not plugged in my front O2 sensors yet, I am waiting on extensions to arrive today. When the check engine light came on I did notice a decline in power and I assume this is due to the computer running a "safe parameter" because of the O2 sensors. After I install the extensions I plan to reflash the computer, turn off the rear O2 sensors, and drive again. I will be doing another dyno pull but probably after I install underdrive pullies.