Question about installing headers
 

I'm finally installing the headers I bought from a member of this forum about a year ago. Question about making room:

Is the bracket under the car that goes "sideways" and appears to protect the area around the oil pan, necessary for structural integrity?

I'm not doing any racing (in the near future at least), and my suspension is stock.

In other words, has anyone gone without that bracket and suffered for it!

I installed mine without removing the subframe ( that is what you are refering too). the steering rack and lines are also attached. The best trick is to get enough clearence underneath to twist the headers into place aprox 24 inches, mine were pretty long. You can remove the alternator on the left and the a/c compressor and smog pump hang on the front right for access for the upper front bolts. The factory nuts are 12mm lock nuts so a collection of sockets, swivels and ratchett wrenches will help brake them free. Use alot of CRC to
ease the rusted bolts off. I help this helps, DAVID

I'd found that lifting the engine as high as it can go is necesarry to stuff them in. As high as it would go is limited by the torque tube hitting the tunnel. The steering shaft where it goes into the rack was a tight spot although it didn't need to be moved in my case. That was to fit some bulky Devek headers, yours might be easier, What kind do you have?

I hope those nuts come off! You could find one stuck and the stud breaks but alas, there might be hope, the stud might break but be long enough since the header flange is thin.

You also have some WYAITs! You'll be tossing the EGR stuff and will need plugs for the back of the heads. You can order those along with the crush washer, it's the same part as the fronts.