bamfsilverado
08-21-2011, 09:38 PM
my buddy bought pacesetter longtubes for his 06 GTO ls2 6 speed manual, and CONTRARY TO THE BELIEF THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DROP THE STEERING RACK, you DEFINITELY have to drop the steering rack. if you want to get pacesetter longtube ceramic headers and midpipes installed sucessfully on your 2006 GTO in just a few hours, FOLLOW THESE STEPS!
disconnect the battery
spray wd40 or powerbuster on all of the bolts on the exhaust and on the o2 sensors (4)
unplug the o2 sensors
remove the coils, valve covers, plugs, wires, pull the dipstick tube out of the block and set aside
when the manifolds are out, utilize the space to work by cutting the forward studs for the body stiffeners flush with the nuts
remove the driver side body stiffener
also, disconnect all of the fittings on the rack, the steering column sleeve, as well as the two 19mm bolts that hold the rack in place
drop the rack and put the driver side header in from the bottom. it WILL NOT go in from the top ever no matter what so don't even try or you will damage the ceramic coating
******BEFORE MOUNTING THE HEADER, slide the midpipe and gasket on to the crossover pipe stud, and slide the clamp and pipe on to the header collector, you will not be able to do this with the header mounted
mount the header flange to the head, DO NOT SNUG THE BOLTS YET
re connect all of the fittings on the rack, re connect the steering column, and put the body stiffener back on
now, snug all of the header flange bolts (do not over tighten, aluminum heads . . .) and everything on the midpipe
re install the rack and re assemble the whole driver side
the passenger side is easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just drop the header in from the top
slide the midpipe and clamp on the collector
slide the midpipe and gasket on the crossover pipe stud
mount the header and snug the bolts
bolt up the midpipes
spark plugs
valve covers
coils
wires
connect battery
etc . . .
MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU START THE CAR, YOU REFILL THE POWER STEERING FLUID
with the key on and engine off, crank the wheels a few times and check the level
when you start it, crank the wheels left to right all the way to the stops a few times again, and re check the level
always check the torque on all the new exhaust bolts after driving it for the first few times, continue to check for power steering leaks and top off as needed
this was a pain in the a$$ to do, but all the local shops wanted $400-$500 to install just the headers.
disconnect the battery
spray wd40 or powerbuster on all of the bolts on the exhaust and on the o2 sensors (4)
unplug the o2 sensors
remove the coils, valve covers, plugs, wires, pull the dipstick tube out of the block and set aside
when the manifolds are out, utilize the space to work by cutting the forward studs for the body stiffeners flush with the nuts
remove the driver side body stiffener
also, disconnect all of the fittings on the rack, the steering column sleeve, as well as the two 19mm bolts that hold the rack in place
drop the rack and put the driver side header in from the bottom. it WILL NOT go in from the top ever no matter what so don't even try or you will damage the ceramic coating
******BEFORE MOUNTING THE HEADER, slide the midpipe and gasket on to the crossover pipe stud, and slide the clamp and pipe on to the header collector, you will not be able to do this with the header mounted
mount the header flange to the head, DO NOT SNUG THE BOLTS YET
re connect all of the fittings on the rack, re connect the steering column, and put the body stiffener back on
now, snug all of the header flange bolts (do not over tighten, aluminum heads . . .) and everything on the midpipe
re install the rack and re assemble the whole driver side
the passenger side is easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just drop the header in from the top
slide the midpipe and clamp on the collector
slide the midpipe and gasket on the crossover pipe stud
mount the header and snug the bolts
bolt up the midpipes
spark plugs
valve covers
coils
wires
connect battery
etc . . .
MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU START THE CAR, YOU REFILL THE POWER STEERING FLUID
with the key on and engine off, crank the wheels a few times and check the level
when you start it, crank the wheels left to right all the way to the stops a few times again, and re check the level
always check the torque on all the new exhaust bolts after driving it for the first few times, continue to check for power steering leaks and top off as needed
this was a pain in the a$$ to do, but all the local shops wanted $400-$500 to install just the headers.