Ok you got me!

But I seriously believe it is easier to do so total of what 10 bolts and 5 plugs and all the room in the world

 

I agree.

 

Its not the headers, they screwed up something with your install. I had DC Sports headers and the car drove just fine with them on. Take it back and have them fix it.

 

Above: Linkage in place with 2 bolts removed from coupler.


Above: Linkage with coupler removed.


Above: coupler.

Either the coupler or linkage is binding against the header or the linkage is installed improperly.

 

And that may be worthwhile. I paid $200 to install the headers. 5,000 miles later the bolts had backed out. I paid another $200 for the fix. Lesson learned: Do it right the first time.

 

Swap those headers out for amazing Stillen! I survived the challenging DIY effort. You have to disconnect the steering to pass the headers. I was very careful to mark the exact steering linkage setting. Unfortunately your Installer skipped that vital step.
Headers installation doesn't require pulling the engine... well unless you have extra large hands!

 

Your right but it takes less time to remove the engine and install headers than it does to try and install them in the car. Just my 2 cents

 

I just got back from the shop and they did exactly what they said they would...gave it a few smacks and all was ok (or so it seems) no issues yet but after this little experience I am not holding my breath. I hope the rim install goes a hell of a lot smoother or I may join a Nike forum because that will be my means of transportation. Thanks for all the help and input and by the way, Davidv I used your pics to show the mechanic and he did indeed have the part installed correctly so it was the crap header that was the issue.

 

>Your right but it takes less time to remove the engine and install headers than it does to try and install them in the car. Just my 2 cents<

You must be a very good mechanic. How long did it take you to install the headers via lifting the engine? The front two header bolts are nearly impossible to reach, and tested my large hand resolve. If the manifold studs are over torqued and break (occured multiple times on my older Nissan!) its repair could easily require lifting the engine.

 

Pulling the engine and tranny takes no more than an hour. 2 motor mount bolts. 4 tranny mount bolts. 3 bolts per side on the collector, and 6 plugs 3 in the battery compartment and 3 in the interior compartment. Once the engine is out your looking at ruffley 15min a side then stuff it back in Takes no more than 4 hours total.

And no smashed knuckles to boot

Yeah seems like a lot of work but with so many different styles of headers I concider it impractable to change them in the car.

 

Yeah over simplfied and yes there is just a tad more to remove but thats the way I do it

 

Thanks for the explanation. Only 4hr and you get to keep your knuckle skin...that's a record to brag about! How much longer to swap a built engine and tune it?

 

I don't rush that one so I make no time constrants. The easy part is pulling the engine the time consumming part is swapping parts there is no such thing as a strait swap and tune well depends