I am having my Borla Headers installed () at my nissan dealer tomorrow and I want to know if anyone knew what the install would entaill. Do you have to go in from the top of the engine? Why does it take so long to do these? I know its tight in there but what does that mean? Slowly turning each bolt? Or is there alot of stuff needing to come off?
What I really want to know is what to look for to make sure nothin was f'd up. Intake, Plenum, ect...
THX.

 

What are they charging you @ the dealership to install them? They would go through the wheelwells and the undeside. Not 100% sure though.

 

Dont have a quote yet. One of my friends is a mechanic their, he said he didnt really know how long it would take but he'd hook me up with a good deal. We'll see though.

 

I am getting some put in too next time I am in SA. Overall, it is about a 5 hour job to remove and replace the exhaust manifolds. They will charge for that and put the headers in as the replace step. Avg labor is what, 75 bucks? 5X75=375.

 

I installed my Nismo headers myself, and it took around 15 hrs. All I can say is that you will probably be leaving your car overnight at the dealership. The headers are not easy to put in, I bet it takes the dealership more than 5 hours.

 

Well, that is what the dealers manual says it will take. Lifts and power tools and specialized tools and service manuals and experience go a long way. I don't really know, I have never done it. Maybe you had all that stuff and the manufacturer just really underestimated the car they built.

 

let us know how it works out.

 

I could swear that the dealer told me their shop manual quoted 12 hours for the Nismo header install. Doesn't seem right, but I have never installed any so I don't want to speculate. The do look hard to get at though.

 

Well, I actually called the dealer about this just today and talked to the service manager. He said one side was 1.6 hours and the other side was "a little harder." He said in total that, with my 30 dollars an hour rate, it would cost about 150 bucks. To me that says 5 hours. I plan on putting them in in mid-November. I will def. let you guys know what happens and take plenty of pics. On the other hand, he told me cams would be 20 hours labor and I am trying to get enough info so that he will do it for 12 hours. So, if anyone has any info regarding cam install time (Jeff@Performance), please post it up. Thanks!

 

My mechanic has quoted 12 hours on cams and I've heard that from numerous other people on this site as well.

 

I took my car in this morning...talked to the tech working on the car and he said he'd prob start it before lunch. I really really hope they dont need my car overnight! That place is DOOR DING CITY! the less time at the dealer the better.

So does anybody know if you have to work from the top? Or is all the work done underneath the car?

 

It is easiest to work from the top. I will be impressed if anyone here can get the headers installed under 8 hours. Even at the dealership, which should have a lift and all the proper tools. They will have to take off you cats (which will be a pain), 4 oxygen sensors, several of the radiator hoses (plastic and metal ones), air intake system, strut bar across engine, several electrical wires and hoses, etc.

 

ooo...little more involved then i thought. Well the cats would be a piece of cake...cuz i aint got any (test pipes) , also got no strut bar, and the intake should be like 5 minutes to take apart. I guess with the coolant hoses coming off you have to drain the radiator, that could take some time..but 8 hours?
DAMN I WANT MY CAR TODAY..
maybe ill go after work and help them finish!
(that might take even longer tho)

 

If I remember correctly, it took them 6 hours to install my headers.

 

My mechanic did them in 6 hours as well.

 

With a lift, its possible they could do it with out taking apart the radiator hoses, but it will be much easier if they do in fact remove them. Its possible to get your car back today, but I would prepare yourself for your dealer to say they need the car overnight.

IAnd yes if they take off the coolant hoses, they will ahve to drain the radiator.

I ran into problmes installing mine because it took me 2 hours to take off a bolt that I accidently stripped. I wound up having to drill a hole through the bolt to get it off.

I saw that some people have had their installs done in 6 hours, this is making pretty good time.

 

Ok...just talked to the mechanic...THEY HAVENT STARTED ON THE F'ING HEADERS!
DAMN IT!
He also told me that it would take 6 hours to do @ $85 an hr! Thats $510! F@#$
I am too damn impatient to wait or to take it anywhere else.
Guess ill see my car tomorrow.

 

I GOT MY CAR!
Took the mechanic 3 hours exaclty.
He did say it was a HUGE pain in the ***.
I havent really gotn into it so i really cant comment on the gains on the butt dyno but the sound is def louder!
Sounds almost like my Cobra with H pipe and Flowmasters. Nice, loud enough, and deep.
Hopefully will dyno early sat morning.
The mechanic also stated that I have to re-torque the header bolts in about a week. Any you other guys with headers have to do this? If so, did you do it yourself?

 

Retorquing is common header install practice for those that do it correctly (safely). You could probably do the retorque yourself.