Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance exhaust header help update! FINISHED

when you guys decat or fit new headers more so the rear looks a pig (front one looks easy enough)do you remove the upper intake etc. or go it from under as surgested in the haynes manual removing the alternator etc? what sort of time should i allow to do it on hard stands. if i took it to a shop to have done what is a resnable amount of time to pay for?

Yes its a PIA,comes out under the car.Shop around for a quote.If you are having headers its easier to remove all but one stud from the head and put the studs back into the head with the header loose in position,then fit the nuts...

Getting the rear one off of the car while on stands can be a real pain in the ass. It can be done though... For your first time, I'd give at least 4-6 hours set aside total to do this.

Realize that there is some welding involved on stainless steel, so be prepared to arc, mig, or tig the front manifold with the right filler rod/wire material.

A couple of tips:

• Remove the Y-pipe and cat back from the car.
• Use 2-3 ten inch extensions, a wobble joint, and a deep 13mm (IIRC) deep socket.
• On the rear manifold you'll need the ratchet wrench just about in place of the main cat, use the extensions, the wobble, then socket over the top of the subframe/steering rack to access the bolts the easiest.
• The front manifold you should be able to reach from the top side of the car. (air ratchets and medium length sockets help out a bunch here)
• A few beers mights help.

HTH.

well i had a look and had a go...the one thing that makes this alot harder for us right hand drive cars is the steering column is right in the way infront of the alternator, when i did eventually get thew rear header off, the shm wont fit with out moving the PAS pipes over a half inch, (alilttle persader bar me thinks anyway i will have another go tommorow..and keep you in formed...time for a beer and a bath.....

Kudos for doing it yourself! Let us know how it turns out.

-Lance

well after two days on my back in 30c heat i got the bloody things on what a poor fit the shm headers where every flange need pushing/pulling about the y pipe was half a pipe low amd needed to be jacked into place the front header is sitting so tight against the sump that i am worried it will wear through, had to retap 3 stud holes but the rear was definatly the worst. while i was there i took the resinator off. it sounds like a mondeo with a broken exhaust now as for performance you cannot really feel the secondies come in but yes, yes they are. the car defenatly feels faster in the 3000rpm onwards....few...