Fitting Exhaust Headers

[PJB]

OK I've tried the search and not come up with anything - any tips for fitting these now I have a pair from Rimmers in my hot little hands.

I'm pretty sure the exhaust manifolds haven't been removed since the 80's .... Thanks

[KOY 23]

Easy job with heads off but not with them on. N/S is straightforward, O/S is not, steering rack has to be dropped to remove U/J shaft. You need the thinner shaft to clear manifold, 15mm not the 18mm from memory, remove oil pump and jack engine up. The rear manifold bolt is a pig as you can only use a cut down open ended spanner. I found 3/8” drive sockets with extensions useful but the best tool was a “C” shaped ring spanner.
Enjoy!!

[DJT]

If they are the Phoenix manifolds (and if they are, they are much cheaper from Robsport or E J Wards!) then I fitted mine before fitting the heads. Unfortunately the rear, offside, gasket blew after a few months, meaning I had to change it in-situ. As John says, it is a pig doing that one with the heads in place......

[Seaking]

Yes a right royal pain old ones came off easily but fitting the new ones . Make sure you have a helping hand.

Wishing you all the best fitting them
Cheers Glenn

[Stagdad]

Took engine out to do mine.

[PJB]

Thanks Gents - suspected this might be a bit of work ...

[Tundra]

Can anyone advise who stocks the thinner version of the lower steering shaft or is it case of ringing round as they all stock what ever they can get hold of at the time?

[KOY 23]

Try one of the breakers such as “the Tim” or Tony White.

[STypeR]

Can anyone advise who stocks the thinner version of the lower steering shaft or is it case of ringing round as they all stock what ever they can get hold of at the time?

From what I gather from this thread there are 2 diameter lower steering shafts, 15 and 18mm? I have the same problem with my installed extractors/headers in that they are fouling the lower steering shaft, so I must have the thicker diameter shaft...
I had ordered some shims (I think they were somewhere off a Spitfire) to place on the engine mount in the hope of moving the engine to give enough clearance between the exhaustbut have yet to try this. Perhaps easier just to replace the lower shaft?

[Tundra]

Just ordered the 15mm size from Robsport - trying washers on the engine mount is the fall back position. Went straight for a new shaft as the knuckle joint at the top end has got lots of play when you release the clamp bolt tension and move it by hand.

[PJB]

So after some thought the best way to fit the HPC coated headers and do the chains was to take the engine out. Cosmetically this means it and the engine bay will get a good clean.

And while out powder coat the Cam covers - avoiding the sand in the filter gauze fail.


Believe it or not after 160k km the old tensioners were only out about 5mm - very very little wear - and were silent. Annual oil changes, couple of thousand km a year and not overly thrashed I guess ? BTW the first set were allegedly 160km old when changed ...


The plan is to not disturb the heads but a quick look at the bottom suggests all is good and compression is fine.

Core/frost plugs are being replaced, block flushed and hoses replaced.
Water pump was done a little while ago but the suspicion of a small leak means its better to re-do on the bench.

The engine guys are very happy with it is there anything else people would suggest (oil pressure was good) for although I'm loath to upset things with it out it seems to make sense to check everything.

Regards Julian

[Ian928]

I wonder if power gains from these headers are worth the extra hassle? I have my engine out so it would be tempting to fit headers, but if I need to remove heads or engine to get them off again I need to think it through a couple of times. I tried a search but do we have a unbiased Dyno of before and after the available headers?

[KOY 23]

I’ve never seen a back to back Dyno test. My view is that they make little difference on a standard engine but will give benefit to other tuning mods such as Holley carb and even more with proper multipoint EFI which ditches the standard restrictive inlet manifold.

[PJB]

Truth be told I needed to replace the exhaust - so the headers (during Rimmers sale) were a relatively cheap addition and we do know from the man that designed the stock manifolds that they leave a bit to be desired.
My car has a Weber on it - which did lift performance - but to be fair the Strombergs were worn. In that case it was as much for a change as anything else. It is a neat tidy install with better access than stock.

If an EFI kit was available I'd have gone down that path - as I did 11 years ago with my Interceptor. Regards