Headers

[HIM]

Is it a ***** to put headers on a 99 4.3. I want to but Ive heard that you have to jack the motor. If so I think Ill just have them put in. Im not lazy I just dont wanna mess somethin up and have to learn from an expensive mistake.

[blazen]

never put on headers but if you learn how to do them this time you'll allways know how to do it in the future. try to get someone to help who has done it before thats one of the best ways to learn. (just make sure its someone you trust you dont wanna learn from a hack)

give a man a fish he can eat for a day teach a man to fish he's set for a life time.

[ZR1-S10]

Headers are a *****, but I'd go ahead and learn by doing it yourself.

[1993blazerlt]

one hint for doing this is take out your wheel wells. This makes the job so much easier. I did this on my blazer and the manifolds were so easy to take off and put back in :mad: . because my hedders did not fit :mad:

[Sparky2263]

Aside from the proper tools and equipment, 3 things are required to put headers on properly.

1) Patience
2) Time
3) Patience


Did I put patience in there twice? ;)

[Supercharged-ZQ8]

You don't need to jack the motor up at all. As everyone else has said: you need a lot of time and patience. The install is fairly straightforward, and there isn't anything that you can drastically screw up. Remove the wheels and inner fenders (and all the stuff attached to the inner fender) and then follow the install instructions.

The main reason it is time consuming is because of all the crap you need to move before you get to the headers, and the fact that the manifold bolts are usually rusted in place. Take your time, go through the install instructions step by step, don't plan on driving it anywhere for a couple days (or at least a day, if you start early), and don't be afraid to ask questions.

[HIM]

Doesnt sound like it would be to terribly hard. Ill probably go ahead and do it myself. What is a good brand of headers to buy as far as power gains?

[Supercharged-ZQ8]

Edelbrock, Gibson and JBA all make headers for the S-Series -- all of which are good headers. The main difference is that the Edelbrocks also include a y-pipe and the Gibsons and JBAs do not.

[mrselfdestruct]

and the JBA's are known to burn spark plug boots. and some of their bolts are hard to torque correctly. After installing a set of JBAs myself, I'd say try the edelbrocks. Jet hot/ceramic coating is the only way to go though!

[LilYellowZQ8]

one hint for doing this is take out your wheel wells. This makes the job so much easier. I did this on my blazer and the manifolds were so easy to take off and put back in :mad: . because my hedders did not fit :mad:

I see I am not the only one that has tried to put headers on that were the wrong ones. I tried 2 times, but both sets were the wrong ones.

[nomaboy]

Aside from the proper tools and equipment, 3 things are required to put headers on properly.

1) Patience
2) Time
3) Patience


Did I put patience in there twice? ;)

you forgot # 4.
4) a full vocabulary of 4 letter words.

[extreme gmc]

^^^true^^^
i do have a question. when you pull the inner fenders, where is a good place to put the relay/fuse box and the computer? i figuredd just leave them hooked up and drape them across the engine. sound like a plan?

[bill 4.3l 5spd]

just lay them over the engine.

honestly if you justpull the inner fenders out, and pull the steering shaft its not that hard to do. mine are in just needing to be torqued with no scrapped nuckles or any many swear words

[imdawrlus]

haha you guys are all wimps taking the fenders out...hahaha...mine went in pretty east except for the fact that i had to take a cordless drill and grind down part of the bellhousing to make them fit...and the whole power steering pump is a pain...other than that it was pretty easy...

[HIM]

edelbocks sound like they are the way to go then. Problem is I dont want a y pipe at all. I wanna run dual exhaust in a straight pipe. I dont really care to see the tips hanging out the truck that much so im hopin I can just run true duals. maybe Ill try and fab a exhaust off camaro if at all possible.

[Hammer]

if you are interested in dual exhaust i strongly recommend the headman full length headers. full length headers are far superior to shorties, they are better tuned and provide better gains in both torque and hp.

they can be had at jegs i believe.

[mrselfdestruct]

Hedman Hedders Elite Hedders (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4455&prmenbr=361)
S-10, S-15, Blazer, Jimmy, Sonoma 1982-93 2WD
283-400 V8
1-1/2'' Tubes, 2-1/2'' Collector, 500-69528

Hedmen Hustler Hedders (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=130021&prmenbr=361) :
Chevy S-10 1982-93 with SB-Chevy and Automatic Trans, 1-3/4'' Tubes/3'' Collectors, Frame Exit, 502-65849

Chevy S-10 1982-93 with SB-Chevy and Auto/Manual Trans, 1-7/8'' Tubes/3-1/2'' Collectors, Fender Well Exit, 502-65855

Chevy S-10 1982-03 with SB-Chevy with Auto/Manual Trans,2'' Header Tubes/3-1/2'' Collectors, Fender Well Exit, 502-65857

Hedman Hi-Tech Coated Hedders (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1318&prmenbr=361)
S-10, S-15, Blazer 1982-93,
283-400ci.,
1-1/2'' Tubes, 2-1/2'' Collector, 500-69526, Under chassis exit

And then of course the traditional V8 swap hedders (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1319&prmenbr=361)


It looks to me like these are all SB V8 headers... Maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I can't seem to find the long tube headers for the v6, especially the 96+ (or the 2003 specifically for me)

And these are all from Jegs

[damon96706]

I put the jba's in my 2004 4.3, and it was truly a biatch (took 2 days). No matter what headers you buy, the install will be a bit trying, at best. If you don't want to remove your fenders (can understand if you have abs, etc), then jack up the front end and remove your front wheels.

The gaskets that come with the kit suck; think about a set from Mr Gasket or Fel-Pro. My driver's rear side leaked, and was the main difficulty area to begin with.

Feel free to pm me for what worked and what didn't. The steering arm through # 3 tube was also not fun.

Later, bro, and good luck.

[T Man]

maybe Ill try and fab a exhaust off camaro if at all possible. The exhaust on F bodies is a single into a muffler, dual out system.

[HIM]

Idk what route I wanna go with. I really wanna use a smoothie rollpan out in the back so I cant have the exhaust hangin out especially since I plan to bag my truck so Im thinkin I might just try and rig somethin to come out the side or maybe just run dual exhaust without a y pipe and have no exhaust tips. Idk I have to figure out what my options are and where I can go with it. Does any body make a kit to run the exhaust out the side before the rear tires?

[Hammer]

82-86 2.8l v6 69250* 69256* -- 27350 1, 6, 45 Y Y N/A Y N/A Y (d) 11/2", 21/2"
88-93 4.3l v6 69400* 69406* -- 27670 1, 6, 45, 132 Y Y Y N N Y (D) 11/2", 21/2"
94-03 4.3l v6 69590* 69596* -- 27670 Repl. Part w/ E.G.R. Y Y Y Y N Y (A) 11/2", Stock
94-03 4.3l v6 69591* 66591* -- 27670 Repl. Part w/ E.G.R. & A.I.R. Y Y Y Y N Y (A) 11/2", Stock
82-93 283-400 v8 69490* 69496* -- 27500 45, 148 Y Y N Y N N (D) 15/8", 3"
82-93 283-400 v8 69520* 69526* 69528* 27500 15, 45, 147, 212 Y Y N Y N N (D) 11/2", 21/2"

http://www.hedman.com/pages/hedmanmain.html

i wasn't aware that they are not for street use... although i'd find it difficult for someone to prove they weren't not knowing point of origin, etc.