installing headers on the TBI, need some input

[94s10]

i'm re-doing my entire exhaust and i have edelbrock headers and y-pipe. my question is, on the no. 1 cylinder, a power steering bracket mounts to the forward most header bolt. i tried for hours to loosen this damn thing cause it needs to be removed to get the bolt out. how in the hell do i do it?

[1993blazerlt]

when installing headers you have to take your power steering pulley off and unbolt the pump from the bracket. then you can move the bracket in your way. Take your inner fender wells out it makes the job so much eaiser that way you can get a socket on the bolts it will make things go a lot faster because the rear bolts are even harder to get out

[94s10]

damn thats exactly what i didnt want to hear. oh well gotta do what you gotta do. thanks for the info i appreciate it

[bgs]

That stinking bracket was a major PITA for me. Once I got the
pump off along with the bracket, I took it and stuck it in the File 13
area not to ever be seen again. You can rent the pulley puller from
Autozone. You need one to pull the pulley off and another tool to
re-install it. I think taking a saw or torch to that bracket would
be easier. That way you could get to the manifold bolts..

Sometimes the "General" [GM] treats it's customers in the
harshest of ways with knucklehead eng ideas like that stinkin'
bracket !

[94s10]

so not having that bracket isnt giving you any problems? cause i must admit, i considered cutting the damn thing off and saving myself a load of trouble...

[Sparky2263]

......Sparky.....smiling at his smoke wrench in the corner.........;)

[94s10]

so does that mean you have cut it off?

[Sparky2263]

Yes, I cut mine off.

[94s10]

ok sweet. now i wont think twice about doing it lol

[Sparky2263]

Make sure the other bolts are completely tight and the belt doesn't have so much tension it pulls the pump forward.

[94s10]

ok i'll go over everything after the install. any other tips for installing headers? what do you think about exhaust wrap? should i wrap the headers?

[Sparky2263]

Wrap is cool and speeds the velocity up if you wanna richen it up a tad. Lets it burn more fuel due to the scavenging effect.

Here's the rub, cuts header life in half if they're not coated. The other problem is where the wrap ends, WHOOOHOOO does it get hot! Generally right under the floorboard where your feet are. I quit wrapping mine.

[94s10]

hmm ok thanks for the advice. i'm not to sure wether or not i'll wrap them now.

[Matt 4.3 TBI]

Good old angle grinder too care of the bracket for me. Been running without it attached since mid 2003 with no problems. I had the rear mount attached (the rear bolt on the #1 exhaust port) until the rebuild, the guys at the engine shop smoked it off :D