hey guys. im installing a corksport header tomorrow on my 87 s4 gxl NA. and it doesnt look easy to get the stock exhaust manifold off. the bolts must be buried in there, i cant see any of the 4 bolts from looking under the hood. i dont want to have to take the port actuators off. hopefully when i take the heat shield off the mani it will look better. also will torqueing the new header down be easy?
any comments or advice would be appreciated, thanks

 

When i install a header i take out the airbox and the corrugated tubing to the throttle body. You don't have to take the actuators off. Get a u joint for your socket wrench and be prepared to say a few four letter words lol. Once you get the heat shield off the rest is relatively easy. The header is very easy to torque down. There is a ton more room around it than the exhaust manifold.

 

cool, thanks for the help

 

No problem. Just give yourself plenty of time to do it so you don't stress over it. It might take awhile but it will come off eventually. Once you get the manifold off you're golden.

 

If you have the time and patience, I would highly recommend spraying down the bolts with some PB Blaster every couple hours for a day or 2. It takes some time to work all the way into the threads, but once it does, it makes a huge difference.

GL

 

i ended up having my mechanic put it in today. im really happy with it, its sounds way better and got some more hp.
how much hp u think im getting, factory is 146. corksport header, stock main cat and corksport cat-back, hks intake, idemitsu oil, mazdatrix aluminum DS as far as the engine goes. its a manuel s4 gxl with 69K