[Misfit]

So today I had the bright idea to install my headers.

Heat shield - easy
Motor mount and jack engine - easy
Unbolt b-pipes - easy
Disconnect O2 sensor - easy
Remove 8 nuts holding exhaust manifold - freaking impossible.

I have extensions and swivels out the wazoo. Also have a shorty 14mm box wrench.

Soaked everything a few hours before my pathetic attempt at removal.

In 3 hours, I managed to remove 2, freaking 2, of the nuts holding on the driver side exhaust manifold.

The other nuts just will not budge. I have broken one 14mm socket already. The only thing I accomplish using a cheater bar is causing the wrench or socket to come off the nut sideways, rounding it a little each time it happens.

I'm about to throw in the towel and say the hell with it.

Any suggestions for getting the nuts from hell loose? The only other thing I can think of is to run the engine a little and warm up the manifolds. Then risk 3rd degree burns as I try to remove the nuts.

 

[Misfit]

Thanks guys! :cheers:

I'll give it another shot today. I do have new nuts, so maybe I can use a nut extractor or splitter.

Tempted to see if an impact wrench will help. :teethmast

 

[Misfit]

I started with the driver's side; I always go for the hardest first. :lol:

The two nuts I managed to break loose, I did with a 1/2" ratchet and socket and no swivel or extension.

Really, I'm having an issue with all of them. They just won't budge. X shows the ones I removed.


NxNN
NxNN

 

[Misfit]

Probably just be easier to get a Lightning and put some headers on that=)=)

:imwithstu

The only reason I'm doing this is because my dad will drive the Titan when I get another vehicle and he wants headers. :teethmast

If I get these things installed, I need to make sure it's not faster than whatever I replace it with. :lol:

 

[Misfit]

Finally, the driver side manifold is off!

I think one thing that helped was warming the engine up. Also, I bought a 14mm ratcheting box end wrench, like the one BBtruck has pictured, which worked really well.

Took a few pics of some of the ways I used to remove the manifold bolts. Hope it will help someone else.

The passenger side bolts are soaking. Going to take a quick break, then install the first header.

 

[Misfit]

Haven't had much more time to work on it today. Have to do the mother's day duties and family gtg.

But, the driver's side is done. Just looking at the nice, shiny header makes it all worth while.

Now I gotta do something about that awful looking pos OEM manifold on the passenger side. :teethmast

 

[Misfit]

I didn't have to move the compressor. I did remove the entire engine mount on each side.

The problem on the driver's side wasn't accessing the bolts, it was trying to break them free. I think they were seized worse than usual. On the other hand, the passenger side was a piece of cake. Didn't have trouble breaking any of them free.

Used new gaskets and so far, no signs of leaks. The bolts are still tight, but I'll keep a check on them every few days. Might as well leave the fender liner out for now.

Finally got to go drive it around. It sounds so much better than OEM manifolds with gutted cats. The gutted cats gave it a tin can sound. Now it sounds mean again.

AFR is staying between 12.8 and 13.1 with my BD tune. However, I might still consider an UpRev tune. Sometimes when you stomp it, it feels stronger than at other times. Maybe that will smooth out as the ECU learns. If not, I'll go UpRev.

 

[Misfit]

By the way, thanks to everyone for being my support group. :cheers:

 

[Misfit]

Glad you got it done! I'll be doing mine this week sometime. I'm going to try and leave work early Wednesday if they come Ups so I can do them

Hope your install goes better than mine. :teethmast

I'm sure it will though, with all the preliminary work you've done. As much as you've soaked the nuts, and loosened them, yours should be pretty simple.

Part of my problem was that I got a wild hair Saturday and decided out of the clear blue to do the headers. No pre-soaking with PB blaster or anything. :teeth:

I think I have a total time of 12 hours in the install. A drunk monkey could do it in 10 hours. So I figure you're looking at 8 hours or less.

 

[Misfit]

One last thing I thought I'd mention about the install. I'm impressed with the fit of the DT headers. I was expecting for something to not fit properly, but they fit like a glove.

I think some folks mentioned they had to buy additional hardware for the collector bolts, but the ones that came with my headers worked perfect.

Though it was a bit of a job, it's worth all the work when you fire it up. Also with the install comes the satisfaction of knowing that you did the work, and probably better quality than most shops would have done.

 

[Misfit]

Took 2 of us less then 2 hours to take off my Nismo headers and put OEM's back on.

:teethmast