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So I installed my PPE headers by myself.....on jackstands.
Mission accomplished!
Definitely possible without a lift. Took me about 8 hours all by myself with no help.
These are the important things I thought were necessary.
4 x 6 TON jack stands so I could get the car up as high as possible, almost 24 inches off the ground.
2 x floor Jacks
1 x RV 30" scissor jack to hold the engine when you drop the subframe.
Various blocks of wood 2x4, 2x6 to support the engine and transmission.
I was going to make a step by step write up but half way through I was like forget it, I got lazy and nobody to take pictures for me.
My thoughts on the job?
Everything was pretty straightforward, I marked, then dropped the subframe in one piece, steering rack included. It was one heavy **** with the lower control arms attached, this is where the extra floor jack and blocks of wood comes in handy. Dropping the subframe and getting the stock manifolds out was a walk in the park. Putting the aftermarket headers in was a big PIA.
Definitely take lots of breaks, being under the car for that many hours on your back can really get you disorientated.
The hardest part was getting to some of the nuts on the aftermarket headers. I initially thought it was next to impossible because the runners block your access to them and there was no room on either side. You need a big collection of extensions, swivels and sockets plus patience...lots of patience.
I recommend a new set of OEM manifold gaskets also, worst thing that could happen is you bolt everything back up and find a leak. That would suck. Make sure to torque as much of the bolts/nuts to manufacturer spec, especially the important ones like the engine mount,subframe and suspension parts.
Overall, I rate it a 6/10 on the difficulty scale, I've done a lot of crazier stuff in my garage like a clutch job on a Toyota Celica Turbo All-Trac and replaced the 7M-GTE short block on my Supra. Those were fun.....not.
Wanna thank Paul from PPE Engineering for hooking me up with my full PPE setup, the quality is once again top notch and fit/finish was perfect.
Final shot of my exhaust piping with high flow cats...
that is a lot of work. props for doing it by yourself. I've installed headers on mustangs, its easy compared to the IS F. this motivates me to change my shocks this weekend and install the USRS. if your in SoCal, do you have an electric impact I can use?
Thanks guys, another part of the job that I had issues with believe it or not was that little 10mm bolt holding the dip stick in. Talk about a tight fit, there is less than an inch of space. Never cursed so much trying to get that little booger on.
that is a lot of work. props for doing it by yourself. I've installed headers on mustangs, its easy compared to the IS F. this motivates me to change my shocks this weekend and install the USRS. if your in SoCal, do you have an electric impact I can use?
03-24-16, 11:41 AM
So I installed my PPE headers by myself.....on jackstands.
