[soon2BG8GT]

I finally ordered my headers a couple weeks ago. They came in last wed. I'm just now getting around to installing them. Probably gonna take me a little while since this is my first time and with my work schedule being all over. I do have a couple questions for people with pacesetters. I have read through almost all the threads about pacesetters and nobody said anything about these two questions.

1. Did the bolts that came with your headers have a smaller head than the factory ones?
2. Where the bolts that held your factory manifold and cats to the rest of the exhaust welded?

Below are some pics

Unpackaged

prepped on jackstands



Question pictures

 

[Troy Trackbeast]

1. not sure, but I used the new ones with no issues
2. yes the bolt heads were tacked just like your (in the pic). Just pic up some new bolts, nuts, and washers from your local hardware store (<$5) and be done.
3. Please dont put those factory cats back on...

 

[soon2BG8GT]

1. not sure, but I used the new ones with no issues
2. yes the bolt heads were tacked just like your (in the pic). Just pic up some new bolts, nuts, and washers from your local hardware store (<$5) and be done.
3. Please dont put those factory cats back on...

I figured about getting new bolts. No cats. Did you use the connection pieces with the two bolts? You welded your connection adapters to the headers right? With welding did it push your exhaust back?

 

[Troy Trackbeast]

yes they were welded in placed. Im not really sure about it moving the exhaust back because I hacked in a magnaflow mid muffler so everything was re-worked

 

[Pakitullanc]

Are factory cats that restricted. I am thinking of pacesetters too but thinking of keeping factory cats instead of hfc

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[Troy Trackbeast]

Are factory cats that restricted. I am thinking of pacesetters too but thinking of keeping factory cats instead of hfc

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The factory cats are crap. They neck down to an 1" and some change...


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[soon2BG8GT]

I guess i'll just see what happens whether or not I use the connection pieces

 

[soon2BG8GT]

Got the old ones out this morning. Actually had my wife help me guide them out. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the new ones in or at least started and finish up Sat. looking forward to starting it up.

 

[elephantrider]

i cleaned up and re used the factory manifold bolts.

 

[srt/gtx]

i cleaned up and re used the factory manifold bolts.

So you didnt use the supplied bolts that came with the pacesetters, but instead re used the stock bolts? Why

 

[soon2BG8GT]

So you didnt use the supplied bolts that came with the pacesetters, but instead re used the stock bolts? Why

The heads on my new bolts are smaller than the stock ones(why I had the question). Also, I thought I saw that some people were saying that the factory bolts were to long.

 

[srt/gtx]

So the bolts that came with the pacesetters are garbage.. and u can reuse the stock bolts without any problems sorry for ?? Trying to prepare for my install, did u use any loctite

 

[soon2BG8GT]

So the bolts that came with the pacesetters are garbage.. and u can reuse the stock bolts without any problems sorry for ?? Trying to prepare for my install, did u use any loctite

I'm not saying that they are garage just that the heads were smaller. I plan on using the new bolts that came with the headers. I was going to use anti sieze on the bolts.

 

[BigbirneysG8]

I'm not saying that they are garage just that the heads were smaller. I plan on using the new bolts that came with the headers. I was going to use anti sieze on the bolts.

We re used factory, because many people have, and they have the larger head. I cleaned up and painted heads of factory bolts and used blue thread lock when installing. I just did not feel right using smaller head bolts, but I am sure they are fine. I also bought new GM gaskets, because I think they are best and did not want to use Pacesetter cork type gaskets.

 

[JCMG8]

FWIW, if doing the install by yourself, couple of studs make hanging the gasket and header much easier.

 

[soon2BG8GT]

Can someone talk a picture of how their headers connect to the rest of the exhaust? If I weld the connection piece to the header do I still have to use the connection tube? Sorry for asking so many questions.

 

[elephantrider]

So you didnt use the supplied bolts that came with the pacesetters, but instead re used the stock bolts? Why

well, 1st, i didnt buy paceshetters. the bolts and gaskets that come with kooks headers are crap, so i re used factory bolts and bout gm manifold gaskets.

 

[mtocrs1]

Can someone talk a picture of how their headers connect to the rest of the exhaust? If I weld the connection piece to the header do I still have to use the connection tube? Sorry for asking so many questions.

I don't understand the question. One thing you might try, I am thinking about trying it on mine.

Once installed the headers force the rest of the exhaust back a couple inches. It drives me crazy because the tips look like crap and the hangers don't line up the best.

I am planning to shorten the collector two inches with a sawzall and reinstalling. Might also need to take a couple inches off the connection pipe as well and then weld them on to the header....

Eventually that's my plan anyway.

 

[Troy Trackbeast]

Can someone talk a picture of how their headers connect to the rest of the exhaust? If I weld the connection piece to the header do I still have to use the connection tube? Sorry for asking so many questions.

by connection tube do you mean the clamp?? If so you dont need the clamp when you weld the connection pieces onto the headers

 

[mtocrs1]

Troy it looks like you did what I plan to do?is your exhaust now in the stock location instead of being pushed back? Did you cut the header or just the connection piece