Bassani LT installation - day 1

[shanec]

Whew. Me and a much-appreciated buddy put in about 13 hours on this today. And I think 3/4 of it went towards just 3-4 bolts. Driver side manifold removal was cake. Passenger side....HOLY CRAP ARE THOSE 1ST 2 BOTTOM BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A #*$^&% to get on and off!!!! One is pancaked against the motor mount and other is barely reachable. Spent at least 2-3 hours on those two bolts alone. Installation - Bassani's unique one-pipe-per cylinder installation allowed me to skip removing the starter and steering linkage. Still those bolts by the passenger engine mount were #*$^$%^#@*$#^& $#@* # 2 @#$(# @# #$$^%^# @#($&$ @#^$#*$% Passenger side pipe 4 (closest to dash) was real hard. The pipe loops up and around the top bolt. There's barely room for the bolt to square-up and insert into the hole, much less with any fingers around it. I had to remove the battery & the battery shelf to reach that and it was still #*$ $$ !)$#^$# $% @*$*$. Driver side went in in about 1/3 the time. And I due to the groovy curvy shape of pipe #4, I had to remove a horizontal frame stiffener from the front which was pretty easy. Hadn't seen that mentioned before. What else... By the way - I noticed my passenger side cam cover is missing a bolt from the factory. I'm sure this is ok, as there are a bunch of other bolts holding it on. MOST VALUABLE TIP - GEAR WRENCHES!!! Gear wrenches make header bolt on/off 10x easier than any amount of ratchet swivels and extensions. Too bad I couldn't find a gear wrench that fit my bassani header bolts. But these wrenches were simply glorious for removing the stock nuts. I bought these wrenches for this project and they are my new favorite tool. Anti-seize...I used it. I had to. I got real scared on the 1st header bolt when it felt cross-threaded. It would finger turn 1/2-3/4 turn and stop. Felt tough to turn with a wrench and I wasn't gonna force it. Only then did I get out the anti-sieze and it seemed to perform a lube function and the bolts when right in easier than the factory ones came out. Issues.... ##&$&$ Bassani! Sent me 02 extensions for a fox body mustang. The didn't fit my S197. But out of curiosity, we discovered they fit the 5.0 Stang next door. I hope they'll make right and overnight me the right stuff Monday AM. I hope the header bolts are tight enough. Bassani's bolt are just bolts. I much preferred the stock method of stud & nuts because you can really torque down on those nuts without stripping the block. Couldn't reuse those because they were too long - they bumped into the Bassani pipes in some places. So the Bassani bolts are in there real snug, but not muscle-downed tight. Just can't go real tight into an aluminum block. None of the factory bolts in that block are real tight. More issues... I'll put the midpipe on tomorrow. Bassani's made-for-LT midpipe requires cutting 10.5 inches off the front of the axelback pipe. Problem....the car has to be on a lift to get that pipe out. Not having a lift, I don't have the ground clearance to rotate that pipe around the dive shaft. We'll have to cut it with the pipe still hanging on the drive shaft. Shouldn't be anywhere near as hard as what we've already been though getting the LT's in there. Hopefully, but Tuesday night Bassani will get me some O2 extensions and everything will be together & running fine.

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[jahudso2]

Good luck. Makes me reconsider taking my car to a shop if i get headers haha.

[mustanglouie]

make sure you get pics of everything you can

[shanec]

Forgot to add....we have clearance, Clarence.

Some have reported ground clearance issues with LT headers. Bassani's hang about a half inch below the frame, which is about where my x-pipe was. So these LT's are no lower than my midpipe was before the header install. Still the lowest point on the car, but no worse than before.

[aircare84]

Are you rusing your stock mounts, or are you installing prothene mounts?
Steering shaft rub is a concern with LT on these.

[abarker8541]

we want vids MF (mustang forumer)

[stang910]

Bassani is probably going to tell you to cut the tabs off the o2 sensor harness. I don't think there is a specific extension for our cars. If they sent you a 4 wire harness they sent the correct one. I did my longtube install this past saturday and had to do that also. Good luck finishing your install.

[shanec]

Just looking at it - it appears even if I cut the the notches off, I'm not sure the locking tab would lock because they look different sizes.

I don't believe there aren't proper 02 extensions for our car since so many people have them. I can believe BASSANI doesn't proper 02 extensions for our car since they sent the same wrong extensions pre-packaged in my x-pipe and in a separate package that I ordered separately.

I might look into getting somebody else's extensions.

I fitted the x-pipe today. Will finish the rest when I have the O2 situation worked out.

I took some picks of the install that I'll post shortly.

[07musclemustang]

good luck and god speed.
remember a busted knuckel heals. a rushed job lasts as long as you have the car untill you fix it.
and buy your buddy lots of beer for helping you through one of the hardest installs on our cars

[shanec]

Originally Posted by aircare84

Are you rusing your stock mounts, or are you installing prothene mounts?
Steering shaft rub is a concern with LT on these.

I used stock mounts.

Bassani headers are in multiple pieces - a separate pipe for each cylinder. One pipe goes between the steering linkage and frame. 3 more pipes go between the steering linkage and engine.

I have a minimum of 1/4 to 1/2 inch clearance between the steering linkage and the closest pipe.

My next question is with regards to lowering. Do I need to have any steering linkage or engine mount concerns if I put on FRPP springs (supposed to lower 1.5" on front & back). I'm not sure what, if anything around the pipes, steering, & engine mounts changes in height or angles if I lower the car.