So my head gaskets blew out and I have my engine torn down and am getting ready to replace them. I have a set of longtube headers setting in the garage too and I was just wondering if it's possible to bolt them up the the heads when they're out of the car and drop them in when I reinstall the heads? I really hope this can be done because it will save a ton of work! Thanks!

 

You can't really get to the exhaust manifold unless you lift the engine or put jackstands on the k member and detatch it from it's mounts and lift the car high enough to get to all the bolts, those are the 2 easiest ways I know of.

 

To get the stock manifolds out I'll just unbolt them from the stock midpipe and pull them out with the heads...I just need to know if the longtubes will fit in through there because I know the stock manifolds will come out that way.

 

Also how do you get the bolts out of the passenger side manifolds where they connect to the midpipe. I broke to extensions trying to get them out and I can't find a good way to go about it. Thanks

 

yea its probolly not gunna work like that just because you gotta get the heads on the dowels and it wont give you the right angle. Your gunna need to unbolt the motormounts remove the starter and disconnect the steering colum.Your also need to jack up the motor as much as possible i had no tranny in the car when i did itwhich made it easier.I just finished up putting the heads and cams on my car. I had the luxary of a lift which made it easy but it was about 20-25 hours of work. But good luck with it.

and for the passenger side manifold you need to take the starter down to get those there should be 3 bolts and the connnections

 

you need a swivel and long extention for the passenger side... and no i dont think you will be able to get the heads on with longtubes on them..

 

I didn't figure I would be that lucky. What would be easier then, jacking the motor up or dropping the K-member and going at it that way. I'm also going to be putting in new shocks and struts and springs so maybe k-member?

 

you might be able to position the headers into place whith the heads off holding them with code hanger or something. Then install the heads and then bolt the headers to the heads. Never done it on a mustang, but I have seen it done before.

 

Very interesting thought and definitely worth a try...anyone have any other thoughts about this idea?

 

90% sure it won't work because the steering shaft becomes a problem since it must fit through the header.
jimbo