Doom
April 24th, 2004, 08:46 PM
Poster by AccordNewbie
Installation
Tools:
Breaker Bar
Extensions
Vise Grip
Torque Wrench
Sockets
17mm Wrench
Header to Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Torque Specs:
Exhaust Manifold to Header bolts: 23 lb
O2 sensor: 33 lb (didn't know how to disconnect from car so I just unscrewed it from the a-pipe directly)
A-Pipe flange to header bolts: 40 lb
Hanger bolts: 28 lb
A-Pipe flange to Cat Converter: 25 lb
Well, since I had to figure the whole thing out myself, I think it would only be right to share the knowledge. It's actually a very easy installation once you do it once. You don't actually need to jack up and jack down the car like the instructions say. I'm pretty tall, 6'2, so I just leaned over and installed the parts. I installed it with my girlfriend and it was pretty easy, it took about 3 hours because one bolt took me forever to get off because of the wrong socket size, heh. You can either use air tools or if you're pretty strong you can just use a breaker bar. However, an easier way is to position the breaker bar so that you and your friend can pull on it at once. It'll seem like you cracked the bolt or something but that's the right sound. They're bolted on really tight. I personally bought gaskets from Acura for my Accord and they were about 9 dollars for both front and rear headers. The old ones look worn out but you can reuse them if you please. Well, I can go through the entire installation process so here goes. You'll need a breaker bar, an assortment of sockets (14mm and 17mm are the main ones), I had probably five different extensions (one long one and one short one for the breaker bar (3/8 inch). I also used a Vise Grip to hold the bolts when installing the new bolts on. Alright, this is the easier installation method.
1. Disconnect negative cable on battery. Jack up car on jack stands. Take off the A-pipe underneath the car. There are 3 bolts connecting each flange of the a-pipe to the headers and the catalytic converter. But first you want to unbolt the hanger that holds the a-pipe so that you can pull it out easier. Also, you'll need to start the car a little in order to take off the oxygen sensor because it contracts when heated. After everything is cooled, then go back under, with your friend holding the a-pipe, take off all of the bolts and slowly slide the a-pipe out from under the engine.
2. Take off the bolts on the headers by using extensions and a breaker bar. Fairly easy to reach if you just stretch a little. Just feel for the bolts first and then take them off. You'll have to take out the rear header from under the car. After that is done, keep all the bolts from the headers.
3. Put the Comptech headers onto the (Front one has the Carb number, Comptech had sent me two front headers when they sent me mine, it sucked) exhaust manifold and put the bolts back on. Do not tighten them yet because you'll need the flexibility later.
4. After both headers are in place (you can rebolt the headers from the top), take the new a-pipe and bolt the three new bolts onto each flange. Use some anti seize compound on the gasket that's between the a-pipe flange and the catalytic converter to hold it there in place. Also, before doing this (sorry about the order of the instructions), make sure you put anti-seize compound on the threads and only the threads of the O2 sensor, make sure you be extra careful about this because the anti-seize compound can damage the sensor. Bolt the hanger from the old a-pipe onto the car first so that you won't have to carry the a-pipe. Connect all the bolts. I found it easiest to have my gf stand on over the car and use the vise grip to hold the top bolt while I tightened it from the bottom (for the front header). For the rear header, I found it easiest to use a 17mm wrench to hold the bolt while I tightened the bolts (have your friend hold the bolt while tightening, requires some maneuvering, but not hard at all). After everything is connected, reconnect the battery cable and turn on the car. Leave the car on idle for a 3-5 minutes and then take it out for a test drive. Check for leaks but if you installed the bolts to factory specs, than you should be fine. You might smell a funny smell while driving it at first but I believe this to be the anti-seize compound burning off the gasket and maybe some of the threading on the 02 sensor. After that, have fun. If you have any more questions, I'll be around. Good luck. Sorry I don't have pics. I was too anxious to finish.
Installation
Tools:
Breaker Bar
Extensions
Vise Grip
Torque Wrench
Sockets
17mm Wrench
Header to Exhaust Manifold Gasket
Torque Specs:
Exhaust Manifold to Header bolts: 23 lb
O2 sensor: 33 lb (didn't know how to disconnect from car so I just unscrewed it from the a-pipe directly)
A-Pipe flange to header bolts: 40 lb
Hanger bolts: 28 lb
A-Pipe flange to Cat Converter: 25 lb
Well, since I had to figure the whole thing out myself, I think it would only be right to share the knowledge. It's actually a very easy installation once you do it once. You don't actually need to jack up and jack down the car like the instructions say. I'm pretty tall, 6'2, so I just leaned over and installed the parts. I installed it with my girlfriend and it was pretty easy, it took about 3 hours because one bolt took me forever to get off because of the wrong socket size, heh. You can either use air tools or if you're pretty strong you can just use a breaker bar. However, an easier way is to position the breaker bar so that you and your friend can pull on it at once. It'll seem like you cracked the bolt or something but that's the right sound. They're bolted on really tight. I personally bought gaskets from Acura for my Accord and they were about 9 dollars for both front and rear headers. The old ones look worn out but you can reuse them if you please. Well, I can go through the entire installation process so here goes. You'll need a breaker bar, an assortment of sockets (14mm and 17mm are the main ones), I had probably five different extensions (one long one and one short one for the breaker bar (3/8 inch). I also used a Vise Grip to hold the bolts when installing the new bolts on. Alright, this is the easier installation method.
1. Disconnect negative cable on battery. Jack up car on jack stands. Take off the A-pipe underneath the car. There are 3 bolts connecting each flange of the a-pipe to the headers and the catalytic converter. But first you want to unbolt the hanger that holds the a-pipe so that you can pull it out easier. Also, you'll need to start the car a little in order to take off the oxygen sensor because it contracts when heated. After everything is cooled, then go back under, with your friend holding the a-pipe, take off all of the bolts and slowly slide the a-pipe out from under the engine.
2. Take off the bolts on the headers by using extensions and a breaker bar. Fairly easy to reach if you just stretch a little. Just feel for the bolts first and then take them off. You'll have to take out the rear header from under the car. After that is done, keep all the bolts from the headers.
3. Put the Comptech headers onto the (Front one has the Carb number, Comptech had sent me two front headers when they sent me mine, it sucked) exhaust manifold and put the bolts back on. Do not tighten them yet because you'll need the flexibility later.
4. After both headers are in place (you can rebolt the headers from the top), take the new a-pipe and bolt the three new bolts onto each flange. Use some anti seize compound on the gasket that's between the a-pipe flange and the catalytic converter to hold it there in place. Also, before doing this (sorry about the order of the instructions), make sure you put anti-seize compound on the threads and only the threads of the O2 sensor, make sure you be extra careful about this because the anti-seize compound can damage the sensor. Bolt the hanger from the old a-pipe onto the car first so that you won't have to carry the a-pipe. Connect all the bolts. I found it easiest to have my gf stand on over the car and use the vise grip to hold the top bolt while I tightened it from the bottom (for the front header). For the rear header, I found it easiest to use a 17mm wrench to hold the bolt while I tightened the bolts (have your friend hold the bolt while tightening, requires some maneuvering, but not hard at all). After everything is connected, reconnect the battery cable and turn on the car. Leave the car on idle for a 3-5 minutes and then take it out for a test drive. Check for leaks but if you installed the bolts to factory specs, than you should be fine. You might smell a funny smell while driving it at first but I believe this to be the anti-seize compound burning off the gasket and maybe some of the threading on the 02 sensor. After that, have fun. If you have any more questions, I'll be around. Good luck. Sorry I don't have pics. I was too anxious to finish.