Installing headers on a 97 COBRA

smokesix · 05-18-2003, 12:30 AM

Ok, Here's the deal. I have MAC's LT headers and o/r/h pipe but I have know idea baout how I could squeeze in those headers in because there's no possible way I can fit a tool or whatever. I work at a jiffy lube so I know that I can at least jack the car up if I need to, but what else do I need to do.

What is the easiest or the best way on installing these headers?? Please, any suggestions along with step by step so I don't f*@k this up. Thanks

Badass_yellowGT · 05-18-2003, 07:11 PM

are you ready for some fun to install the headers you either need to do 1 of these the easiest being the first

1.
jack up the car and unbolt the motor mounts and tranny mount and raise the engine 2 inches off the k member remember to jack against the lip of the oil pan only. this is the easiest way to do it oh yea take a piece of 2x4 and place it betwwen the motor mounts and k memeber for saftey and to unload weight from the pan.

2.
same as above but completely remove the front k memeber you will need a engine support for the engine compartment to hold the weight while the supports are taken away.

jax702 · 05-20-2003, 10:09 PM

I put mac long tubes on my 97 cobra. We used a lift and still had to jack the motor up a good 2 inches. Removing the starter makes things go a lot smoother also. Id like to know when u get them on if yer cobra burns oil like mine does now?

moosejaw · 05-24-2003, 12:47 AM

Be carful when lifting the engine. There are numerous fittings that can be damaged. The AC is vulnerable for one.

DO NOT JACK THE PAN!!! The pans on the 4.6 are not like oil pans of old. They are very thin with many oil wipers in the bottom. If you dent the pan just a little you will push the scrapers into the crank or the timing chain and you will buy yourself a pan removal.

Give yourself a whole day to do this the first time. If you don't have double jointed fingers then plan on longer. Best bet, take it to someone else to do. We doubled our labor on these after doing a couple of them. We now charge $800 to install long tubes on 96-up Cobras.

Good luck,

Mike

Badass_yellowGT · 05-27-2003, 11:09 PM

Quote:

We now charge $800 to install long tubes on 96-up Cobras.

Holy SH*T it don`t even cost that much in labor to replace the heads and intake.

moosejaw · 05-28-2003, 11:11 PM

Heads and intake on a pushrod maybe.

No one around here even touches Cobra headers. One shop that did broke more sh_t than they fixed. They charged 300 and lost their *ss on the deal.

You should look up what Anderson Ford charges for some of their labor rates. Blowers are ~$1500. We only charged Bo Beuckman Ford $900 to install the Saleen blower for them (on a new car).

Mike

Badass_yellowGT · 05-30-2003, 10:05 AM

no the price i quoted was for a mod motor

96cobraman · 06-01-2003, 12:21 AM

Oh God, what a nightmare. I installed a complete Mac system on my 96 mustang cobra last summer, L/T's, cat, and pro dumps. The L/T's were very hard for me to do. I think I would pay someone to install, if I was to do it all over again.

TRipSOber · 06-01-2003, 05:19 PM

is it just as difficult to install headers on a 2001 gt?

96cobraman · 06-01-2003, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TRipSOber
is it just as difficult to install headers on a 2001 gt?

No, there a lot more room in the GT's, and the newer body style has more room also.

05-18-2003, 12:30 AM	#1
smokesix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 11	Installing headers on a 97 COBRA Ok, Here's the deal. I have MAC's LT headers and o/r/h pipe but I have know idea baout how I could squeeze in those headers in because there's no possible way I can fit a tool or whatever. I work at a jiffy lube so I know that I can at least jack the car up if I need to, but what else do I need to do. What is the easiest or the best way on installing these headers?? Please, any suggestions along with step by step so I don't f*@k this up. Thanks

05-18-2003, 07:11 PM	#2
Badass_yellowGT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western,MA Posts: 254	are you ready for some fun to install the headers you either need to do 1 of these the easiest being the first 1. jack up the car and unbolt the motor mounts and tranny mount and raise the engine 2 inches off the k member remember to jack against the lip of the oil pan only. this is the easiest way to do it oh yea take a piece of 2x4 and place it betwwen the motor mounts and k memeber for saftey and to unload weight from the pan. 2. same as above but completely remove the front k memeber you will need a engine support for the engine compartment to hold the weight while the supports are taken away. __________________ Rice Haters Club Member #55 For My car Specs Click the Home page link http://www.badassyellowgt.50g.com/

05-20-2003, 10:09 PM	#3
jax702 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: vegas Posts: 43	good luck I put mac long tubes on my 97 cobra. We used a lift and still had to jack the motor up a good 2 inches. Removing the starter makes things go a lot smoother also. Id like to know when u get them on if yer cobra burns oil like mine does now? __________________ 1997 Cobra #3803 WMS cold air intake, 87 Pro M, Autologic chip, BBK twin 62 throttle body, BBK pulleys, Fluidyne radiator, trunk mounted battery....

05-24-2003, 12:47 AM	#4
moosejaw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: St.Louis,MO Posts: 274	Be carful when lifting the engine. There are numerous fittings that can be damaged. The AC is vulnerable for one. DO NOT JACK THE PAN!!! The pans on the 4.6 are not like oil pans of old. They are very thin with many oil wipers in the bottom. If you dent the pan just a little you will push the scrapers into the crank or the timing chain and you will buy yourself a pan removal. Give yourself a whole day to do this the first time. If you don't have double jointed fingers then plan on longer. Best bet, take it to someone else to do. We doubled our labor on these after doing a couple of them. We now charge $800 to install long tubes on 96-up Cobras. Good luck, Mike __________________ Live near St.Louis? Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO

05-28-2003, 11:11 PM	#6
moosejaw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: St.Louis,MO Posts: 274	Heads and intake on a pushrod maybe. No one around here even touches Cobra headers. One shop that did broke more sh_t than they fixed. They charged 300 and lost their *ss on the deal. You should look up what Anderson Ford charges for some of their labor rates. Blowers are ~$1500. We only charged Bo Beuckman Ford $900 to install the Saleen blower for them (on a new car). Mike __________________ Live near St.Louis? Check out Mustang Muscle and Dyno in High Ridge, MO

05-30-2003, 10:05 AM	#7
Badass_yellowGT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western,MA Posts: 254	no the price i quoted was for a mod motor __________________ Rice Haters Club Member #55 For My car Specs Click the Home page link http://www.badassyellowgt.50g.com/

06-01-2003, 12:21 AM	#8
96cobraman Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6	Oh God, what a nightmare. I installed a complete Mac system on my 96 mustang cobra last summer, L/T's, cat, and pro dumps. The L/T's were very hard for me to do. I think I would pay someone to install, if I was to do it all over again.

06-01-2003, 05:19 PM	#9
TRipSOber Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: massachusetts Posts: 13	is it just as difficult to install headers on a 2001 gt? __________________ 2001 mustang gt mineral gray -delta flow 2 chamber mufflers- -k&n gen ll induction kit- - tinted windows 35% sides 20% back- -h-pipe with high flow cats-

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