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A guide to install pace setter headers.

Hello Everyone, I installed PaceSetter Headers on my 97 3800 here is a few tips.

what you need
Metric tools, wrenches and sockets,
3 inch extension, 6 inch extension
pliers. welder, saw, few other things:
swivel, 2 PEOPLE

1 first drive the car then let it cool about 45 mins, HINT: PUT YOUR HOOD UP  the motor cools faster

2 pull it up on ramps, block back tire e-break all that, safety

3 get old Y pipe off there undo bolts and cut away from cat then, this gives you more room

4get the plug wires out of the way, then the plugs, Manifolds are still hot!! use gloves

5 no I'm not crazy your working while it cools this is why, start on the manifold bolts ASAP, when car warm they come out easy, I only had trouble with the vary last one I took out, driver side, 3rd bolt, bottom. There are studs with nuts on them, on that bolt the nut was free from the stud, and finally I got stud out after 15mins of playing with it. NOTE I had to put a stock stud in this hole, I don’t know why but new ones would not go in

It will take longer to get stock manifolds out then the new headers in

6 the pass manifold will drop out the bottom, take the driver side out the top tricky but it will go. NOTE you need 2 people 1 under car and one under hood. You can take off the heat shields on the manifolds it helps a little. (have to anyway to get the O2 sensors out)

7. As you take stock out have person that’s not under car get out the O2 sensors (or have new ones ready) mine came out easy 19mm. TAKE OFF HEAT SHIELDS. Then put them in the headers were they go.

8. most tricky part of the header install is getting the driver side in there, don’t be fooled bye room on the driver side, the drive side will take longer to do almost everything, don’t look like it. Trust me it goes in, without removing any thing, from the bottom had to dent the frame about 1/2 back to slip it in, NO BIG deal

9. sealing, DO NOT GET THE FEL-PRO GASKETS THEY SUCK, I was frustrated with the leaks, so I tried stock ones, drive side sealed up, pass side did not , I cut my own gasket and used stock to get it to seal (yes both). If I had more time I would have got new stock ones from GM, call them they have exact ones you just took out, PARTS DEPOT at any gm dealer I would have those new ones before you start. Use those. if does leak, it only takes about 20 min to take header off and move gasket a little, I SAY: make sure gasket is as far to the top as it can as this is were all me leaks was, top and just to left when looking at them.

I got a sheet from AutoZone and tried making my own gaskets, it almost worked this is how I know were it was leaking, but with my homemade gasket and the stock one it sealed, with new stock, you should not have problem.

New headers are easy to bolt in just start in the center and work outwards, then back to center till everything is snug. Put y-pipe on snug up bolts, weld to cat. that’s about all, I used old lug nuts as spacers on the flange bolts so I could make it tighter helps A LOT.