Header install, tips?

I'm installing my header tomorrow night onto my 1.6 and was wanting to get some tips from you guys to make the process a little bit easier. Any suggestions?

Start pb blasting everything to make things easier and if it still give you trouble bust out the plasma cutter.

I have used so much PB Blaster since I purchased my car, I don't know where I would be without it.

Yes definately use it!!!

Also I used antiseize on the bolts when I put it back together.

1) And for third time: spray all the bolts you'll be removing (at the block and on the down pipe) with pb blaster and let the car sit over night. Spray it several times through the night if you can/want to. I did this and didn't have a problem removing any of the bolts on my '91 when I did the swap.

2) Before you put the new header into the engine bay, take your header gasket and overlay it on the new header's flange and make sure all of the bolt holes line up. If they dont, get a file and get busy making the holes line up. <-- this assumes you got an ebay header, if you got RB or JR ignore that comment.

3) If you cant get the header to wiggle into place, push on the engine towards the passenger side of the car (or get someone to do this for you while you try to wiggle the header in. After I figured that out, the header would just drop right in.

Good luck!

Oh, and if you don't have them you will need some long extensions to reach some of the OEM bolts on the downpipe. Might even need a swivel... I think the miata.net garage tells you what you'll need...

Changed the header no problem. Put WD-40 on the bolts 30 mins prior to working on it and everything came off super easy. A little time consuming because it was my first time but overall not as bad as I thought at all.

Yea they are pretty easy!!

Should have done engine mounts while the header was out.

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Originally Posted by modernbeat

Should have done engine mounts while the header was out.

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I was thinking the same thing!!