I seem to remember that one header goes in easier from the top and the other from the bottom. Last time I did this was late 70's and my mind has slipped alittle since then. I have the steering column out, no starter or oil filter. Which is from the top and which is from the bottom, or is it both from the top or both from the bottom? Should I lift either side of the motor and is there anything else I could do to make them go in easier so I don't scratch them up?

Thanks
Tom

When I did my old small block, I put them both in from the bottom. But since you have removed the steering column, and starter. You may be able to put them in from the top.

I found that the passanger comes up from the bottom and the driver's from the top with the dipstick and oil filtrer removed. Both require the car to be jacked up quite high. I left the hedders in the plastic bags on for install then cut them off once the headers were in.

Thanks for the help. After reading the posts on breaking in the motor using old headers, I think I will have practice installing the old ones to do the initial start-up. I will then try to install the new ones without scratching them.

Will disconnecting the motor mount and jacking up the motor help any?

Thanks
Tom S

Do yourself a favor, attach your steering column and put your starter in now. Definitely put a heat shield on your starter first, before you install the headers. Put the passenger side in from the bottom. Loosen the the tranny mount bolts and take out the driver side mount bolt. Jack the engine up about 3 inches and install the header from the bottom.

Tom-I put my headers on less than a year ago and can't remember! I do remember jacking up the car pretty high and one side went in from the top and one from the bottom, but I did not have to remove anything (starter, steering column, oil filter). I did have to coerce the transmission fluid lines, though. These were Holly flowtech ceramics. Dave.

What kind of headers are you using? I put in the Hedman Elite headers. I disconnected the steering shaft and put the driver side in from the bottom. I couldn't get the shaft to clear the header to re-connect it, so I ended up jacking up the engine anyway. I guess it all depends on what headers you are using. I couldn't get either of my headers in froim the top. You do need to get the car pretty high in the air. BTW, if you do jack up the engine to get the driver side header in, do this one first. I didn't and the pass side header got wedged in the upper control arm. It didn't come out untill I removed all the header bolts, and removed the header. I needed to get to my spark plugs and put the heat shield on anyway. There isn't much clearance between the header and the starter. If you don't use the heat shield, you will fry the solenoid and starter windings.