Header install question - r/r front beam

[Russ]

What's the reason most DIYs teach that the front motor mount bolt gets removed from the front beam, rather than leaving that hard to re-attach bolt and instead removing the three bolts holding the front motor mount to the block? It seems much easier to reattach the three bolts holding the motor mount to the block than is to reach up blind to reattach the big front bolt to the beam.

 

[geometro]

From my recent experience: if I had to do it all over again, I would have removed the center bolt from the front engine mount for 2 reasons despite being more difficult to reach:

1) easier to slide the front beam down and out of the way and reinstall without the motor mount sticking out of it.

2) actually easier to torque down the central bolt to spec rather than the 3 bolts because you can actually use a torque wrench on the central bolt rather than only a box end wrench on the 3 smaller bolts.

--
George

 

[drew]

Yes, I found it easier to unbolt the small bolts on the engine/transmission that try and deal with the single large bolt. It took crazy contortions to get the bolt and rubber washer in correctly.

 

[ANYTIME]

I installed my headers without removing the front/rear beam or even touching the ac compressor :biggrin:

 

[swimmingpie]

I just installed a set of cantrell headers earlier this week. I removed the three bolts attaching the mount to the block. Removing the single large bolt would have been extremely difficult.

 

[angus]

I installed my headers without removing the front/rear beam or even touching the ac compressor :biggrin:

You are either lying - or 3" tall and incredibly strong:wink:

 

[geometro]

Or put in a new engine with headers already on it...

--
George

 

[Russ]

From my recent experience: if I had to do it all over again, I would have removed the center bolt from the front engine mount for 2 reasons despite being more difficult to reach:

1) easier to slide the front beam down and out of the way and reinstall without the motor mount sticking out of it.

2) actually easier to torque down the central bolt to spec rather than the 3 bolts because you can actually use a torque wrench on the central bolt rather than only a box end wrench on the 3 smaller bolts.

--
George

I ended up taking out the center bolt. I was able to get an impact gun + extension up there to remove it easily, and used Sensei Bastanza's technique of using a long piece of duct tape to hold the bolt on, while I torqued it down using a 1/2" torque wrench. Pulled off the duct tape, done.

 

[ANYTIME]

You are either lying - or 3" tall and incredibly strong:wink:

The car was on my lift. Didn't read the directions/tips until after the install. The ac compressor didn't seem to be in the way, so I wonder why there is a notation to do anything with it. The front beam was also left alone and it was tight to install the front header.

 

[acuratech27]

You are either lying - or 3" tall and incredibly strong:wink:

i have also done a couple installs where i didnt have to remove the a/c compressor. as far as taking the beam off i am almost positive you have to remove it to do the install unless you take the gas tank and heat shield out