My Engine replacement odyssey - 1994 HR
My engine replacement odyssey has begun. I posted questions about the 460 V8 in my 1994 Holiday Rambler some time back and after much engine diagnosis and finally laboratory analysis of my crankcase o...
Forum Discussion
My never-ending weather plagued project is finally coming to an end. Today I finished installing my new Headman Headers. Tomorrow I’ll be meeting with my new friend who’s doing some reprograming of the engine control module (ECM) for me and I hope to be starting it up and giving the engine its initial dynamic timing on Saturday. After setting the timing and briefly checking how the engine runs I’ll install the fan belts, fan pulley and fan, engine radiator, transmission radiator, and AC. I’m hoping to have it completed before Monday. June is here and even though the rain’s stopped I can only work on it in the morning.
Below are some pictures of my new headers.
Here’s the engines passenger side (PS) looking down. Installing anything on the engines PS side is a snap. Mounting the PS header maybe took 20 minutes. That copper overspray is gasket cement Headman recommended I use. The silver colored pipe fitting blocks off the AIR system inlet which I'm not using on my engine.
Here’s the driver’s side (DS) of the engine looking down. Not quite the same as the PS is it? Actually, you access the DS side of the engine best through the front fender well, after you take off the front wheel of course.
Notice how the rigs master cylinder is conveniently situated between you and all the bolts you must access. I’ve taken the liberty of removing a heat shield, also conveniently bolted in place between the engine and master cylinder.
Here’s another photo a little farther towards the rear where you can see the rear of the exhaust header as well as a pipe for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve that is attached to the exhaust header via a faux gold colored elbow fitting (more on that later).
No kidding, because of the cramped inaccessibility of the DS header location I probably spent at least 4 hours installing the DS exhaust header.
The rest of the exhaust header installation was a straight forwards breeze.
Now for that small faux gold colored elbow fitting. This is a rant! If you are in love with FMC and feel that they can do know wrong and have only the consumer’s best interest at heart you may not want to read any farther.
The part pictured is an elbow fitting that connects the pipe for the EGR to the exhaust manifold. After 21 years in place my elbow fitting had become one with the manifold and even after heating it with an oxy/acetylene torch I wasn’t able to remove the elbow or the attached EGR pipe. My efforts did damage the elbow to the point where I had to go to FMC and purchase a new one. The new elbow cost me $200.76 +tax. This isn’t a mechanical human heart we’re talking about or even a flux capacitor, it’s a pipe elbow! I think even the parts guy was appalled at how I was being ripped off. Now I’m certain that if one of the bean counters at FMC were to read this he’d shake his head at how ungrateful I am because after all they still had the part even though the 460 V8 hadn’t been made since 1998. Maybe what I’m paying for is storage, or maybe that’s why it has that faux gold finish. Anyhow, rant over and I already feel better.
To anyone contemplating installing exhaust headers where you need that elbow (some header kits don’t require it) be very very careful taking it off. Also the elbow is made in two parts and brazed together so if you heat it too much it’ll come apart, though it could be rebrazed. Just be very careful with it.
Steve
Below are some pictures of my new headers.
Here’s the engines passenger side (PS) looking down. Installing anything on the engines PS side is a snap. Mounting the PS header maybe took 20 minutes. That copper overspray is gasket cement Headman recommended I use. The silver colored pipe fitting blocks off the AIR system inlet which I'm not using on my engine.
Here’s the driver’s side (DS) of the engine looking down. Not quite the same as the PS is it? Actually, you access the DS side of the engine best through the front fender well, after you take off the front wheel of course.
Notice how the rigs master cylinder is conveniently situated between you and all the bolts you must access. I’ve taken the liberty of removing a heat shield, also conveniently bolted in place between the engine and master cylinder.
Here’s another photo a little farther towards the rear where you can see the rear of the exhaust header as well as a pipe for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve that is attached to the exhaust header via a faux gold colored elbow fitting (more on that later).
No kidding, because of the cramped inaccessibility of the DS header location I probably spent at least 4 hours installing the DS exhaust header.
The rest of the exhaust header installation was a straight forwards breeze.
Now for that small faux gold colored elbow fitting. This is a rant! If you are in love with FMC and feel that they can do know wrong and have only the consumer’s best interest at heart you may not want to read any farther.
The part pictured is an elbow fitting that connects the pipe for the EGR to the exhaust manifold. After 21 years in place my elbow fitting had become one with the manifold and even after heating it with an oxy/acetylene torch I wasn’t able to remove the elbow or the attached EGR pipe. My efforts did damage the elbow to the point where I had to go to FMC and purchase a new one. The new elbow cost me $200.76 +tax. This isn’t a mechanical human heart we’re talking about or even a flux capacitor, it’s a pipe elbow! I think even the parts guy was appalled at how I was being ripped off. Now I’m certain that if one of the bean counters at FMC were to read this he’d shake his head at how ungrateful I am because after all they still had the part even though the 460 V8 hadn’t been made since 1998. Maybe what I’m paying for is storage, or maybe that’s why it has that faux gold finish. Anyhow, rant over and I already feel better.
To anyone contemplating installing exhaust headers where you need that elbow (some header kits don’t require it) be very very careful taking it off. Also the elbow is made in two parts and brazed together so if you heat it too much it’ll come apart, though it could be rebrazed. Just be very careful with it.
Steve
