LX470 DT headers --- decided to install myself (edit) (2 Viewers)

[Hokie LX]

Everyone who's heard of these headers knows the install is a royal PITA given there's virtually no room and the manifold nuts are basically guaranteed to strip.

I haven't ever used a shop for any LC work but I may get a shop to install these.

Anyone have a local LC shop they'd trust to install these? I'd prefer someone with LC knowledge and maybe who's done these before.


Or if some folks want to lend a hand with the install and may have more tools/know-how for removing seized bolts and such, I'm game for that too! I started it and two of the passenger side manifold nuts stripped with my 14mm sockets, a spline socket and my nut removal cut socket didn't get them either. That's when I stopped and here we are! Having never tapped out of a job before...this hurts my pride.

 

[stevezero]

apex overland near Greensboro may be able to get you on the schedule

 

[Hokie LX]

Thanks. I also reached out to Carolina Off-road Outfitters for a quote in Raleigh.

I bought some other tools though so I may give it another go now that I’m more prepared to deal with the issues I faced.

 

[nutop]

i'd give Jay at Renaissance Auto in Cary a call. they do a TON of work on land cruisers.

ymmv, but i and a few others have had issues with carolina offroad in the past.

 

[Hokie LX]

i'd give Jay at Renaissance Auto in Cary a call. they do a TON of work on land cruisers.

ymmv, but i and a few others have had issues with carolina offroad in the past.

Good to know, I appreciate the warning. I'll reach out to Jay as well. I would say that the headers on the LX are one of the more tedious jobs on the truck, possibly more-so than the steering rack so I'd like a reliable shop to tackle it.

 

[uzj100]

Good to know, I appreciate the warning. I'll reach out to Jay as well. I would say that the headers on the LX are one of the more tedious jobs on the truck, possibly more-so than the steering rack so I'd like a reliable shop to tackle it.

100 series header install is the only mod I have ever quit on. Dead stop. Felt so bad. Had a friend do them many years ago. He was a mechanic and had it complete in 4 hours. Not sure how. It was crazy. I would call Jay.

 

[Hokie LX]

100 series header install is the only mod I have ever quit on. Dead stop. Felt so bad. Had a friend do them many years ago. He was a mechanic and had it complete in 4 hours. Not sure how. It was crazy. I would call Jay.

Yeah it hurt my pride to stop.

I have a LX too which is even worse since the AHC lines are in the way. I'll give Jay a call tomorrow and ask for a quote.

I'm working on psyching myself up to give it another go Wednesday afternoon. I bought some deep extraction sockets to work on the manifold bolts since that was my main issue. My short extraction sockets were just barely too short to fully seat.

 

[Hokie LX]

Well..the new deeper extraction sockets did the trick. Got the passenger side header in today. Going to attempt to tackle to the driver side tomorrow. My intermediate steering shaft from the wheel to the rack is seized on so I'll have to get creative to get it off.

Making progress!

 

[JohnVee]

She's beaut, Clark!

 

[NCFJ]

Headers can be over the top frustrating to install. Kudos to you!

 

[Hokie LX]

Headers can be over the top frustrating to install. Kudos to you!

Agreed. I used to think installing down pipes on my BMW 335 with a 6x8” access hole was a PITA but this is worse.

hopefully the driver side goes in without too much hassle.

 

[uzj100]

DT headers make a big drivability difference. Revs even easier and proven HP and torque gains. ;<)

 

[Hokie LX]

DT headers make a big drivability difference. Revs even easier and proven HP and torque gains. ;<)

I’m looking forward to it. Was looking into high flow cats but didn’t make it very far. Hoping to find some high flow ones to drop in and replace mine.

 

[uzj100]

I have high flow cats, dt headers and ems exhaust

 

[Hokie LX]

I have high flow cats, dt headers and ems exhaust

did you drop in cats into the existing pipes or buy new complete drop in cats/pipes?

which ones do you have?

 

[uzj100]

did you drop in cats into the existing pipes or buy new complete drop in cats/pipes?

which ones do you have?

It was like that when I bought it. Let me look up the for sale ad and see if there is any more info. These are complete replacements and small.

 

[rrc swb]

Oh wow! I was literally looking information on getting these installed.

I've done engine swaps and these are making me nervous. LOL

I got the MF high-flow cats and DT cat-back system to go with the headers.

@Hokie LX if you have any advice, that'll be great.

Can you please let me know which deep extraction sockets you used? I don't have a set (yet).

 

[uzj100]

Oh wow! I was literally looking information on getting these installed.

I've done engine swaps and these are making me nervous. LOL

I got the MF high-flow cats and DT cat-back system to go with the headers.

@Hokie LX if you have any advice, that'll be great.

Can you please let me know which deep extraction sockets you used? I don't have a set (yet).

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View attachment 2699983

@Hokie LX - Those look like the CATS I have.

 

[Hokie LX]

Success!!

Honestly, not nearly as bad as I thought. Once I stopped trying (wasting time) to get the steering shaft out and remove the heat shield, I just left them in and got the manifold bolts out from there the swap was easy.

My pride has been restored! Now to button up the exhaust and put the covers back on and take it for a spin

Oh wow! I was literally looking information on getting these installed.

I've done engine swaps and these are making me nervous. LOL

I got the MF high-flow cats and DT cat-back system to go with the headers.

@Hokie LX if you have any advice, that'll be great.

Can you please let me know which deep extraction sockets you used? I don't have a set (yet).

View attachment 2699982

View attachment 2699983

Happy to talk you through some tips and tricks I found out doing this. I’ve done engine swaps too and for some reason this was so daunting given the 100 series forum comments. It’s really not that bad though. All in all it took me 8 hours to do both sides not counting my first failed attempt. Also, the “LX AHC” factor is nonexistent if you have a good combo of tools.

Im VERY glad I bought some swivel ratchet wrenches as it made removing the old bolts and installing the new ones cake. The angles are definitely awkward and many extensions, swivels, socket depths, etc are NEEDED.

I’ll post the tools I used that were invaluable in a couple hours.

 

[rrc swb]

Success!!

Honestly, not nearly as bad as I thought. Once I stopped trying (wasting time) to get the steering shaft out and remove the heat shield, I just left them in and got the manifold bolts out from there the swap was easy.

My pride has been restored! Now to button up the exhaust and put the covers back on and take it for a spin
View attachment 2700176



Happy to talk you through some tips and tricks I found out doing this. I’ve done engine swaps too and for some reason this was so daunting given the 100 series forum comments. It’s really not that bad though. All in all it took me 8 hours to do both sides not counting my first failed attempt. Also, the “LX AHC” factor is nonexistent if you have a good combo of tools.

Im VERY glad I bought some swivel ratchet wrenches as it made removing the old bolts and installing the new ones cake. The angles are definitely awkward and many extensions, swivels, socket depths, etc are NEEDED.

I’ll post the tools I used that were invaluable in a couple hours.

That's awesome. You're giving me hope. LOL