Jmeo's "Take 2" 2017 Auto Build

[Jmeo]

Damn Jaime!!! LOL
You got some skills bro! Good job man.

Thanks Tony, wait to you see this in person the pictures don't do it justice.

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[Stage_3]

Thanks Tony, wait to you see this in person the pictures don't do it justice.

I can only imagine bro. I can't wait to check it out.
I wish summer would hurry up already!!! lol

 

[angermgmt14]

Looks great Jaime! As others have stated, you do exquisite work. If I decide to get headers with my tax refund, I'll be giving you the call. I've heard your rates are MUCH cheaper than the dealership. :cheers:

 

[Roh92cp]

Jamie!! Jamie!! Jamie!! You are an animal man!! I can't believe the busy little beaver you have been. Your work is amazing as well as your garage my friend, and you look as happy as a clam in there with all your boxes and tools. Thanks for the contributions here with the very well documented build, as it s people like you that make these forums fun. My hats off to you for diving in to this brand new car and pulling everything apart to mod it to your liking. You must have hit the lottery my friend with an understanding wife and $$, becuase if UPS showed up at my house as often as you my wife would be

 

[Jmeo]

I can only imagine bro. I can't wait to check it out.
I wish summer would hurry up already!!! lol

I just need another 5 weeks or so and I'm right with ya

Looks great Jaime! As others have stated, you do exquisite work. If I decide to get headers with my tax refund, I'll be giving you the call. I've heard your rates are MUCH cheaper than the dealership. :cheers:

Hahaha lets see whats on my plate come then. Having done 2 different sets of headers on my 2005 (long story), one on my 2015, staring this car now and a planned install for a friend all I can see when I close my eyes are header bolts and bruised/bloody fingers :headbonk:

Jamie!! Jamie!! Jamie!! You are an animal man!! I can't believe the busy little beaver you have been. Your work is amazing as well as your garage my friend, and you look as happy as a clam in there with all your boxes and tools. Thanks for the contributions here with the very well documented build, as it s people like you that make these forums fun. My hats off to you for diving in to this brand new car and pulling everything apart to mod it to your liking

Thanks Shawn, I appreciate that. If it isn't apparent, I absolutely love working on my car. I've waited a long time to have a garage and the tools to be able to do it. I am remarried now almost 12 years and I am very luck to have found a woman who not only embraces my passion but full supports it. Second times a charm lol.

I can say the same thing about you, as a matter of fact I did this morning when I was showing my wife our texts about your brilliant idea

You must have hit the lottery my friend with an understanding wife and $$, becuase if UPS showed up at my house as often as you my wife would be

Oh shit, you mean I have to pay for all this stuff????? You know its pretty bad when your buying Christmas D&D gift cards for the mail man, UPS & Fedex guys :headbonk:

 

[Jmeo]

And it begins :thumbdown:





I picked up ARP 12 point nuts to replace the stock 6 points. My hope is I'll be able to get a bite on them easier than the 6 point. It's a pain when you have to use an open end wrench, turn the nut 1/8", flip the wrench over, turn 1/8" over and over and over and over.......

I've done headers twice on my 05 but I had them installed on my 15. When I returned the 15 to stock I removed them and installed the factory headers so essentially I have done a 2015 just in reverse but Jesus H.T. Christ does it suck WAY more on an automatic! The transmission lines are smack in the way. After unbolting the brackets for the lines I really couldn't get them far enough out of the way. It made getting the motor mount out pretty tuff and I had to place the mount back up next to the engine (but not installed) before sliding the header in position because once the header is in place there isn't enough room to get it back in afterwards. I'm glad I checked first because if I found out AFTER I tightened up the header, from that point on I would only have one motor mount :rant:

I am not sure if its difference from auto to manual or from 15 to 17 but I did not have to use the 02 extension harness. Not only that, the front harness was not tucked up behind the passenger side cylinder head like it was on my 15, it was along side the transmission nice and easy to get at. So, for the passenger side no extension harness is needed this time. I'll find out about the drivers when I get in there.

I cut the left over threads off this AC line bracket to make sure I wouldn't get any false knock if the header tapped against it under acceleration



And after many many hours, a dozen cuts and bruises, 3,000 swears and 800mg Motrin I got ONE side done :faint:







Gonna take a day off before I do the drivers side. I have to give huge props to anyone who has done headers on the ground because it sucks on a lift I can only imagine how much worse it would be on the ground.

 

[Voodooo]

The left side is a breeze!
When I did my GT350 I only removed the steering shaft from the rack and pinion end.

 

[Jmeo]

The left side is a breeze!
When I did my GT350 I only removed the steering shaft from the rack and pinion end.

Exactly why I started on the right side, so I could look forward to an easier time for day 2. Thanks for the chat today Scott :cheers:

 

[angermgmt14]

This is why I am on the fence about headers. I feel bad having to put the installer (Jaime...lol) through hell. Just not sure if it's worth it. :shrug:

 

[Jmeo]

This is why I am on the fence about headers. I feel bad having to put the installer (Jaime...lol) through hell. Just not sure if it's worth it. :shrug:

IMHO headers ARE worth it and paying someone else to do it, whether shop or fried, is money well spent. We will talk and see if we can make it happen.

 

[Roh92cp]

I can only imagine the pain turning the wrenches in there and fitting it in. It took me long enough and was painful to put my stock headers back on my new crate motor. Well drivers side anyway.

By the way David is building his Whipple box tonight, here's his progress. I'm on text Tech with him.

 

[Jmeo]

I can only imagine the pain turning the wrenches in there and fitting it in. It took me long enough and was painful to put my stock headers back on my new crate motor. Well drivers side anyway.

By the way David is building his Whipple box tonight, here's his progress. I'm on text Tech with him.

lol

Nice, he told me he was going to start his today. I ordered the DB and tape yesterday via Amazon Prime so I'll get it quickly. I will start mine after I finish the headers and wrap up the gauge install. It will be a nice project to help the time pass waiting for the red blower to arrive.

 

[Roh92cp]

lol

Nice, he told me he was going to start his today. I ordered the DB and tape yesterday via Amazon Prime so I'll get it quickly. I will start mine after I finish the headers and wrap up the gauge install. It will be a nice project to help the time pass waiting for the red blower to arrive.

Keep me in the loop when you get going, and feel free for text Tech.

 

[Jmeo]

I finished the headers today thank god. Drivers side is easier to do but the top rear bolt almost makes up for it lol. Not sure what changed but I did not need the 02 extension harness which is nice, one less thing to go wrong. I will tell you this, the drivers side rear 02 sensor harness is a #&@! to get to, wow!!







I've been waiting to install my Steeda driveshaft safety loop but now that the headers are done I threw this in real quick before putting the cat pipes up. I will say this may be the easiest loop I've ever installed and it fits flawlessly.





Now that the headers & safety loop are in I could install my Steeda 2 Point Brace. I had Steeda's 4 point brace on my last car but I wanted to go with the 2 point this time for more ground clearance.



I must have hit the jackpot because my car still had all 4 steel slugs attached to the holes which needed to be removed lol. Incase you haven't installed a lower brace, here is a picture of the slugs I mentioned. When the holes in the lower member are punched out in fabrication the slugs either come out completely or bend up inside like this.



A screwdriver and a pair off needle nose pliers made short work of them though.





As far as getting the supplied spacers inside the holes I simply used the end of a large punch and pried down on the pinched spots until the spacer would slide right it.



I like to keep the guide wire that comes on the spacers attached and not cut them off. I simply slide the spacer past its intended location just far enough to get the wire inside then pull pull it back and inside until the spacer is now in place. I know this is not necessary but just incase I go back to stock again in the future I'm thinking resale lol. I know the next guy will appreciate the guide wires still attached.

Here is the spacer in place with the guide wire still attached.



Here it is installed and a couple other pictures showing just how great this brace is at providing tons of clearance for headers.







Lastly I got my Autometer single gauge pod installed today. Here it is in comparison to the stock A pillar for those of you wondering what happens with the tweeter.



The tweeter is held in place with this aluminum bracket and the OEM teeter grill just pops in place.







The OEM safety strap from the stock A pillar attaches to the new pod the same way, just have to make sure you get it past the second tab by twisting it until each tab passes through the hole.



Finally I connected the wires together and tucked them up under the dash but lit them up first to make sure they turned on. The pictures do not do them justice, they look freaking awesome!





Here is my Whipple fan switch lit up as well

 

[angermgmt14]

Stop what your doing and put that car back to stock. Time to trade it in for the "new" '18.

Looking awesome Jaime!

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