I am installing it tommorow, but any tips would be quite welcome. Its looks pretty straightforward.

Tighten the bolts a little at a time and start from the inside and work your way out. This will ensure a good gasket seal. The oil dip stick tube will be in the way but you can work around it.

ALso, I had to remove just a fraction of metal in the bolt holes to get everything to line up correctly. I did it with a dremel and a round file.

JLathem

Make sure you take a razorblade to the heads/front mani to have a nice flat surface for the new gasket to seal.

id definately have to agree with 95naSTA, you want to make sure you have the head clean and also the manifold, clean mating surfaces will make for a better seal, ive had my go around with this its better to take a little more time and clean both surfaces up if you dont want leaks

Mechanix Gloves! Go spend 20 bux if you have to. Exhaust pieces are NASTY, and tightening bolts in awkward areas without them HURTS. I didn't remove exhaust manifolds from a 3800 when it was on my floor without them

Otherwise i'll agree with everyone here. Good info. Let us know how well it works for you

Yeah, if you like to keep the skin on your knucles, gloves are a good idea. TETNIS!!

Yeah, I did mine without gloves. My hands also looked like they had been mauled by the neighbors Rottweiler when I got finished. One other thing of note. Put on the best gaskets you can buy. You dont want to ever do it again so get the good stuff.

A razor blade works good for cleaning. If you have an angle wizz wheel ( not sure of the technical name angle die grinder maybe ? Use it with some abrasive pads


JLathem

I don't remember the front being all that hard. Had to remove a single bracket and the oil stick. Keep track of your bolts and where they go. The gaskets on mine were a metal type gasket(like tin or copper?). The only area I see trouble would be getting it hooked back up to the crossover pipe, you might have to do a bit of finagling to get it on there.

I had to do a LOT of finagling. I did mine and uttered words only a sailor should hear.
The back one took me TWICE as long. Those header bolts were a b-b -b -b
EOTCH to get on.

2 beers for the front. 5 for the back. The secret is to walk away right before you throw the ratchet through the windshield.

JLthem