How to lift the engine... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

mr_bock · 24th August 2006, 16:37

I will be installing Supersprint headers soon. Does anyone know how best to lift/support the engine in order to remove the stock headers? Any DIY instructions, suggestions? I did The Search, but found nothing.

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George B.

Mike Krieger · 24th August 2006, 18:04

It sounds like you will DIY. Are you planning on welding stainless? I want to install mine also, but I think I need a TIG welder for the install. Has anyone installed the headers and driven loudly down to the muffler shop to have the thing welded or is it all clamps?

mr_bock · 24th August 2006, 18:31

Mike,
I am in the process of hooking up the wiring for my MIG welder. My intent is to DIY and tack weld the CATs (Hi-Flow 2.5" Evosport) in place. Lower the assembly so I can weld all around. The SS down pipes look like they clamp to the header collector. I will most likey have a couple of clamps, and weld what I can. I have a line on some Hi-temp caulk that I plan to use at the header pipe to collector.

Mike Krieger · 24th August 2006, 18:58

So TIG is the little one with the rod and MIG has the wire feed and gas bottle? I have an old Lincoln buzzbox arc welder, but I suppose on stainless I will need to upgrade. Does it take a different wire feed for stainless?

ECB · 24th August 2006, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Krieger

Has anyone installed the headers and driven loudly down to the muffler shop to have the thing welded or is it all clamps?

Ha! I did that in high school with my '66 289 mustang. Installed tri-y headers at home and drove it to midas to connect them up. Very loud, turned some heads.

mr_bock · 24th August 2006, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Krieger

So TIG is the little one with the rod and MIG has the wire feed and gas bottle? I have an old Lincoln buzzbox arc welder, but I suppose on stainless I will need to upgrade. Does it take a different wire feed for stainless?

Most likely, it would be too expensive to upgrade your buzzbox. The newer welders are much better. MIG is more convienient as it is more 'point and shoot'. TIG requires two hand coordination to get a nice weld feed and bead.

CSBM5 · 24th August 2006, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECB

Ha! I did that in high school with my '66 289 mustang. Installed tri-y headers at home and drove it to midas to connect them up. Very loud, turned some heads.

LOL, I guess many of us have something like that lurking in our past.

I had a 1976 Capri II V-6 that I put Doug Thorley headers on (in addition to a heck of a lot of other stuff over time back in the 70's) and drove to Midas -- very loud and every cell in my body was vibrating at the frequency of the exhaust.

mr_bock · 24th August 2006, 21:59

Let's get this back to the original question: How best to lift the engine uo so the OEM headers can be removed. I don't want to risk punching a hole in the oil pan. Who has done this, or how did the shop do it to install the Supersprint headers???

jcrist · 24th August 2006, 23:59

I hope you work it out George, I'll be up to have you do mine!!!lol
Glad to see you went with this mod, I was pretty excited about this at your party.
My tech said that he was planning on tilting the motor to get the manifolds out. If you want, you can wait for me to get it done and then pass on the info. I will however, ask him intially how to lift and support during "tilt".

Jason

mr_bock · 25th August 2006, 03:17

Jason,
That would be great. I would be very appreciative to get any tips before I do mine.

It may be a little while till I get to that point as I want to re-dyno my car and sent the results (including air/fuel ratio) along with my ECU module to PowerChip to tweek things to compensate for the new headers. May do another dyno after all of this to make sure all is Ok.

Thanks!!!