Watson header install advice

[DaveK]

Hi everyone

Just picked up some Watson long tube headers from ebay and looking for advice on what I need to fit them. I have a Haibeck chip at the moment for the stock exhaust so I think I need a different tune when I install the watsons.

The headers have no cats as they come and are 3 inch collectors. My current exhaust is a borla. I'd prefer to run cats, so I'm thinking an aftermarket cat might work to match up to the rest of the system?

I imagine there will be some element of fabrication needed and between us chickens my welding isn't the neatest!

Is there anything else I should do while I'm doing this? Xpipe and so on? Advice from anyone who has done this sort of thing would be great.

Thanks

Dave

[Kb7tif]

Installing the headers are not that bad just take your time. I dont think there pre-fabbed pipes you will need between the collectors and cats/exhaust so custom might be the way of life here.
I just put watsons on m y 92 and it will be well worth the effort.

[GOLDCYLON]

You will need some O2 extender hanrnesses and you will need to remove the inner fenders to free up some room for the install. I suggest you buy an oil dipstick seal from Jerrys gaskets as you will need to reposition the dip stick tube. (I'll assume you have the gaskets for the headers as well). Once pulled the large seal become brittle and can tear. As to aftermarket Cats most favor either the high flowing mdipstick tube agnaflows or the random technolgies cats.

http://www.jerrysgaskets.com/

Another suggestion may be the anti-vibration lock thread types of bolts so the bolts dont back out.

[DaveK]

I have the dipstick seal from the group buy but no header gaskets - just checked Gerry's site and he has them so I'll get those ordered. Where do I get the O2 extenders from?

[tf95ZR1]

Originally Posted by DaveK

Where do I get the O2 extenders from?

Try:
Marc Haibeck http://www.zr1specialist.com/
Jeff Flint http://www.pnwzr1.com/, and
Randy Woods http://www.zr1products.com/

And I highly recommend swapping out the Borla resonator
for an "X" pipe. More resonance around 1800 rpm but well worth it.

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by DaveK

I have the dipstick seal from the group buy but no header gaskets - just checked Gerry's site and he has them so I'll get those ordered. Where do I get the O2 extenders from?

Go to NAPA, they had the parts and I just made mine. You need to ask for Weatherall connectors if I remember right. Take the right O2 sensor with you so you get the right parts. One male end and one female end. I only needed one for the passenger side.

[IowaZR-1]

Send them to me for a "test" fit on my '93......will advise of any trouble installing.......if they don't fit I'll give you $500.

[DaveK]

Originally Posted by IowaZR-1

Send them to me for a "test" fit on my '93......will advise of any trouble installing.......if they don't fit I'll give you $500.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I did a search on the forum too (should have done that first!) and found a lot of information etc. Couple of things I couldn't find though.

1. Random Technologies Cat part No.
2. What's the best source for an x-pipe (again a part no would be useful)

Emailed Marc Haibeck, he has a dipstick adapter bracket and the O2 sensor extensions and I will get a new calibration from him to take in to account the headers.

I also found a company in ontario that does ceramic plating. Emailed them to check about getting that done possibly - no response so far. How much difference does the ceramic make? (it certainly looks very pretty)

thanks again

Dave

Originally Posted by DaveK

1. Random Technologies Cat part No.
2. What's the best source for an x-pipe (again a part no would be useful)

Dave, order the magnaflow cats, they are cheaper and I suspect the same part as the RT units, minus the price.

X-pipe are you running a 3" system?

[DaveK]

Jeff, thanks for the heads up on the Magnaflow/RT cat issue.

The watsons are a 3 inch collector. The rest of my system is a borla which is 2 1/2 I believe. From other posts on here it seems I will need to use an adapter after the cats so I would need a 2 1/2 x-pipe I think.