Celica Forums General Discussion Engine and Performance Hotshot Header Installed

First off, I wanted to thank FastCelicaGT22 & AZZKIKR for answering my questions on the threads I posted in Ecelica and last but not least my boy Raso for physically helping me out with the install.

This is the install guide I used and the guide I will be referencing.

https://celicahobby.com/ubbthreads/thread.f_1870145513_0_collapsed_2__1.html

I am not going to explain how to remove the mudguards or where and how to remove the bolts because it's already explained on two different guides in Ecelica. I'm going to concentrate more on the BITCH of the project, which is removing the heat shield and header from the Celica. Here are a few hints that aren't found on the guide that I think should've been mentioned.

Installing headers on a GT isn't that different then installing them on a GTS except for a few differences that I noticed along the way. One difference is that on the GT there is no need to remove the valve cover, credit for that goes to FastCelicaGT22, don't know why it's really mentioned on the guide so you could totally skip that section of the install and go directly to Step 5. Second difference is that you will decrease one bolt when following the instruction guide for removing the heat shield & header. For example, if the guide says that you need to remove 5 bolts off the heat shield you will only remove 4 don't ask me "why?" it's just something that we noticed. Maybe, Toyota wanted to be a little cheaper on the GT and decrease a bolt.

I personally think this should be mentioned one the top of the install guide before Step 1. The most important thing you must remember about the removal of the heat shield and header is that neither the header nor the heat shield will be removed through the top. No matter how much you think you can remove them through the top, you can't. Even though FastCelicaGT22 & AZZKIKR had warned me about this, I had to be an ass and try anyways. But I learned this the hard way and spent about 1 hour, twisting, turning and pulling. So, don't waste your time because the heat shield and headers are removed through the bottom of the Celica.

This step should go right before "Its time to get under the car". Even though the top part of the heat shield is the first to be detached it's not the first to be removed. Like I said before everything must be removed through the bottom so you must make space for it to come out first.

Before Step 6: The second thing to be detached is the bottom part of the heat shield and this will be the first thing to come out and it pretty much could be removed anywhere on the bottom of the Celica cause it's fairly small.

Bottom Part of the heat shield

I have provided this picture below for you to compare the size of the top and bottom part of the heat shield.

After Step 6: By now, you must've notice that the stock headers has a small piece welded on which is attached to the bracket that you just removed. Well, take a minute and get acquainted with your arch-nemesis because this piece is going to get in the way so many times when you are trying to remove the stock header. This piece is the reason why you can't remove the headers through the top. The Hotshot header doesn't have this piece so you will easily be able to place the NEW headers through the top.

Arch nemesis

Before Step 7: These bolts are a pain in the ass. If you have an air gun this would be the time to use it or if you have the strength of The Incredible HULK, then your fine. But for those unfortunate few that don't have an air gun and are skinny/weak, like myself, you are going to need a pipe for leverage but it's also going to take some strength.



This step will be after you remove the exhaust pipe and exhaust heat shield (Step 7) or after the header is unbolted. It really depends on how well YOU could maneuver the top part of the heat shield. I was able to maneuver the top part of the heat shield without unbolting the header but it really depends on your ability. The point is basically to get the top part of the heat shield under the header and on the bottom of the Celica, this shouldn't be hard to accomplish. After you get the top part of the heat shield on the bottom of the Celica you will be removing the heat shield by placing it sideways and through this small gap (picture below). From under the car it doesn't look possible because the gap looks a lot smaller than the heat shield but we even put the heat shield back in and tried again. It works but the heat shield must be sideways.

Top part of the heat shield

This is the gap where the top part of the heat shield will be removed.

This step will go after the header is unbolted. We are now ready to remove the stock header. The headers will come out through this gap (picture below) and the header must be upside-down, credit for that tip goes to FastCelicaGT22. Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's going to slide right out because it's not. Here is where your arch-nemesis is going to play tricks with your head again. You will need to twist, turn and pull while the header is upside down. It literally took me about 3 minutes so don't get frustrate or lose your cool because it is possible.



Last step would be to put the Hotshot headers on and they could go through the top (picture below) because like I said before, they don't have that small welded piece that the stock headers has. Now, sit back and enjoy the NEW sound and performance that this baby gives off.

This is where the Hotshot header will be inserted.

DONE

I thought you were gonna post a sound clip. Can you?

nice!!! yea the headers does give off a nice sound.

awesome

Great info!!! More tips always help!

hmmmm
idk would they be worth it for a gt?

No problem man, just glad to see you got it on. Have had mine on for some time now and I love every minute of it. Hope you enjoy yours as much as i have mine.
Good job
-Shawn-

Whats the difference like? Noticeable?

Sure, Ill post a sound clip tonight.

The difference is definitely noticeable. The car is a lot louder and it picks up a lot quicker. I would totally recommend this mod.

wow, GT have so much room to work with...

the header should of came out in 10 seconds if you just pull the right way. it fits right in the gap left from the exhaust and heat shields, its funny because i remember taking 2 days to do this and then wen sold the header it took me 30 minutes to do it, just get to know the car and you can get done in half the time. get a sound clip i wanna remember wat it was like to have headers

so the heat sheild is left off? or do you put it back on?

sound clip would be awesome.

you leave it off