I’ve been trying to get my stock header off my car. I’ve got it all unbolted but as many have discovered it won’t come out as one piece. My problem is that I can’t get it apart. I sprayed wd-40 on it last night and again today just before I started the project. I thought that would help but it didn’t. It would be awesome if someone could tell me a trick that would allow me to take the manifold out without having to take it apart. How do people install one-piece headers? TIA.
I tried letting the car run for a few minutes(sounds like a motorcycle) hoping to warm it up and maybe that would help them come out, nope :(. I thought about unbolting the crossmember but even if I did I don’t think I’ll be able to get the header out through there. Anyone with any ideas?? Anyone??
Umm… have you unbolted it from the exhaust?
Take that crossmember off, 6 bolts. Take out the radiator. Unbolt the downpipe from the catalytic converter, 2 bolts, you may need 2 people and a big can of WD-40, for sure you need two wrenches or ratchets. After you unbolt it from the cat, just make sure all the nuts are taken off where it connects to the head, like 8 of 'em. Make sure the O2 sensor is not hooked up and just pull it to the front to take it off of the threading and it should fall right out. 
HTH
Matt
Dang, thanks Matt, that’s a lot of work to get that stupid piece of iron out. I couldn’t find anything to use for a breaker bar(cheater bar), but I had a long piece of metal that went to my gf’s jack for her truck and I tied it to the wrench and used that. I got all three bolts loose, two of them came all the way off, but then the last one seized up again on the way out and the head stripped so I’m stuck again. I think I’m going to run to a parts store and try to get a vice grip and get a good grip on it and try to make it turn. Right now I’m thinking out loud, but if anyone wants to add a suggestion I’m all for it. Thanks again Matt.
No problem, I just say take out those other things (radiator, cross bar) so you have more room to work with. Actually the cross bar would need to come out cause it’s in the way, either way, there’s not much room in the engine bay to work with. If you’re trying to take the header apart as two pieces (which I think was your initial question) it would probably be better if you had 2 people and a long extension or one of those wobbly tools, the connector for a wratchet that lets you turn at almost any angle then that might make it easier. HTH