The stock exhaust manifolds on your Camaro restrict the flow of exhaust gases as they leave the engine. This reduces horsepower because it reduces the flow of fresh air that can come into the engine. Exhaust headers replace exhaust manifolds and reduce this restriction, allowing you to increase the airflow going into the engine. This results in a horsepower increase. Installing headers is a process most home mechanics can perform.
Remove the A.I.R. tubes from both headers. The Air tubes have a black mesh wrap on them and they secure to the manifold with two bolts. Remove the bolts with a socket, ratchet and extension bar and pull the A.I.R. tubes off the manifolds.
Remove all of the bolts that secure each header to the engine block. Use a ratchet and socket. As a note, the bolt closest to the firewall on the passenger side of the engine is more accessible from under the Camaro.
Disconnect all of the spark plug wires, label them with tape so you know where they go during the reinstall and then remove each spark plug with a spark plug socket and ratchet.
Locate and remove all four of the oxygen sensors. You will locate one sensor in each manifold and one sensor between the manifold and the catalytic converter. Use an open-ended wrench to remove the sensors and then disconnect each sensor's wiring harness by unplugging it.
Remove the bolts that secure the flanges of the manifold and the catalytic converters together with a socket and ratchet. You will locate two bolts for each flange connection.
Remove the exhaust manifolds by pulling them down and out from under the Camaro. There is not enough room to remove them from the top of the motor. The gasket will fall off when you remove the manifolds.
Loosen the steering linkage with a socket and ratchet to allow room for the header.
Slide the headers up and into the engine bay from under the Camaro and then tighten the steering linkage.
Place the gasket between the engine block and the header flange and tighten the header into place using the new bolts supplied with the header.
Reattach the AIR tubes to the new headers.
Secure the catalytic converters to the new exhaust headers using the new hardware supplied with the headers.
Reconnect all four oxygen sensors with the open-end wrench and plug the sensors back in.
Reinstall all of the spark plugs and plug the spark plug wires back in.
