94-96 Impala SS BBK Headers Installation

I forgot to mention that if you disable your AIR/Smog pump, it is required that you put a label on your radiator support confirming that. 1996 model year WILL REQUIRE PCM calibration. To my knowledge, 1994 and 1995 do not require it, but if you are getting your car tuned, make sure you eliminate that function anyway. In addition, you WILL NEED to also put the one that BBK will send with their headers. I have the air pump disable sticker linked below with everything else I used.
www.ebay.com/itm/Impala-SS-Ai...
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
www.bbkperformance.com/chevy-...
www.summitracing.com/parts/ar...

[@96_kingz]

Nice job man, salute 🤝🏼

[@MidnightBlue98]

Thank you, I appreciate the love!! 🤝🙏🏽

[@sincitypimp702]

Thanks for the video, brotha. Definitely helped me

[@studebricker2845]

Thanks for the video, man. I am getting long tube headers for the LT1 in my wagon, hopefully next year. Nice hockey puck, by the way!

[@MidnightBlue98]

You have a caprice or roadmaster wagon? You’ll have that LT1 breathing like it needs to!! I appreciate the love, good luck with your project! Let’s keep the LT1s alive as much as we can lol

[@studebricker2845]

@@MidnightBlue98 I have a 94 RMW. Got it from the original owner with about 45k miles on it. I will keep the LT1 going as long as I can!

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@studebricker2845 I personally have always loved the roadmaster wagons better than the caprices. Only 45k??! You have a real gem on your hands!!! If you know of someone that builds 350 engines, you can really do something special with it. Unfortunately I don’t have anyone near me to help me with mine since everyone is doing LS engines

[@studebricker2845]

@@MidnightBlue98 Thanks, I have heard that upgrading an LT1 is cheaper than doing an LS swap, if you are paying for the work. So for now, my plan is headers, 6 speed, gears, heads/cam. Probably take a long time to save up though...

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@studebricker2845 it may take a while but 100% worth it. If you’re looking to keep stock heads/intake but upgrading them, you should check out Lloyd Elliot’s work. I’ve heard he can make crazy power out of the LT1s

[@dripdropgarage1776]

Great job!

[@MidnightBlue98]

Drip Drop Garage thank you, I appreciate that!

[@T.-14]

She looks good

[@1995RangeRover]

Good job!

[@heavyflippingrandmasboifir669]

Bro, get that air pump outta ya way... that’s something you won’t need. You can cap the header ports that it’s piped into with a 3/4 or 5/8 caps. Thanks for the video, I have the headers in the garage now and just waiting to get a weekend to knock it down...

[@MidnightBlue98]

I did take off the smog pump. It’s garbage lol you rolling with BBKs too??

[@heavyflippingrandmasboifir669]

Also you doing great 👍🏾!! To even have an SS is special dude to not that many around. I have a caprice classic 1996, LT1 and man I’m doing a brake conversion job from drums to disc & even upgrading my front calipers to dual piston. So keep it up and take ya time. I’ll keep you posted on my updates of MuleDawg (that’s her name!!)

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@heavyflippingrandmasboifir669 take care of that caprice!! The 9c1s are super nice but to get it sitting right is the ultimate goal!! 💯 let me know what goes on with yours brotha 👍🏽

[@elhadjiseck9033]

Any issues with high heat in the engine bay burnin anything up?

[@elhadjiseck9033]

@@heavyflippingrandmasboifir669 any issues with high heat with these headers burning anything in the engine compartment?

[@koyoteboikt]

Was your AC lines touching already before they burned ? Did you have to route them differently or did you heat wrap and it still touch?

[@ypickering3977]

Did you have any bolts break? I wanna do headers on my caprice but don't want to run into any issues

[@MidnightBlue98]

No but i did have a little bit of difficulty on the driver’s side with one of the ARP bolts. On the first to the left right underneath where the check valve would go, it would not go in straight so I used a BBK bolt. Other than that, all the ARP bolts went in just fine.

[@elhadjiseck9033]

@@MidnightBlue98 I did break one bolt on the passenger side center I'm gonna seal the area up just in case .

[@formereverything4268]

how the hell do you access the header bolts in the middle, under the heat shroud? I have a minor (but irritating) exhaust leak in the middle port, and I can access them to tighten them up. And Heavy Flippin below is right - get rid of the air pump for good.

[@MidnightBlue98]

On stock manifolds? Honestly, it's damn near impossible to see. I can only think of taking the tires off and go through the sides. I had bolts broken and loose that led me to throw them out. My air pump has been long gone lol

[@1hunda100]

How did u delete the over flow hose on top of the reservoir I see that is not going under the intake is going before it …. How did u do it ? I seen a video of some body that did it but he didn’t show how

[@MidnightBlue98]

If I’m not mistaken, disconnect the hose that runs from the reservoir to the driver’s side of the throttle body. Plug that one up and there should be another hose on the passenger side that you can disconnect and then connect the one from the reservoir to directly. You’ll most likely have to cut the hose down a bit and you’ll need a 3/8 (I believe) adapter to connect the hoses. You can either buy a kit online or at a hardware store, which will be much cheaper.

[@mponce661]

I know this video is over 2 years old but I wanted to ask if you can use the air pump with these headers ?

[@MidnightBlue98]

Yes you can still use the air pump. I blocked mine off since it’s useless, in my opinion

[@ezekiellimon2943]

I have a 95 Roadmaster I know it has an Lt1 but Is it the same Lt1 you got on SS? Do you plan on changing valve covers as well?

[@MidnightBlue98]

Yes sir it is the same 5.7 LT1 as mine. I’m sure you can run the same BBK shorty’s as I did if you decide to run with them. I’ve been wanting to change out my valve covers for a while over to some nicer looking ones but I’ve heard some LT1 owners having issues with leaks and clearances with the rockers so I stopped looking.

[@ezekiellimon2943]

@@MidnightBlue98 thanks bro this is my first project car so I’m just seeing what’s up, I plan on going with the kooks long tube headers vs the shortys I know they are a bit pricey but I really want to see what I can do with this car, nice setup bro I’ve been looking for an impala but can’t find one in good shape and at low cost.

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@ezekiellimon2943 if you mean the hooker headers, don’t do it. They heat your engine bay up way too much and burn things up. That’s why a lot of people call them “cooker” headers. I think the best ones you can easily find are the BBK’s. I’d recommend the ceramic coated ones though. Unfortunately I wanted to go the inexpensive route for headers but they’re all $400+ and I haven’t had any serious issues with my BBK’s. Impala’s are running at super high prices now bro it’s crazy lol

[@ezekiellimon2943]

@@MidnightBlue98 no bro they are not the hookers I think those look ugly lol there called kooks look them up on a Camaro z28 on here, I like the sound of them, I believe the 97 camaro had the same Lt1 we run but I could be wrong.

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@ezekiellimon2943 okay good cause the hookers are garbage 😂 I saw somewhere on the impalass forums that F-Body and B-Body headers are not interchangeable but I’m not sure. I don’t know if the Camaro/Firebird used aluminum or cast iron heads (impalas came with cast iron). They should be the same but I’ve never tried it

[@notsoprogamer3627]

Did you have to change out any plug wires???

[@MidnightBlue98]

I had gotten them done a few months ago so luckily I didn’t have to. I would recommend doing them if your headers are already off and you need a tune up. It’s far easier than with the headers on

[@elhadjiseck9033]

You had issues with the headers getting hot and burning anything up?

[@MidnightBlue98]

Yes I did actually. Not right away but after a while my AC lines burned out since the car is dropped, the a arm closed the gap between it and the header. I highly recommend heat wrapping your ac lines AND the headers to avoid unnecessary spending. Also, heat wrap your plug wires

[@elhadjiseck9033]

@@MidnightBlue98 will definitely do I already pulled the stock headers.the passenger like you said needed the alternator pulled..so the wrap will definitely be good enough no need to try to ceramic spray them?

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@elhadjiseck9033 if they're not ceramic coated, then yes I would spray them. Don't worry about the color since you'll be wrapping them but keep in mind you should find the coating with the highest temperature rating. I'd say at least 2000 degrees resistant will be just fine

[@elhadjiseck9033]

@@MidnightBlue98 cool so you suggest spraying then wrapping them up?

[@unrulysk7215]

I'm a newbie to this shit I just got my 96 the other day. So with that said what to headers do?

[@MidnightBlue98]

Aftermarket headers are designed to help push exhaust gases out easier. Stock manifolds are usually pretty restrictive, whereas aftermarket brands make them a lot more free flowing.

[@unrulysk7215]

@@MidnightBlue98 so after headers are on do you recommend driving to muffler shop or tow it I heard in you other video you said you fucked up ya 02 sensors?

[@MidnightBlue98]

@@unrulysk7215 well with BBK shorties you do have to cut off the cats so I would recommend you taking it to a muffler shop asap. I’m not sure about other brand headers if you have to cut anything or it’s actually a true bolt-on header. My o2 sensors messed up cause I had them connected with open headers. Highly recommend not doing that lol

[@4dolo2]

did any break

[@MidnightBlue98]

No I just had one stud that wouldn’t come off. I decided to put a nut on it instead of welding one on and taking it out.

[@Mr-furley]

if you removed the smog pump you should just leave it catless or they will clog fast thats what the smog pump dose is add fresh air to cool the cats

[@MidnightBlue98]

Can’t be catless in California, especially where I’m from. I still pass emissions and tailpipe test with no issues whatsoever.

[@almackie6104]

Just heat wrap the pipes.

[@MidnightBlue98]

My friend suggested that but I didn’t do it because it would take away the look of the engine bay.

[@elhadjiseck9033]

I'm getting the BBK headers are heating wrapping them sufficient?

[@heavyflippingrandmasboifir669]

I would say take the alternator off & you will have some room to work...

[@rockyc344]

30 minutes of video to not hear what they sound like?

[@MidnightBlue98]

This is an “installation” not “sound” video. If you want to hear what they sound like, I have another video on my channel.