Installing TSP headers this weekend

[jcaligood]

Installing my 1 7/8" Texas Speed long tubes with high flow cats this weekend..
Other than removing the O2 sensors, are there any issues i should anticipate?
I dont have any help, might be hard by myself.
Anyone ran into any problems installing these? Or is it relatively easy?
Thanks!

[Blkcamaro81]

There have been a couple recent threads about the fitment issues. This one http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480051 and within that one is a link to another. I personally haven't had any of their products on a fifth gen, but I did on a 4th. I had trouble installing their cat back on the 4th gen, but I attributed it to something I did wrong.

[Cammie 2011]

I have stalled 3 sets of tsp headers, I have 2inch tsp headers on my car. No problems at all. It is always good to have a extra hand to help hold the header up to start a bolt while someone is underneath the car is holding the header up. Watch your spark plugs also so you don't hit them with the header while installing. Hope that helps.

[jcaligood]

thanks for the input guys

[Arogg]

an extra set of hands always helps. Ive installed 2 sets of the TSP headers and haven't had a single issue. Love them on my 10 SS. Super easy install. I was done in under 3 hours including beer and smoke breaks. Good luck, we're here if you run into any issues.

[pyroguy]

If you can, get under the car the night before you're going to install them (provided you're not driving the car the next day) and spray a liberal amount of PB Blaster or WD-40 on the O2 sensors. This will reduce the risk of tearing up the threads. I tried to install my LT's on my own, but eventually I had to call in help from a friend for installing the passenger side header as it gets really hard to hold the header up and get bolts in without risking damage to the block, flange, or both. Good luck and enjoy your new headers!

[Gunmetal Speedster]

Make sure you have someone under the car watch where the dipstick comes out from. Wife, girlfriend, dog, someone. Otherwise guessing will take forever. It's a fickle bitch.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by Gunmetal Speedster

Make sure you have someone under the car watch where the dipstick comes out from. Wife, girlfriend, dog, someone. Otherwise guessing will take forever. It's a fickle bitch.

Three things I would say to look out for is:
-Dipstick like stated above
-Spark Plugs. Make sure you remove them cause you can easily crack one or two while installing the new headers
-Not all cars are the same. Some people have posted that their headers rubbed the steering shaft and thus needed to put a little indentation in the headers. This isn't an issue with TSP as it happens across multiple brands. Likelihood of this happening is small but possible.

[NC_SS]

Take your dang spark plugs out

I ended up cracking 2

[qgaskin]

Literally just did this today and I would say you do need at least 1 other person to help along the way and I did kind of run into a problem with 2 of the bolt holes on the header not lining up properly with the block so I had to kinda work it into position to a little longer than normal

[BurnedRubber]

I Have TSP on my car and they are good, just make sure you follow the advise and dont try to cut corners.

Remove spark plugs
Remember how the dipstick comes out
Disconnect battery or you'll probably bump the starter with the dipstick
Use new gaskets on the new headers! they are cheap from your local chevy dealer.

[LCPLPunk]

Hand tighten the spark plugs! I partially stripped the threads in the head cuz I got a little too excited.

[CamaroFred]

Originally Posted by Arogg

an extra set of hands always helps. Ive installed 2 sets of the TSP headers and haven't had a single issue. Love them on my 10 SS. Super easy install. I was done in under 3 hours including beer and smoke breaks. Good luck, we're here if you run into any issues.

One trick is to find a bolt about twice as long as the header bolt. Cut the head off and thread it into the front hole. This will allow you to hang the header. slip a nut onto it. Then you can swing the back up and begin the other bolts.
Replace that stud with the proper bolt before you begin to tighten the others. Tighten from the center out.

Last time I installed headers there was no way I could reseat the dip stick with the car on stands. I went to the shop that we used for our work trucks. He put it on a lift and in two seconds seated the tube. Didn't charge me a penny. He got a box of donuts the next morning though.

[jcaligood]

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

One trick is to find a bolt about twice as long as the header bolt. Cut the head off and thread it into the front hole. This will allow you to hang the header. slip a nut onto it. Then you can swing the back up and begin the other bolts.
Replace that stud with the proper bolt before you begin to tighten the others. Tighten from the center out.

Last time I installed headers there was no way I could reseat the dip stick with the car on stands. I went to the shop that we used for our work trucks. He put it on a lift and in two seconds seated the tube. Didn't charge me a penny. He got a box of donuts the next morning though.

Great idea! wish i seen this before i installed them.
Took me about 10 hours by myself, 6 busted knuckles, 1 broken wrench, and a lot of getting under the car with stands.
Pretty hard by myself but i managed.
Man, the car sounds great now and pulls much harder

Gonna drive the car a couple days then torque the header bolts to spec, i didnt have a torque wrench when i put the headers in.

Should i expect an exhaust leak? what does it sound like, is it pretty obvious?

Thanks everyone for the tips and input.