Some tips for the installation of bbk headers - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mike.nite · 09-09-2010, 08:10 PM

Just finished the installation of my BBK ceramic coated LT headers. Here are some points which you should keep in mind:

- Remove the complete airfilter and both wheels. This makes working a lot easyer.

- You'll need a torch to heaten up ALL four O2 sensors.

- I reused the stock bolts. My car is brand new so they are in perfect condition and have bigger bolt heads than the BBK ones which helps to tighten them.

- The connectors on the extensions from BBK were the wrong ones. You have to modify them by cutting a piece out of the connectors.

- The rear O2 sensor cable on the driverside is to short for the BBK cats. Unfortunately BBK didn't provide a new cable. I had to extend the cable by myself which was a PITA because the stock cable is hard to solder (probably no copper wire??). Didn't want to use clamps.

- You should relocate the starter cable because otherwise it will touch the headers.

conclusion:
If BBK would supply the needed extension for the rear O2 cable on the driverside - you could easy do the whole installation in 4-5 hours. It took me 5 1/2 hours with soldering.

Hope this helps.

xtreme industries · 09-10-2010, 09:50 AM

i hope they fix that issue before i buy a set. i dont have any confidence in electrical stuff.

are you getting a tune or are you running O2 extensions?

PoorMansCamaro · 09-10-2010, 10:21 AM

Interesting, I didn't have to solder or extend mine. I believe there's a zip tie further up on the o2 sensor that you can cut off to make it longer, but I didn't have to do that either.

The connectors were an easy fix, but yeah, bbk should correct this and get the right ones to their customer.

bbktech2 · 09-10-2010, 10:36 AM

When we ordered the O2 extension wires we were assured that they were the correct ones. Sorry that there is a small tab that must be removed to make the connection.
I went back and reviewed my install pics of those headers and can't see where you would need an extension on the driverside rear sensor. The harness plug is at the center of the transmission pointing forward if I remember, I do believe I cut a ziptie to point the connector to the rear, but the connection to the sensor was easily made. I will add that tip in the instruction sheet so there is no confusion to other customers.
I'm not a fan of heating the O2 sensors with a torch to remove, I think a better understanding of tool use would have gotten the sensors out without the torch. A couple of taps with a hammer on the wrench or extending the wrench with another for added torque would have been a better solution. IMHO.

PoorMansCamaro · 09-10-2010, 11:33 AM

Actually, the passenger side sensor was the one that was a little short. I had a lot of play in the drivers side.

mike.nite · 09-12-2010, 05:09 PM

There was a zip tie on the passenger side. If you cut it the extension is long enough.
But there was no one on the drivers side. I'll check again to make shure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbktech2

I'm not a fan of heating the O2 sensors with a torch to remove, I think a better understanding of tool use would have gotten the sensors out without the torch. A couple of taps with a hammer on the wrench or extending the wrench with another for added torque would have been a better solution. IMHO.

I don't like the idea of hammering on the sensors and risking to destroy thread. I would rather risk to heat the sensors than destroying the threads on the OG headers. (I think the OG headers costs more than the sensors)

There are at least 2 more members which also needed to heat the O2 sensors a little.

1425 · 03-15-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbktech2

When we ordered the O2 extension wires we were assured that they were the correct ones. Sorry that there is a small tab that must be removed to make the connection.
I went back and reviewed my install pics of those headers and can't see where you would need an extension on the driverside rear sensor. The harness plug is at the center of the transmission pointing forward if I remember, I do believe I cut a ziptie to point the connector to the rear, but the connection to the sensor was easily made. I will add that tip in the instruction sheet so there is no confusion to other customers.
I'm not a fan of heating the O2 sensors with a torch to remove, I think a better understanding of tool use would have gotten the sensors out without the torch. A couple of taps with a hammer on the wrench or extending the wrench with another for added torque would have been a better solution. IMHO.

Hey BBK Tech

I just had BBK long tube header installed on my V6 2010 Camamro and the ledt side O2 sensors was short by about two inches. I am looking for a cable now. This realy need to be fixed I got the header about two month ago and it was not fixed as of yet. This need to be fixed soon.

willyd · 03-15-2011, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1425

Hey BBK Tech

I just had BBK long tube header installed on my V6 2010 Camamro and the ledt side O2 sensors was short by about two inches. I am looking for a cable now. This realy need to be fixed I got the header about two month ago and it was not fixed as of yet. This need to be fixed soon.

If it's too short you can move it down and re-zip tie....that's what I did, it had extra slack.

usa1camaro1969 · 03-15-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willyd

If it's too short you can move it down and re-zip tie....that's what I did, it had extra slack.

X2

horizon670 · 11-27-2013, 12:03 PM

Please anyone can help here, we are almost done installing my BBK LT headers and the rear sensors are short, not provided by BBK, any solutions besides cutting the wires and doing the modification ?

menendez1293 · 11-27-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horizon670

Please anyone can help here, we are almost done installing my BBK LT headers and the rear sensors are short, not provided by BBK, any solutions besides cutting the wires and doing the modification ?

Buy some O2 Sensor extenders...

kjkjr27 · 11-27-2013, 02:20 PM

I bought some O2 extensions from racetronix. I had to wait for them to get delivered but I just left the rears unconnected until the extensions came in.

horizon670 · 11-27-2013, 05:06 PM

Never mind, I figured it out myself. It was very simple, on the passenger side rear O2 wire is tightened somewhere on the top of the transmission. You will need to untighten it and then it will give you enough length for the driver side's O2 sensor to plug whitout any extention or wire cutting or anything.

I'm very happy with the sound of my newly installed BBK LT headers + Magnaflow X Pipe. Nice rumble !

Already installed my Trifecta Tune so I did not see any CEL.

09-09-2010, 08:10 PM	#1
mike.nite Drives: 2011 2SS L99, 2010 LT RS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NY (USA) ZH (Switzerland) Posts: 437	Some tips for the installation of bbk headers Just finished the installation of my BBK ceramic coated LT headers. Here are some points which you should keep in mind: - Remove the complete airfilter and both wheels. This makes working a lot easyer. - You'll need a torch to heaten up ALL four O2 sensors. - I reused the stock bolts. My car is brand new so they are in perfect condition and have bigger bolt heads than the BBK ones which helps to tighten them. - The connectors on the extensions from BBK were the wrong ones. You have to modify them by cutting a piece out of the connectors. - The rear O2 sensor cable on the driverside is to short for the BBK cats. Unfortunately BBK didn't provide a new cable. I had to extend the cable by myself which was a PITA because the stock cable is hard to solder (probably no copper wire??). Didn't want to use clamps. - You should relocate the starter cable because otherwise it will touch the headers. conclusion: If BBK would supply the needed extension for the rear O2 cable on the driverside - you could easy do the whole installation in 4-5 hours. It took me 5 1/2 hours with soldering. Hope this helps.

09-10-2010, 10:21 AM	#3
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 57,201	Interesting, I didn't have to solder or extend mine. I believe there's a zip tie further up on the o2 sensor that you can cut off to make it longer, but I didn't have to do that either. The connectors were an easy fix, but yeah, bbk should correct this and get the right ones to their customer. __________________

09-10-2010, 11:33 AM	#5
PoorMansCamaro Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: PA Posts: 57,201	Actually, the passenger side sensor was the one that was a little short. I had a lot of play in the drivers side. __________________

11-27-2013, 02:20 PM	#12
kjkjr27 COTW 9/16/13 Drives: 2011 2LT/RS Camaro IOM Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Syracuse Posts: 10,089	I bought some O2 extensions from racetronix. I had to wait for them to get delivered but I just left the rears unconnected until the extensions came in. __________________ Twitch Youtube

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09-10-2010, 09:50 AM	#2
xtreme industries Drives: 2010 Camaro 2lt RS Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 548	i hope they fix that issue before i buy a set. i dont have any confidence in electrical stuff. are you getting a tune or are you running O2 extensions?

09-10-2010, 10:36 AM	#4
bbktech2 Drives: 1937 Ford Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 57	When we ordered the O2 extension wires we were assured that they were the correct ones. Sorry that there is a small tab that must be removed to make the connection. I went back and reviewed my install pics of those headers and can't see where you would need an extension on the driverside rear sensor. The harness plug is at the center of the transmission pointing forward if I remember, I do believe I cut a ziptie to point the connector to the rear, but the connection to the sensor was easily made. I will add that tip in the instruction sheet so there is no confusion to other customers. I'm not a fan of heating the O2 sensors with a torch to remove, I think a better understanding of tool use would have gotten the sensors out without the torch. A couple of taps with a hammer on the wrench or extending the wrench with another for added torque would have been a better solution. IMHO.

11-27-2013, 12:03 PM	#10
horizon670 Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2LT / RS / Auto Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rutherford, NJ Posts: 905 View My Garage	Please anyone can help here, we are almost done installing my BBK LT headers and the rear sensors are short, not provided by BBK, any solutions besides cutting the wires and doing the modification ?

11-27-2013, 05:06 PM	#13
horizon670 Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2LT / RS / Auto Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rutherford, NJ Posts: 905 View My Garage	Never mind, I figured it out myself. It was very simple, on the passenger side rear O2 wire is tightened somewhere on the top of the transmission. You will need to untighten it and then it will give you enough length for the driver side's O2 sensor to plug whitout any extention or wire cutting or anything. I'm very happy with the sound of my newly installed BBK LT headers + Magnaflow X Pipe. Nice rumble ! Already installed my Trifecta Tune so I did not see any CEL.