JBA Midpipes upgraded to KOOKS Longtubes - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ducq · 12-28-2010, 03:35 AM

I recently took out my JBA catted midpipes and stock headers and installed 1 7/8 KOOKS Long tube headers with high flow cats (thanks to Brandon at maryland speed for a great deal!!!!) I did the install entirely by myself. Taking out the jba midpipes and stock manifolds was cake. Taking out the dipstick was easy but even though i checked to see where the dipstick went under the car, putting back in is still tricky. I took off all the spark plug wires but left the spark plugs in.

big mistake!

I guess the headers banged one of the spark plugs and put two cracks in the plug. I later drove the car and got a blinking check engine light, and service stabilitrak message with all traction control lights on as well. p0300 cylinder misfire. I took out all the spark plugs and found the one that was cracked, I ended up replacing all 8 spark plugs just in case. Now i get no CEL or any messages, everything is normal! Anyways, i fit the headers in from underneath the car, i tightened the clamp to hold the header in place but did not tighten the high flow cat until i had the headers bolted in.

I finished the install in 3-4 hours. Not so easy doing it by yourself but its for sure possible! I turned on the car and a load of smoke came out the exhaust pipes! (normal) but i saw a whole bunch of smoke coming out of the engine and from underneath the car. doh~! I forgot to tighten one of the clamps, all the smoke was coming out from there. Anyways i got the headers working well now, i have no check engine lights. I used 2 extenders for the o2's which is why i think i havnt gotten a code yet (knock on wood).

Well it seems my exhaust doesnt sound quite as loud as before at idle or even in the 1-2.5 rpm range. It does sound different though, a bit deeper and a bit more rumble. At high rpm's this things is at nascar status!! i have borla s type axle backs. In the 4.5-6k rpm range its screaming loud! I love it! Hopefully they will burn in a little more and the lower rpm's will sound a little more rumbly. The butt dyno definitely feels faster acceleration. hopefully ill get a tune within a week or two. thinking twice about it. But I'm very satisfied so far.

TIPS:
1. Take out the spark plugs! It only takes 10-15 minutes and it'll save you from broken plugs!
2. Use stock gaskets
3. spray a bit of wd-40 on o2 sensors before messing with them and use anti-sieze on everything
4. Have a friend give you a helping hand :P

mikeSS · 12-28-2010, 04:26 AM

i also had JBA mid pipes then went to kooks

ssmike · 12-28-2010, 09:35 AM

Nice job! Congrats! I removed the plugs when I installed my DT shorties, just in case! Glad you found and ironed out all the bugs! Now go and enjoy the ride!

ducq · 12-28-2010, 10:32 AM

Do longtubes burn in a bit and get noticeably louder? Maybe it's just me but my I think my idle sounded just a bit deeper. Maybe an x-pipe would make a difference seeing as I only have an axle back.

ducq · 12-28-2010, 02:42 PM

Just noticed a lot less decel popping and not as loud.

12-28-2010, 03:35 AM	#1
ducq Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS LS3 blck w/ IOM Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 580	JBA Midpipes upgraded to KOOKS Longtubes I recently took out my JBA catted midpipes and stock headers and installed 1 7/8 KOOKS Long tube headers with high flow cats (thanks to Brandon at maryland speed for a great deal!!!!) I did the install entirely by myself. Taking out the jba midpipes and stock manifolds was cake. Taking out the dipstick was easy but even though i checked to see where the dipstick went under the car, putting back in is still tricky. I took off all the spark plug wires but left the spark plugs in. big mistake! I guess the headers banged one of the spark plugs and put two cracks in the plug. I later drove the car and got a blinking check engine light, and service stabilitrak message with all traction control lights on as well. p0300 cylinder misfire. I took out all the spark plugs and found the one that was cracked, I ended up replacing all 8 spark plugs just in case. Now i get no CEL or any messages, everything is normal! Anyways, i fit the headers in from underneath the car, i tightened the clamp to hold the header in place but did not tighten the high flow cat until i had the headers bolted in. I finished the install in 3-4 hours. Not so easy doing it by yourself but its for sure possible! I turned on the car and a load of smoke came out the exhaust pipes! (normal) but i saw a whole bunch of smoke coming out of the engine and from underneath the car. doh~! I forgot to tighten one of the clamps, all the smoke was coming out from there. Anyways i got the headers working well now, i have no check engine lights. I used 2 extenders for the o2's which is why i think i havnt gotten a code yet (knock on wood). Well it seems my exhaust doesnt sound quite as loud as before at idle or even in the 1-2.5 rpm range. It does sound different though, a bit deeper and a bit more rumble. At high rpm's this things is at nascar status!! i have borla s type axle backs. In the 4.5-6k rpm range its screaming loud! I love it! Hopefully they will burn in a little more and the lower rpm's will sound a little more rumbly. The butt dyno definitely feels faster acceleration. hopefully ill get a tune within a week or two. thinking twice about it. But I'm very satisfied so far. TIPS: 1. Take out the spark plugs! It only takes 10-15 minutes and it'll save you from broken plugs! 2. Use stock gaskets 3. spray a bit of wd-40 on o2 sensors before messing with them and use anti-sieze on everything 4. Have a friend give you a helping hand :P __________________ TSP 229/236 cam .Magnaflow Comp axleback .KOOKS LT w/ high flow cats .magnapack bullets. C.A.I. Vmax ported TB. Dyno tuned 452hp / 422tq. Last edited by ducq; 12-28-2010 at 10:28 AM.

12-28-2010, 10:32 AM	#4
ducq Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS LS3 blck w/ IOM Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 580	Do longtubes burn in a bit and get noticeably louder? Maybe it's just me but my I think my idle sounded just a bit deeper. Maybe an x-pipe would make a difference seeing as I only have an axle back. __________________ TSP 229/236 cam .Magnaflow Comp axleback .KOOKS LT w/ high flow cats .magnapack bullets. C.A.I. Vmax ported TB. Dyno tuned 452hp / 422tq.

12-28-2010, 02:42 PM	#5
ducq Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS LS3 blck w/ IOM Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 580	Just noticed a lot less decel popping and not as loud. __________________ TSP 229/236 cam .Magnaflow Comp axleback .KOOKS LT w/ high flow cats .magnapack bullets. C.A.I. Vmax ported TB. Dyno tuned 452hp / 422tq.

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12-28-2010, 04:26 AM	#2
mikeSS Drives: 2015 c7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7,462	i also had JBA mid pipes then went to kooks

12-28-2010, 09:35 AM	#3
ssmike BL1ZZRD Drives: '16 Camaro 2SS, '20 Equinox Redline Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 7,841	Nice job! Congrats! I removed the plugs when I installed my DT shorties, just in case! Glad you found and ironed out all the bugs! Now go and enjoy the ride!