I hace a set of the long tube tpis headers and was wondering if any of you guys have any tips for installation?

 

Me too. :yesnod:

 

it is a bear to get the post stock manifold pipes and cats out.. wowwww..

i recommend you get your headers coated if they are not already. heat becomes a big issue... they are the big cast manifolds with integrated heat shields...

if you get em coated, try and find someone who does them interior and exterior.. this will keep max heat in the gasses so that the velocity is also at a max and the engine bay doesnt heat up excessively. I guess what is vulnerable are the engine mounts, starter and fire wall. its no fun to be in a hot rod where the heat penetrates into the cockpit. you can feel the heat on your feet and ankles.....

to get the stock cat and pipes off I had to pickel the bolts.. if you have a compressor, you will end up using the impact wrench.. otherwise find a good cheater bar...

You will need to rotate the passenger side Cat 180 degrees to clear some other engine compents and bracing to slide the pipe out. If you dont care about the pipe and dont plan to ever use it again, just cut it..... otherwise plan on wrestling that bad momma.

You will also find that you need to retain some of the studs to mount the ASR and the A/C and Alt brackets.. I ended up tossing one, but was able to retain the other given the shape of my headers.. things seem to be plenty sturdy.

 

what I ment to say about the cast manifolds and integrated heat shields is that they do a very good job in keeping heat out of the engine bay. the relatively thin piping use with headers wont keep the heat in the exaust gasses. Ceramic coating will only keep the temps down while looking tons better and preserving them.

 

If you have a roadster you may need to install spacers vetween the X-frame
to clear the headers. :chevy

 

I fully agree on the value of the ceramic coating inside/out for the headers and front Y-pipe. It will carry away more heat for enhanced performance and comfort as well as look good and last a long.

I don't have headers in the Vette yet, but the fully coated Edelbrocks in the IROC actually fun cooler than the old cast iron manifolds.

Also plan on some good plug wires (like MSD 8.5mm SuperConductors) that are very heat resistant.

 

Installation on my LT1 was a snap.

 

The only issue I had on mine was the small diagonal frame brace on passenger side.

TPIS's directions tell you to remove the brace and file some of it away for clearance. I didn't.... and it didn't :bb I ended up having to pull it out anyway and trimming it.

Other than that they go on pretty easy.

 

Kehrer,

Just installed a set of TPIS headers on my 84 Xfire. I won't say it was a snap but they are very well engineered. I would grind back the AIR tubes so they are flush with the inner tube wall. Reduces restriction. Driver side goes in fairly easily from the top, while passenger goess in from the bottom. I had large starter, so I had to remove that. Get heat shielding for starter wire harness.
It rests directly on the #8 tube. The fit is very good once everything is bolted up. Sturdy piece. BTW, mine were used and so I sent them to HPC to be coated in and out. Big difference in temps. They cool down enough to the touch in about 20 minutes. :cheers: