TPIS Headers Installation
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Troy Illinois
TPIS Headers Installation
I am considering purchasing a set TPIS headers and "Y" pipe for my 1985. If you have installed a set of these headers can you give me any tips? Is this a simple bolt on job? Any modifications needed? Any interfearance problems? The offer both coated and uncoated headers and I would like to know exactly what coated headers are and the advantage of the coating (coated headers are $150 higher). I have installed a Borla cat back exhaust and have purchased a Magnaflow free flow cat I will be installing soon. Other than the Borla exhaust the car is stock. I may consider air intake modifications next year. Any advice will help me make the decision on buying these headers.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
I added 30 rwhp (based on before and after dyno's) with the setup you have described. I used the TPIS coated headers.
Make sure to remove the starter and the front cross members for installation. Additionally, dropping the whole system at once tends to make this a little easier. I did this on jackstands at about 2' off of the floor. It is an easy bolt on, but took me the whole day.
The AC unit and supports will need to be loosened as well the alternator support from the header. This is also a good time to perform an A.I.R. delete. It cleans up the compartment and provides more room for periodic maintenance.
Dave
Make sure to remove the starter and the front cross members for installation. Additionally, dropping the whole system at once tends to make this a little easier. I did this on jackstands at about 2' off of the floor. It is an easy bolt on, but took me the whole day.
The AC unit and supports will need to be loosened as well the alternator support from the header. This is also a good time to perform an A.I.R. delete. It cleans up the compartment and provides more room for periodic maintenance.
Dave
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,836
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
The TPIS install is pretty straight forward. On my 87, the inlet for the cat is the same size as the outlet on the Y pipe provided. I had to take the cat and have it expanded to fo fit. I guess they make the Y pipe to almost fit everything. But not quite. Not that big of a deal. May not even be an issue on your car. Best headers I have ever owned.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 311
Likes: 2
From: Roseburg OR
I put headers without any egr on my 90. used flowmaster ball/socket connecter to the Force 2 for LT1 exhaust. I think the L98 y-pipe helps cause resonance and have read of fit problems, so I went with the LT1 style.
Was not that bad. Had to cut small part of the frame brace off and the metal gas lines will need to be re-routed as they were too close to the header. Also put thermal wrap on brake lines other stuff close to headers.
Also pre-fit the headers to heads before installing them, I had to take them out because the flange holes was a bit off compared to the head and would not thread in.
I think it was worth it for the added power, down low and up high.
The coating helps keep them from rusting and they also run cooler.
Was not that bad. Had to cut small part of the frame brace off and the metal gas lines will need to be re-routed as they were too close to the header. Also put thermal wrap on brake lines other stuff close to headers.
Also pre-fit the headers to heads before installing them, I had to take them out because the flange holes was a bit off compared to the head and would not thread in.
I think it was worth it for the added power, down low and up high.
The coating helps keep them from rusting and they also run cooler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,922
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
The TPIS install is pretty straight forward. On my 87, the inlet for the cat is the same size as the outlet on the Y pipe provided. I had to take the cat and have it expanded to fo fit. I guess they make the Y pipe to almost fit everything. But not quite. Not that big of a deal. May not even be an issue on your car. Best headers I have ever owned.
At the same time I did Air Pump eliminator and Mini Ram. With the air pump eliminator you have to plug the pipe that the air pump goes to into the exhaust, if you did this too.
It just cleaned up the engine compartment so much.
The headers are easy to install. Many tips on the forum.
I also used Earls Pressure header gaskets.
Also, put headers in first, then bolt up the exhaust to it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 80
From: Burleson Texas
Removed the AC & smog pump during my header installation. Also, removed the CAT to clean up the header install. The exhaust system is a Corsa - really sounds good.
Note: CAT removed on track car - not used on street.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Note: CAT removed on track car - not used on street.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by Race Prepared; Dec 29, 2007 at 08:53 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
Without a doubt, get the coated headers. It will assist in keeping the header interior temperature down. I have TPIS coated headers in my 85 and they're grrreat. Before I got all the kinks out of the problems that the car had been experiencing, one side of the headers were glowing red and stayed glowing for about 15 minutes. I can't say enough good things about TPIS headers because nothing adverse occurred to them despite them glowing for a quarter hour. They are quite expensive and probably are one of the most expensive set of headers you can buy, buy in my opinion, they are worth it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,922
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Whats the difference in price between coated and uncoated. Reason I ask is you could have them drop shipped to Jet Hot Coating or any reputable place that does it, and save from the cost of TPIS having them do it and profiting from them.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Is the Magnaflow converter a stock replacement or universal fit? It will
The 84-85 converters had a different mount than the rest of the years, it is flanged front and rear, .
When you go to put everything on, do not tighten anything until all bolts are started. The tpis headers fit great especially with the stand-offs built in to the flange. You will need to jostle things around though to fit everything up.
The 84-85 converters had a different mount than the rest of the years, it is flanged front and rear, .
When you go to put everything on, do not tighten anything until all bolts are started. The tpis headers fit great especially with the stand-offs built in to the flange. You will need to jostle things around though to fit everything up.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,141
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
my website has several tips, click my name
on an iron head car, you better go ahead and buy some plug socks, because the wires will touch the header pipes
on an iron head car, you better go ahead and buy some plug socks, because the wires will touch the header pipes
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
From: Social Circle Georgia
Get antiseize goop while you're at the local parts place and use that on the header bolts.
plug socks are high temp socks that go over the plug boots. They protect the plug boots from melting against the headers.
plug socks are high temp socks that go over the plug boots. They protect the plug boots from melting against the headers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
You can get plug socks from Jeg's or Summit Racing. I made a photo doc of my TPIS header install. You can see it here:
http://members.***.net/effergyvette/...r_Install.html
One other thing. You will probably want to install a ministarter. The aftermarket starter I originally used never did fit right, even though I had 2 different shops try to shim it. I eventually bought a 1988 Corvette starter (first year of the factory mini starter) from NAPA auto parts and that seemed to bolt right up and work pretty well with no shimming at all. I did have to pull all the slack out of the large cable to get it to reach though.
http://members.***.net/effergyvette/...r_Install.html
One other thing. You will probably want to install a ministarter. The aftermarket starter I originally used never did fit right, even though I had 2 different shops try to shim it. I eventually bought a 1988 Corvette starter (first year of the factory mini starter) from NAPA auto parts and that seemed to bolt right up and work pretty well with no shimming at all. I did have to pull all the slack out of the large cable to get it to reach though.
Last edited by Square; Jan 1, 2008 at 01:01 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
hi
i have a 95 LT1, it has no mufflers and reallly like the look.
Cats are required in IL - do the headers and cats go right to the existing resonator ( dont know what else to call it)
Another question - I have a Corsa X pipe from my 01 sitting in the garage can i use that in place of the resonator??
Answer to that would really help - I know mixing parts isnt the best but an x pipe is an x pipe as far as I can see..could use some C4 expert opinions on this one
Ths Len
i have a 95 LT1, it has no mufflers and reallly like the look.
Cats are required in IL - do the headers and cats go right to the existing resonator ( dont know what else to call it)
Another question - I have a Corsa X pipe from my 01 sitting in the garage can i use that in place of the resonator??
Answer to that would really help - I know mixing parts isnt the best but an x pipe is an x pipe as far as I can see..could use some C4 expert opinions on this one
Ths Len
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
From: Social Circle Georgia
You could go with Stainless works headers and their cats in order to fit into the factory resonator or get another header and have the cats and pipes fabbed up. There's enough room to do this with TPIS headers especially if you're a manual trans car. Auto car will be tight but doable if the shop doing the work is good.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Tx
Hi
As you see i am 1st on the group buy - just checking around - this might no be the place but everyone is reading
Do you have an answer to using the Corsa X pipe I asked
Len
Looking for a good air intake system - with K&N hooked to it any recommendations
Len
As you see i am 1st on the group buy - just checking around - this might no be the place but everyone is reading
Do you have an answer to using the Corsa X pipe I asked
Len
Looking for a good air intake system - with K&N hooked to it any recommendations
Len
