[PICS] Modifying the TPIS longtube headers
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
[PICS] Modifying the TPIS longtube headers
So my #7 plug boot constantly gets burned because of how close the header tube is to the boot. It's a bad design really, which is too bad because everything else on the headers are pretty good.
Well, I finally got the time to take the header off and get it worked on to fix the problem. With the help of a friend here in Phoenix he got me in to see Rob McCabe of McCabe Headers. We took the headers and a spare head to him to see what he could do. In a little less then an hour he was done and I had this...
Here is the old section of pipe next to the new one...
You can see the new tube comes off of the flange quite a bit more than the old tube...
I should be getting the header back on this weekend to test out the mod and make sure it works. In any case, the header looks better now!
Well, I finally got the time to take the header off and get it worked on to fix the problem. With the help of a friend here in Phoenix he got me in to see Rob McCabe of McCabe Headers. We took the headers and a spare head to him to see what he could do. In a little less then an hour he was done and I had this...
Here is the old section of pipe next to the new one...
You can see the new tube comes off of the flange quite a bit more than the old tube...
I should be getting the header back on this weekend to test out the mod and make sure it works. In any case, the header looks better now!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
The only thing I don't like is that you're losing the bosses for the header bolts. IMO that's the one thing that makes the TPIS headers so appealing. I know that back bolt is a major PITA on my Hooker long tubes and the back one on the pass side is even worse 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
I wasn't aware tpis long tube headers had a fitment issue.
Are you using these with stock (angled?) or aftermarket heads on your 96?
Back in '02, when I got mine, they were the undisputed best fitting header for c4.
Fitment has been like a dream on my 93 (zf6). I didnt have to bend or hammer a thing.
Are you using these with stock (angled?) or aftermarket heads on your 96?
Back in '02, when I got mine, they were the undisputed best fitting header for c4.
Fitment has been like a dream on my 93 (zf6). I didnt have to bend or hammer a thing.
Last edited by dizwiz24; Mar 4, 2012 at 09:33 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
If so, I thought they come jet-hot coated already (which is going to help improve speed).
I wish you didnt mention adding a 'spike' ! that gives me something else to do.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
I wasn't aware tpis long tube headers had a fitment issue.
Are you using these with stock (angled?) or aftermarket heads on your 96?
Back in '02, when I got mine, they were the undisputed best fitting header for c4.
Fitment has been like a dream on my 93 (zf6). I didnt have to bend or hammer a thing.
Are you using these with stock (angled?) or aftermarket heads on your 96?
Back in '02, when I got mine, they were the undisputed best fitting header for c4.
Fitment has been like a dream on my 93 (zf6). I didnt have to bend or hammer a thing.
LT4 angle plug
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 8,683
Likes: 6
From: Phoenix AZ
I'll probably be selling these sometime next year and have a complete set made up with stepped tubes and merge collectors...but for now these will do.
The Exotic Muscle headers are more like what I have now, which was one of the nice improvements they had.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Years ago I was going to dyno tune a car for a guy. He had a C4 with a holley stealth ram, and TPIS headers. We actually couldn't do the dyno tune because he burned up the #7 wire.
He was really mad with TPIS when I showed him how well my "cheap" hooker headers fit my car.
Now in all honestly I have no idea which heads he was running, maybe that was the issue. I would certainly hope they wouldn't sell a product that had such a fundamental flaw for so much $$
He was really mad with TPIS when I showed him how well my "cheap" hooker headers fit my car.
Now in all honestly I have no idea which heads he was running, maybe that was the issue. I would certainly hope they wouldn't sell a product that had such a fundamental flaw for so much $$
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
Years ago I was going to dyno tune a car for a guy. He had a C4 with a holley stealth ram, and TPIS headers. We actually couldn't do the dyno tune because he burned up the #7 wire.
He was really mad with TPIS when I showed him how well my "cheap" hooker headers fit my car.
Now in all honestly I have no idea which heads he was running, maybe that was the issue. I would certainly hope they wouldn't sell a product that had such a fundamental flaw for so much $$
He was really mad with TPIS when I showed him how well my "cheap" hooker headers fit my car.
Now in all honestly I have no idea which heads he was running, maybe that was the issue. I would certainly hope they wouldn't sell a product that had such a fundamental flaw for so much $$
You all are scaring me, I got afr195 's coming and I hope my tpis long tube headers don't cause issues with those heads....
If you could rewind to 2002 you would note that corvetteforum consensus was that tpis headers fit like a glove.
That's why I bought them.
Lord knows where all those people who said that are now...
Last edited by dizwiz24; Mar 5, 2012 at 03:32 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
More cuts and bends makes the process more difficult and it would have cost them more money to make them. And as I said, for most motors you won't have an issue.
I'll probably be selling these sometime next year and have a complete set made up with stepped tubes and merge collectors...but for now these will do.
The Exotic Muscle headers are more like what I have now, which was one of the nice improvements they had.
I'll probably be selling these sometime next year and have a complete set made up with stepped tubes and merge collectors...but for now these will do.
The Exotic Muscle headers are more like what I have now, which was one of the nice improvements they had.
I'm still really confused as to why mine fit so well, but the ops doesn't fit well.
Did tpis change something at some point in their production process?
I bought mine in 2002. Paid about 750 for them ( a lot of money) and they came jet hoated coated inside and out.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Huh? I didn't have any issue w/ burning up the #7 plug..
Maybe the QC is just that bad and there is a huge variation from one set to another? Again for the price you wouldn't think so.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
LT1 vs. LT4 heads I dont know?
I suspect something changed with the design of the headers (either for the better or the worse...it depends on whether these were bought before or after I bought mine in september 2002).
BTW, I went onto TPIS website and I cant even find any long tube headers for C4.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
There are many combinations of heads, headers and plug angles. Some headers will work in some applications and not in others. My Hooker Super competition 1 3/4" came very close to a few boots on my Holley 20 degree straight plug heads and burnt a few every now and then. On other cars, these headers fit fine. I am using ARH stepped headers now with absolutely no fitment issues.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
I too have been running the TPIS headers since 02 on the 95 with AFR comp heads and have had no issues with plug wire boots or wires melting. I'm running a set of made4u wire looms that alter the wire routing slightly but I did run stock wire looms initially with no issue. As stated, the OP must have a set that was poorly QA'd. I'm currently swapping out my headers for the ARH stepped headers with new Corsa exhaust so I will have my TPIS headers for sale soon if the new install goes ok.
Rick
Rick