Thanks for all the help. I finally got the TPIS headers installed on my 85. :D I got them through the group purchase with East Coast Super Charging. I can’t comment on the difference yet. It was rush hour when I took it for a test ride.

Lessons learned from other CC posts and what I did to get the car back together:
1. The oil dip stick tube is a PITA to remove. Several members commented that they broke it and had to remove the oil pan to drive it out. I did not want to do that. I cut the header flange between #6 & #8 like the Hooker 2149’s. Now I don’t have to touch it to get the headers in or out.
2. I needed to replace the bolt by #5 with a socket head because the original was to close to the header tube. I cut a flat on the washer so it would fit. Painted it silver.
3. I cut the Y-pipe on the drivers side about a ¾ inch shorter. The Y-pipe does not fit very well.
4. If you are going to use the AIR pipe to the cat you need to install it before you put on the Y-pipe. Otherwise you need to cut it a few inches before the end of the headers and use a ½ compression union (from a plumbing supply) to reconnect the two ends. Use a 4 inch SS hose clamp to clamp it to the Y-pipe.
5. Use Accel header plugs ACC-8198. They are about an 1/8 inch shorter than the Bosch and fit with stock iron heads without dimpling the headers. (Thanks James)
6. Driver side go in from the top. I did it on jack stands and could not get it high enough to get them in from the bottom. Passenger side go in from the bottom.
7. The original Y-pipe hanger does not fit the new Y-pipe. TPIS says you don’t need it. I am going to try to modify it.
8. The spark plugs are easy to install. No more sharp edges down there. Use a ¾ inch crows foot on a ratchet and a spark plug socket to tighten a couple of the plugs. I think it was #5 and #6.
9. Use a 3-wire O2 sensor ( Bosch from Autozone ). I powered it off the cooling fan switched power ( blue wire) and changed the fuse from 3 to 5 amp.

The headers go in very easily. The Y-pipe was a pain. This baby better go faster.

 

Dave,

I have TPIS headers on my Xfire. They went in fairly easily. Didn't need to cut the Y-pipe.Its very snug and there is no need for the hanger. The entire assembly is very stiff. Much stiffer than stock setup. as for the problem with the plugs, its not an issue with angle plug heads which is what the headers were designed for. Very easy to install plugs if your motor is so equipped. Driver's side do go in from the top pretty easily. I also had car on ramps and bringing in passenger side from the bottom was a PITA. Needed to sets of hands and had to maneuver starter motor simultaneously. Don't look forward to ever replacing that thing.

 

I must have had the car higher with the jack. I did not have to remove the starter and they went in easy.

 

Dominic,
The issue with plugs clearance does exist even with angled plugs. Clearance is definately an issue.

Dave_85,
Glad to hear you installed the headers. They are a very nice setup, enjoy and they are worth the effort.

PS. Don't expect them to stay shiney for long.
:cheers:

 

85vet,

TPIS "warns" against the use of their headers with straight plug heads. As for clearance problems with angle plug heads, I am using the TFS23d heads. The access to the spark plugs is excellent. Much better than stock manifolds on stock heads. Not sure what angle plug heads you have experience with. Perhaps you could share that so others the problem you described.

 

This kind of concerns me. A fuse must be the weakest link in the circuit. By changing the amperage capacity of the fuse using the existing wiring may make the wiring the weakest link, read this as wire burning before the fuse blows.

Check your wiring gauge and make sure it will handle the extra current the new fuse passes.

 

Dominic,
The stock 85 is an angled plug and I had clearance problems with #7. I used the Accel shorty header plug and a boot cover to eliminate boot burning.

I now have AFR 195 angled plugs with the identical problem. But I cannot use Accel header plugs, they do not make one for these heads. To help I ordered the new taylor boot protector made from porcelan material. The boot protector looks similar to my previous ones except they are suppose to be able to take 2200 degrees. Seems to be working.

PS. Access to plugs are not the problem, it is the clearance of the spark plug boot that causes the problem.

 

I didnt have the problems you did when installing my TPIS headers on the '86. I didnt bother with the AIR pipe on the passenger side and my dip stick slides in and out very easily. I did have to use the Accel Shorty Header plugs to make sure I didnt burn the boot on #7. Even with using the Accel plugs, I had to shave the boot a little with the stock iron straight plug heads to prevent the boot from directly touching the header. The only real problem I have now is an exhaust leak by the CAT. Because the cat is gutted, I cant take it to a muffler shop to have them weld the leak.


[Modified by VetteNoob, 9:59 AM 5/18/2003]

 

85vet,

Don't have a problem on my #7 plug. My clearance problem was with the #6 plug because of the dipstick. I am using 90degree boots on Taylor wires and that would interfere with the dipstick and melt the insulation. Also because of the vibration it would pull the boot off the plug over time. I remedied that by buying a staright boot wire from Taylor. No more problems. I also used the stock wire looms. :seeya :chevy