Long tube headers
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Long tube headers
Hello everyone. I spent a wonderful day putting Hinson ceramic coated long tube headers on my 1998 base model today. I am an old diy guy, the new technology has an edge on me. My first problem is the A.I.R. System? There was a pipe connected to my exhaust manifold but no place to connect it to the new manifold. I haven't found any mention of what to do with it or the hoses on the Internet. Can anyone help? Also, the back set of air sensors I just tucked up in the torque tube tunnel, will probably rattle like heck but I'm going deaf anyway. Any comments would be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Sounds like you got the race headers as they have no provisions for AIR tubes. There is a way to bypass that system and I hope someone will chime in about how that is done. Adding headers, removing the AIR tubes and not having the rear O2 sensors is going to be a problem for you. You will have to have a new "tune" for your car's computer tailored to accommodate the changes you made. Otherwise, you will have all sorts of problems with system errors, Check Engine lights, drivability, etc. Headers will lean out your fuel curve and cause some potentially serious problems.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 579
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From: Chambersburg Pa
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 156
Likes: 28
From: Lombard IL
Regarding the AIR system, even though my headers came with AIR provisions I just used the metal caps that came with the set to plug the hookups on the actual headers and left the AIR pump/hoses in the car (tucked away the hoses nicely though). As far as the car throwing codes the AIR system was tuned out when I took the car in for a dyno tune (which you should do after putting headers on to take full advantage of the system).
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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you will get a cel for rear o2 sensors and the air system by not having those things hooked up but the car should drive fine, the rear o2 sensor's only function is to make sure the cats are working and have no effect on driveability... and the air pumps function is to help heat the cats up faster and you don't have cats, so you don't need the air system either... you should still have a tune done to compensate for the added airflow and the tuner will be able to delete your rear o2/air codes at the same time that way you will not have a cel... I would take all of that stuff out to clean the engine bay up a bit as well as making plug changes easier
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
you will get a cel for rear o2 sensors and the air system by not having those things hooked up but the car should drive fine, the rear o2 sensor's only function is to make sure the cats are working and have no effect on driveability... and the air pumps function is to help heat the cats up faster and you don't have cats, so you don't need the air system either... you should still have a tune done to compensate for the added airflow and the tuner will be able to delete your rear o2/air codes at the same time that way you will not have a cel... I would take all of that stuff out to clean the engine bay up a bit as well as making plug changes easier
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Sounds like you got the race headers as they have no provisions for AIR tubes. There is a way to bypass that system and I hope someone will chime in about how that is done. Adding headers, removing the AIR tubes and not having the rear O2 sensors is going to be a problem for you. You will have to have a new "tune" for your car's computer tailored to accommodate the changes you made. Otherwise, you will have all sorts of problems with system errors, Check Engine lights, drivability, etc. Headers will lean out your fuel curve and cause some potentially serious problems.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
you will get a cel for rear o2 sensors and the air system by not having those things hooked up but the car should drive fine, the rear o2 sensor's only function is to make sure the cats are working and have no effect on driveability... and the air pumps function is to help heat the cats up faster and you don't have cats, so you don't need the air system either... you should still have a tune done to compensate for the added airflow and the tuner will be able to delete your rear o2/air codes at the same time that way you will not have a cel... I would take all of that stuff out to clean the engine bay up a bit as well as making plug changes easier
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