Long Tube Headers on C6
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Long Tube Headers on C6
I was at my local Chevy dealership, and was talking about how I race my car etc.. (The Service Mgr also Drag Races & THATS GOOD I always get him a Christmas gift, and it has been one of my better decesions... I've come out WELL Ahead..
Anyway he told me that a lot of people, or Manufactures of headers are having a problem when installing "Long Tube" headers the C6's are throwing a code... ? Thats what he said he's heard, in-fact he said Lingerfelter has gone to short headers...
Anyone here anything on this... I'm just guessing but if you did have long tube, and had high flow cats, and the air sensors where they belong (before & after the cat.. the car shouldn't throw any code. but he said he heard they were.. ???
Anyway he told me that a lot of people, or Manufactures of headers are having a problem when installing "Long Tube" headers the C6's are throwing a code... ? Thats what he said he's heard, in-fact he said Lingerfelter has gone to short headers...
Anyone here anything on this... I'm just guessing but if you did have long tube, and had high flow cats, and the air sensors where they belong (before & after the cat.. the car shouldn't throw any code. but he said he heard they were.. ???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
Long Tubes move the cat farther away from the engine, which takes them longer to get hot, and sometimes trigger the CEL. A handheld or computer tune will turn it off. "Shorty" headers are not worth the money as they only gain about 8 HP.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON TEXAS
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
A lot of installed don't set the code right away. It can be weeks before the right factors all fall into place. The code is usually for the cats not reaching temp in time..Tune them out, no issues.
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CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
To the best of my knowledge Lingenfelter has not "gone" to shorty headers. LPE has never installed long tube headers on a car due to potential legal issues. They will, however, work on your car if it comes in with long tubes already installed.
I know one tuner shop in California that will install long tube headers if you sign a waiver that your car is strictly for off-road use and they have to physically witness your car being towed or hauled off property after the install.
FWIW, I've had LG Pro long tubes (coated) with high-flow cats for 2.5 years....I've never had a problem or thrown any codes.
I know one tuner shop in California that will install long tube headers if you sign a waiver that your car is strictly for off-road use and they have to physically witness your car being towed or hauled off property after the install.
FWIW, I've had LG Pro long tubes (coated) with high-flow cats for 2.5 years....I've never had a problem or thrown any codes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad CA
I have the LG Pro long tubes and I had trouble codes almost instantly. They were "tuned out" by my tuner though. Unlike most people I have read, I had codes for both sets of cats.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
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From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,307
Likes: 111
From: Tucson AZ
O2 Sensor codes with long tube headers
Chevy uses a dual O2 sensor system on each side to test the Cats. The front O2 sensor inputs AFR changes and the rear should be flat as the CATS burn any excess fuel. However, for the Cats to light off, they must reach a very high temperature. You will recall that C4 vettes have a single Cat that is halfway down the exhaust pipe and only one O2 sensor, whereas C6 cars have the Cats up front bolted directly to the cast iron exhaust manifolds. This is so they heat up almost immediately after startup.
Now, you install long tube headers and a hi-flow X pipe and the Cats are down wind a lot further and it takes them longer to fire up. The second O2 sensor output is not flat when this happens and this sets a P0430 or P0420 code meaning the Cats are not working. The car will still run fine, you will just be staring at the check engine light periodically.
Most tuners can tune out the rear O2 sensor or supress the Cat codes. You can also do this yourself with a hand held Predator.
Now, you install long tube headers and a hi-flow X pipe and the Cats are down wind a lot further and it takes them longer to fire up. The second O2 sensor output is not flat when this happens and this sets a P0430 or P0420 code meaning the Cats are not working. The car will still run fine, you will just be staring at the check engine light periodically.
Most tuners can tune out the rear O2 sensor or supress the Cat codes. You can also do this yourself with a hand held Predator.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
From: Lynchburg VA
rule of thum dont listen to anything someone in a Dealer service department says about aftermarket stuff. When ever you change something about the cats on a new car (aka hiflow or none)there a parameters that need to bee adjusted in the computer and you will get a light with them untill you do.
