C6 Longtubes, difficulty level?
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
C6 Longtubes, difficulty level?
So new guy on the forum, I have a'12 Grand Sport and LG Longtubes that I'm looking at putting on or having put on. My question is how difficult is this? I talked to a shop and they claim it's an all day job. So how hard is it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
I don't know if there's some specific difficulty with the LGs, which I doubt, but I installed my Pfadt headers and x-pipe by myself using jackstands, with the car about 18 inches off the ground. I recall that I had to take off the nuts for the engine mounts and jack the engine up slightly to get one of the headers in place, but it was by no means a challenge. I didn't have to pull the starter or anything like that. If I had someone helping me, I would've been finished in 3-4 hours tops, including jacking the car up.
PS: Welcome to the forum and you have a great car. Is it an A6 or M6?
PS: Welcome to the forum and you have a great car. Is it an A6 or M6?
Last edited by CI GS; Jul 24, 2017 at 07:30 PM.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies, I thought it looked like it wouldn't be all that tough. I wanted to check before I got into it and found out different. Thanks for all the helpful input!
My car is an A6 to answer the previous posters question.
My car is an A6 to answer the previous posters question.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Just did mine about 3 weeks ago on jack stands in the garage. Piece of cake really. Changing out the mufflers on my 05 base a4 without cutting the pipes was harder then the header install.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: ca were the dodgers play!
Just did mine the other day. Piece of cake. A second set of hands is "handy" when trying to start the first bolt. Leave all the pipes loose and adjust first accordingly. Besides that it would probably trying to rack the damn thing then to drop the exhaust
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
Before jacking up the car disconnect the battery remove spark plugs cables and spark plugs disconnect front o2 sensors remove exhaust manifold bolts leave one loose bolt on each side you can reach from below.
I installed ARH in my car port four 3 ton jack stands all the way up, helps to have a creeper.
Hardest was the drivers side I had to remove the knock sensor then went in.
I installed ARH in my car port four 3 ton jack stands all the way up, helps to have a creeper.
Hardest was the drivers side I had to remove the knock sensor then went in.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 248
Likes: 20
From: Waco Texas
I installed a set of LG Super Pro headers on my Z06 (1 7/8). Went on easier than the headers I've installed on some of the first generation camaros I used to have.
Had to loosen the starter mounting bolts but not take it off was the only extra thing I had to do..
Had to loosen the starter mounting bolts but not take it off was the only extra thing I had to do..
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 205
From: Kansas City MO
You can drive without a tune but will likely throw a check engine light for the downstream o2 sensors. Still fine though.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,437
Likes: 918
From: CONCORD NC
Engine will calibrate fine without a tune, may set a code but won't hurt itself. MAF and o2's can handle most anything
As said above, be prepared to remove simple items that get in the way, could be the starter, plugs, knock sensors etc. Nothing difficult just can be aggravating
As said above, be prepared to remove simple items that get in the way, could be the starter, plugs, knock sensors etc. Nothing difficult just can be aggravating
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
I forgot to say that if I were to do another header install on my Vette, and had to do it alone, I would try to get a set of studs, (as shown in the second picture posted by Brandon619 in post #5 above) rather than reusing the stock or aftermarket header bolts, or at least use a couple of short studs as "dowels", as that would make it much easier to hang the header in place and keep it aligned, because hanging the header and getting the nut started is much easier than holding the header in place and trying to start threading a bolt into a hole that might be difficult or impossible to see.
Last edited by CI GS; Jul 27, 2017 at 02:47 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,437
Likes: 918
From: CONCORD NC
If you notch the gasket it's much easier, you can get the header in place then slip the gasket it with just 2 bolts. Just notch the bottom of the 2 end bolts so it can slide down from above
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 17
From: .
Easy as pie. Use jackstands and slide header in through the bottom of the car. Have someone help you from the top to get it into place and then just bolt it to the head. (I have removed my Kooks longtubes about 5 times this month lol)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,001
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From: lake havasu city arizona
