C7 Tech/Performance Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Texas Speed Long Tubes and Mid Pipe Install question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 28, 2017 | 09:22 PM
  #1  
intake68's Avatar
intake68
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 21
Default Texas Speed Long Tubes and Mid Pipe Install question

So what does someone do the day they finish cutting and polishing the paint? They lift the car up, wrap the fenders and install long tubes and mid pipe.



The package from TSP is excellent value for the money. Headers well assembled, welds are good, very complete kit. I did have to dremel an O2 bung in the mid pipe as there was a lot of slag and spatter and there was no way an O2 sensor was going in there without damage.

The install went well and the headers fit very good. However I have a question. Maybe I missed this but when I installed the headers I left the bolts lose so I could set the mid pipe first for proper clearance. However when I went to install the mid pipe I did not have enough room to install it on the collectors or also no room to slip it on the axle back. Are you supposed to take the mufflers off? I made the mistake of completely unbolting the headers so they could slide ahead allowing the midpipe to slip in. The only huge issue was now the weight of the entire exhaust was on the headers and it sucked getting the header bolts to start in the heads with all that weight. Any input??

Last edited by intake68; Jan 28, 2017 at 09:36 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2017 | 05:22 PM
  #2  
Rob#2's Avatar
Rob#2
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 119
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio TX
Default

Originally Posted by intake68
So what does someone do the day they finish cutting and polishing the paint? They lift the car up, wrap the fenders and install long tubes and mid pipe.

The package from TSP is excellent value for the money. Headers well assembled, welds are good, very complete kit. I did have to dremel an O2 bung in the mid pipe as there was a lot of slag and spatter and there was no way an O2 sensor was going in there without damage.

The install went well and the headers fit very good. However I have a question. Maybe I missed this but when I installed the headers I left the bolts lose so I could set the mid pipe first for proper clearance. However when I went to install the mid pipe I did not have enough room to install it on the collectors or also no room to slip it on the axle back. Are you supposed to take the mufflers off? I made the mistake of completely unbolting the headers so they could slide ahead allowing the midpipe to slip in. The only huge issue was now the weight of the entire exhaust was on the headers and it sucked getting the header bolts to start in the heads with all that weight. Any input??
I encountered the same thing, so rather than removing the rear bumper and mufflers, I loosened the headers, slipped everything together and supported the midpipe and axleback with jackstands or wood. I then installed all of the header bolts, re-adjusted everything and then tightened it up. No matter what I was unable to prevent the headers from rattling on the center tunnel plate. I decided not to shim it or cut it, just live with it since it is infrequent that it makes noise.
The hardest part I had was removing the passenger side header from the mid-pipe, that took 6 hours....
Go get your car tuned and enjoy it!

Last edited by Rob#2; Jan 29, 2017 at 05:23 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2017 | 05:57 PM
  #3  
intake68's Avatar
intake68
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 21
Default

Rob did you get the TSP tunnel plate with your kit or did you re-use the OEM piece? I know the earlier kits didn't have the TSP tunnel plate as part of the package. I had maybe a half inch clearance at least from the header to the tunnel plate. The system seems to fit very good except the rear hanger that bolts onto the torque tube. It seemed like the exhaust was too high and this caused the rubber mount to be slightly compressed. It it should be fine though. I wasn't sure how everyone ran their 02 wires but I installed a clip on the shield between the torque tube and the exhaust allowing the harnesses to sit tight to the top. I might wrap em in some heat tape later.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2017 | 06:23 PM
  #4  
Rob#2's Avatar
Rob#2
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 119
Likes: 6
From: San Antonio TX
Default

Originally Posted by intake68
Rob did you get the TSP tunnel plate with your kit or did you re-use the OEM piece? I know the earlier kits didn't have the TSP tunnel plate as part of the package. I had maybe a half inch clearance at least from the header to the tunnel plate. The system seems to fit very good except the rear hanger that bolts onto the torque tube. It seemed like the exhaust was too high and this caused the rubber mount to be slightly compressed. It it should be fine though. I wasn't sure how everyone ran their 02 wires but I installed a clip on the shield between the torque tube and the exhaust allowing the harnesses to sit tight to the top. I might wrap em in some heat tape later.
I'm actually using LG motorsports headers with the OEM tunnel plate, no cats and no rear O2 sensors, the pigtails are zip tied up above. I also had to put header wrap on the drivers side front pipe as the spark plug boot was touching it. My midpipe is wrapped all the way to the AFM actuators. My clamps that you have pictured are facing inward towards each other with the bolts going up(Opposite of what I was taught).

Last edited by Rob#2; Jan 29, 2017 at 06:24 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2017 | 10:54 AM
  #5  
intake68's Avatar
intake68
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 21
Default

After travelling all week with work I finally got home. I hadn't started the car yet because I cracked a plug installing the headers. Installed new plugs, got the plug wires on and installed the fuse panel in the engine bay. Fired up the car and was pretty impressed with the sound change. The car definitely has a lot more bark with NPP open but is still quiet with it closed. Fitment of the headers, midpipe and tunnel plate was awesome.

Rob as for the clamps here are mine after I tightened everything up and installed the tunnel plate.

Last edited by intake68; Feb 5, 2017 at 10:59 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2017 | 01:27 AM
  #6  
crazybiker51's Avatar
crazybiker51
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 5
From: West coast Canada
Default

Insane that they still ship these out without looking at them, bought mine a year and a half ago and had a huge chunk of slag in there aswell, had to pay a machine shop to grind it down to how it should have came, set me back time and money, will go elsewhere for headers next time

mine me used to rattle until I put a ridiculous amount of spacers on the one side, since one almost touched, the other was fine
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2017 | 09:02 AM
  #7  
robert miller's Avatar
robert miller
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,065
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Default ttt

I didn't have your problem with the LG stuff. Robert
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2017 | 05:39 PM
  #8  
intake68's Avatar
intake68
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 21
Default

Crazybiker if you loosened the five header flange bolts in the heads and loosened the midpipe at the collectors you can get the clearance you need. Even an eigth of an inch up top will give you close to three sixteenth at the collector. When everything is loose just use a wedge between the collector and the tunnel plate to give you the clearance and then tighten up. I have ran into this on different headers on other vehicles as well where tolerances are tight.

As for the slag I get it but it took me five minutes to get the dremel out, grind the slag and put the dremel away. I am glad I read another post on here about the same issue because I was checking for it when I was inspecting everything.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Feb 8, 2017 | 01:07 AM
  #9  
crazybiker51's Avatar
crazybiker51
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 254
Likes: 5
From: West coast Canada
Default

I just bent my tunnel for added clearance eventually, no adjusting now, I had it all welded up since I could never get those clamps to seal perfectly
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Texas Speed Long Tubes and Mid Pipe Install question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:12 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE