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TPS RPM C5 1 7/8 Long Tube Headers W off road / X-Pipe Install
So about a week ago I got a C5 Z06 for the purpose of testing and modifying. The car has 173,xxx miles which is pretty high for modifications. Overall the car still dynoed 338 rwhp and 335 rwtq , which is really good for the mileage. I could have installed the headers on a lift , but it was my choice to install them on the ground. Why people may ask well I know a lot of people don't have access to a lift and the fact is that if you have a C5 you are most likely on a budget. The other reason why I choose the TPS Rpm Long tube Headers , not only are they 304 Stainless they are American made and for a price of $999 for the stainless version and $1200 for the ceramic coated version I think that is a great deal.
So I began by getting the car up in the air to remove the engine pieces for the install the wires, plugs, coil packs and alternator and unbolt the manifolds.
Once the engine pieces where removed I then raised the car 16 '' of the ground front and back ,at first I was only going to raise it this high to remove the factory cattted h pipe. which was no problem except for the 12 different bolts that someone had replaced the originals with at one point.
Once the factory pieces where removed I went ahead and tried to install the passenger side header. which I will note it went in really easy I did not have to remove the starter. all you need to do is move the wires over so that the header does not catch them. same goes for the driver side took 3 minutes did not have to remove the steering column to rack and pinion. just disconnect the ground wire attached to the block. then reinstall once the header is in place. also note to install the O2 sensor on driver side headers before you bolt it to the cylinder head.
Then once the headers where in place I installed the upgraded tunnel plate and thermal protection because I want to see if the tunnel plate with thermal protection in conjunction with the ceramic coated headers will help with the added heat the headers are known to produce.
I proceeded to bolt the Headers to the Cylinder head, flanges on the headers where great there where no issues. I reused the factory bolts which went right in the holes on the flanges lined up correctly. The EGR tubes also where in the correct place they lined up in the same exact location as the factory manifolds. I had used other brad of headers and always had to fight the egr pipes to line up. I got new gaskets from a 2005 corvette since they use the same ls6 style head. The mid pipe and the headers I got where ceramic coated which at first made it a little difficult to get the pieces to slip fit over the headers. Once they had some of the coating wear off I was able to get the mid pipes installed. the X pipe went in with no issues same with the rear pipes. I would recommend an impact for the exhaust clamps to get them tight. The ground clearance lost was very minimal I'm used to loosing ground clearance but with these headers this was not the case.
Overall the Headers went in with no issues I have not noticed any extra heat in the car the car made 358 rwhp / 351 rwtq Untunned which is really impressive, after tunning the car made 372 rwhp / 362 rwtq.
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TPSMotorsports.com Cesar Trevino 2705 Lafayette St Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone : 408-898-4632 Direct : 408-709-3020 Email : CesarT@TPSMotorsports.com
The C5 is already as low as you can get it on stock lowering bolts, I cant even fit a 2x4 on the side of the car. Even with the car sitting this low I did not loose any ground clearance. The fitment is great and the sound is amazing Probably the best fitting and priced headers I have seen in a long time. The whole install on the ground probably took total of 6 hours.
Excellent write up, photos, & documentation. Looks like a great
product & value!
Yeah I was very pleased with the install , especially since I did not have to remove the starter and the steering linkage. Those two pieces can be a pain to reinstall. Especially under the car.
Interested in these. I tried sending a PM but it says you're not receiving them.
Trying to decide between these and the Hinson 1/7 catless headers. They are both similar in price, the only thing I don't like about the Hinson is that they seem to not age that well.
1. Do these take inspiration from any of the big 3? ARH, LG, Kooks? if so which ones?
2. Do they have a merge spike?
3. Are they in stock? if not how long do they take to ship?
Interested in these. I tried sending a PM but it says you're not receiving them.
Trying to decide between these and the Hinson 1/7 catless headers. They are both similar in price, the only thing I don't like about the Hinson is that they seem to not age that well.
1. Do these take inspiration from any of the big 3? ARH, LG, Kooks? if so which ones?
2. Do they have a merge spike?
3. Are they in stock? if not how long do they take to ship?
Thank you
These are not patterned after anyone else’s headers. They don’t have a merged spike which really doesn’t do much. These are 100% stainless steel unlike the the Hinson which has stainless headers but mild steel x pipe
Its been a couple of weeks since the install, I did the ceramic coated headers and tunnel plate with the thermal Protection. and in the 100 degree Texas Heat the car runs just as cool as the factory manifolds if not maybe even cooler due to not having the cats right by the Tunnel area.
In stock and ready to ship... great numbers also. Below are number from a stock C6 Z06 except headers.
Stock-423RWHP, 382RWTQ
TPS Headers & Tune-462RWHP, 423RWTQ
Gain-39RWHP, 41RWTQ
My TPS headers and extensions showed up today. These fit exactly as the pictures above show. PLENTY of clearance to the AC line (roughly 1" or so) and PLENTY of steering column clearance. These went in as described above (both sides from the bottom with only minor finagling of the wires that are in your way). No messing with engine mounts, starter or starter wires.
I removed the following:
Both coil packs (10mm bolts)
Alternator (two 15mm bolts)
Oil dipstick (one 15mm bolt)
PS ground wired to the block (one 15mm bolt)
This allowed plenty of room to remove the old manifolds through the top and slide TPS headers in from the bottom.
My only issue was that my O2 sensor was seemingly too long for the DS header. The angle at which the bung was welded (needed to be more vertical) resulted in the O2 sensor contacting the frame. For reference, my O2 sensor was roughly 2 5/8" long from the mounting surface to the end of the hard case. If you happen to have a shorter one (by maybe 1/4-1/2") you may not have this issue.
Honestly for the price I was expecting SOMETHING to pop up. Overall I am VERY pleased so far with the fitment given all the horror stories of other header fitment if they are not Kooks/ARH etc. As of now, headers are in and I am mocking up the rest of my exhaust (which I am custom building). They tuck up very high and nicely to the bellhousing. I have roughly 1/8-1/4" gap between the top of the collectors to the bolt heads on the bellhousing. This should still be OK since the pipes should not move independently of the bellhousing.
The extensions provided also worked well placing the outlets fairly symmetric and in the tunnel. There is adjustments allowed to make fitment better. No clearance or contact between the extensions and any part of the tunnel. Everything is lining up VERY well.
My TPS headers and extensions showed up today. These fit exactly as the pictures above show. PLENTY of clearance to the AC line (roughly 1" or so) and PLENTY of steering column clearance. These went in as described above (both sides from the bottom with only minor finagling of the wires that are in your way). No messing with engine mounts, starter or starter wires......
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05-20-2018, 11:30 PM
TPS RPM C5 1 7/8 Long Tube Headers W off road / X-Pipe Install
TPSMotorsports.com
