Would like to start up a technical post on long tube header install. I see allot of people that have bought headers recently (including myself) and are wary about installing them.
I’ve tried to take the best photos I have, but please excuse if the photos are dark, most of my work was done in the garage at nighttime with the doors closed and my cheap camera tends to blur if I try to toy with the settings.
Tools
* Floor jack - at least 20" of lift. 18” is bare minimum, but not recommended
* 4 Jack Stands - at least 20"
* ratchet - 8mm for battery: 10mm for coil pack bolts and header bolts: 8mm (deep) and 13mm (deep) for leads to starter and 13mm (deep) for starter bolts: 15mm for dipstick tube and exhaust plumbing: 5/8" spark plug socket
* wrenches - 10mm ratcheting wrench for last bolt on each side of coil pack holders: 7/8" or 22mm wrench to remove 02 sensors.(then throw that damn bolt away)
* PB Penetrating lube
* Anti-Seize – buy a big bottle. Keep it around.
* Soft blanket or fender mat – protect your car paint from scuffs while leaning into your engine bay.
* A friend to help!!! I’ve heard of people doing this themselves and I did all but line up the gaskets on the headers by myself. Don’t be stupid like me.
Optional Tools
SAWZALL – if your having problems with your bolts from the flanges on the y-pipe people have referenced to cut it.
Benzomatic Torch – stubborn bolts
parts
* Headers - Your choice. I used the Pacesetter ceramic coated
* Y-pipe – referenced here is the TSP catted Y-pipe. PITA
*exhaust clamps – Your Y-pipe should come with new clamps, verify.
PLEASE… Don’t use the u-bolt style exhaust clamps. Get band clamps
* GM Header Gasket - new model released PN 12617944 $21 each (GMPartsDirect has them for ~$9.80 ea)
DO NOT USE PAPER GASKET SUPPLIED
optional parts
* Corvette 02 sensors - Rear 2001 Corvette 02 Sensors Bosch PN 13111 (square end connectors) $69.99 ea.
Just noticed it looks like our front 02's are the square pin connectors which would be the rear corvette 02's
* 98-02 02 sims - $99.99 pair (ouch)
* 02 extensions - 2 24" square 4-pin extensions PN O2EXT12 ~$30
* Stage 8 locking header bolts - $37.99
* 98-00 EGR Block off Plate - $9 ea
* 98-02 Air block off plate & gaskets - Pair $12
* Spark plugs – If you haven’t changed Plugs before, now IS the time to do it.
* Spark plug wires – ditto
* Motor mounts – some change while they’re in there
food for thought
-Corvette 02's you can get from any major parts store, or you can get the extenders but just one or the other.
-No sims, get it tuned out in your mail order tune (tunedbyfrost.com $125 for mail order tuning)
-most people re-use their stock gaskets and never have problems, just make sure you DO NOT use the wierd paper gaskets most headers come with because they will burn through.
- plugs and wires
- I will try to list sizes of tools during the install, but probably won’t go into specifics if you should use a shallow socket, deep socket or wrench. I’m hoping you can figure this out on your own.
- Make sure to pretreat your bolts with PB Blaster. Life is so much easier this way.
- I did not list it, but ANTISEIZE all threaded bolts that deal with heat.