Cakes

iTrader: (2)

A week or so ago I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a set of LPP 321 Stainless Long Tube Headers and Off-road y-pipe. They have been out of stock for a while now and I saw them back so I did it. The reason for replacing my Stainless Works Long Tubes was that I felt the 2-1/2" collector and y-pipe was holding my combo back. When I bought them back in 2005, they were the only 304 stainless long tube with catted y-pipe available. Living in New England, this was a must. They also advertized them to fit the 4WD trucks as mine is.

Anyways, on to the install.

I received them this past Friday (10/11) after waiting about a week or so. They came nicely packaged in a large box that said "XS Power". Inside was a lot of packing material and another smaller box with the headers and y-pipe. Each was individually bagged as well as the clamps, gaskets, and wiring to lengthen the O2 sensors.









I proceeded to lay them out to see what they would look like. The quality of these is awesome. Super nice TIG welds and very highly polished.



On to the passenger side: Like I said above, I already have headers so I have been through the ordeal or removing the factory exhaust manifolds and y-pipe. Once the passenger side Stainless Works header was removed from the top, the LPP header slid right in from the bottom. All that I needed to remove was the dip stick and plug wires. Spark plugs remained in the head. The fit was impressive. It touched nothing on the frame or the engine.





On to the driver's side: This was the fun side! Per the LPP website, these headers will fit 99-06 4.8 & 5.3, 2WD and 4WD. I will say this...these do not fit 4WD without some handy work. I have read numerous posts on various websites about the installation of these so I knew what I was in for. I had to remove the upper steering shaft from the lower, plugs and wires as well as lowered the front drive shaft from the front axle. This allowed me to install from the bottom and temporarily bolted up the header to the head using (2) bolts. This allowed me to mark where the primary tubes (3) were being hit by the front driveshaft, yoke and bolts. I removed and then dented with a hammer. I had to do this twice to get it right.



Once all buttoned up on the topside, I proceeded to the y-pipe. The y-pipe is nice mandrel bent pipe and it was a nice but tight fit. This was more than likely due to my 4L80 swap. I had to dent the pipe going under the transmission pan. I did this by using a block of wood and some good hammer blows. The dent is very similar to the Kooks 4th Gen F-Body y-pipe.



The driver's side collector to y-pipe connection was simple and straight forward using a 3" SS Band Clamp. The passenger's side O2 sensor bung is right at the edge of the y-pipe connection. I had to notch the band clamp in order for it to slide around the bung. If using the included clamps, this would not have had to be performed.



The flange connection to the exhaust system is a very nice ball and socket joint. It creates a very nice seal.



Overall I am impressed with the system. For the money you cannot go wrong and I know it will last through the hard New England winters. I will say, that on a 4WD this is not an install for the person looking for a simple install. It takes some creativity and "manipulating" to get these installed. It took me around 5-hours total to do the install with a few short breaks.

I have driven the truck for maybe 25 miles or so and can tell a difference. The truck is much more throaty. I believe I may have lost some low end but I will not be sure until I can get some logs and maybe a new tune if the logs warrant it. I have not gone WOT yet so I will not be 100% sure if my "modifications" (i.e. denting) has fully worked.

TIM Z

iTrader: (12)

Nice install/ thread man .

Nice lookin pipes , your trucks looks way to clean underneath for running around in the snow !

Cakes

iTrader: (2)

You are not the first person to say that. And what is even more amazing is from 2004 until 2010, it stayed outside in the winter!!! Now that I own my own home, I have a nice garage for it.

texasglock23

iTrader: (1)

xs power makes them, LPP buys them and sells them, and I'll pass this along as there are so many arguments about LPP fitting better than Cal Speed when it comes to 4x4.

Cakes

iTrader: (2)

I do not know how XS Power works as far as them selling through vendors here in the US. I highly doubt there are any physical differences between the Cal Speed and LPP Headers. I have no physical parts to compare to each other but from all the pictures on the web, they look eerily similar....

Chevy_King1500

iTrader: (7)

I had good luck with my LPP headers fitting, I am 2wd tho

Cakes

iTrader: (2)

I have no doubt these will fit a 2WD without issue. The real estate is just taken up by the front driveshaft and axle assembly. These are essentially the same headers as the Pacesetters and even carry the same P/N just made from Stainless.

TX Tahoe Z71

iTrader: (28)

Nice! Yeah, I had to dent mine to clear the driveshaft and steering shaft on my 4wd Tahoe. But good set of headers for the money.

zachm89

iTrader: (16)

I had a set on my SS for a year or so, I was happy with the quality as well. I didnt have to "massage" any of the primaries to make them clear though, everything fit perfect on my AWD.

texasglock23

iTrader: (1)

Cal Speed uses an "inferior" stainless steel. They do in fact look identical. And after many heated debates and arguments, I just tell people to buy what makes you happy. CSP was new, and cheaper, so I decided to give them a try and after nearly 2 years I have no real complaints.