SPEED ENGINEERING HEADER AND X-PIPE INSTALLATION ON C5 CORVETTE PART 1

[@BadLuckGarage]

So yea, had a little editing error at the end but hell with it. Lets you guys see how many takes I do sometimes before I get it right.lol

[@delibrain916]

Hey can you help me out bud... I just uploaded short video, trying to figure out with Texas speed headers , do I get the off road catless xpipe or can i just use the extensions and connect to cats I'm kind of confused . Not sure

[@BadLuckGarage]

I haven’t installed the TSP headers so I really can’t say. I would just call them.

[@zacharyzane1638]

Just now finding you while about to bolt on a set to my whorvette. Thanks for the lessons!

[@BadLuckGarage]

Rock on!

[@davidncw4613]

TY!!! best SE header install I have seen.

[@BadLuckGarage]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@jtmarshall]

Once again... hooray for the China vette! Speed engineering has stainless headers for my s10 for $160.. that's $188 cheaper then the ceramic coated Patriots I planned to buy..

[@BadLuckGarage]

The other headers sitting here in the garage for the DR Nova swap are Speed Engineering as well. 😉

[@williamcordle]

I second cut outs I’m doing them on my Ls swapped Jeep gonna sound great with the BTR Stage 4 cam

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yea I'm thinking about it. It wouldn't be hard to toss them in there.

[@williamcordle]

Nope it’s should be easy mine are from pypes got them from summit mine are stainless steel with electric cut out motors little pricey but not more then what you will run open headers you could do manual cut outs for a couple hundred less

[@jasoncameron34]

Sounds awesome bro nice install video I agree with the rest of the people once you install that cam it's gonna sound even better

[@BadLuckGarage]

Oh yea of course. This is just a stock cam. I'm still trying to decide which "ebay cam" to go with. But I'll be doing a stall converter first this time around instead of doing a cam and crying about my horrible bottom end like with the truck, lol.

[@jasoncameron34]

@@BadLuckGarage yeah cams are a hard choice I went stage 2 turbo cams in my stang wish I would've done n/a stage 3 though but live and learn right like with the truck why we work on them to learn lol

[@BadLuckGarage]

yes sir!!!

[@jameymote4598]

Cool vid man. 👍 👊 😎

[@anthonycardona3141]

How those headers holding up

[@BadLuckGarage]

Great

[@brenthorton5003]

Great video nice work

[@BadLuckGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@briangately]

Did u have to remove starter to put header in. Great video

[@BadLuckGarage]

Everything we did is covered in the video. No more, no less. 👍

[@redrocketz2320]

Awesome vid! Saved me $40!!

[@BadLuckGarage]

Thanks for watching brother. Glad it helped you out. 👍🏻

[@foxgdsmck]

Will the car throw a fault code or check engine light with out the air injection hoses?

[@BadLuckGarage]

Anytime you remove emissions equipment from a vehicle you will also need to disable the associated codes in the tune.

[@jamesalmon1689]

Bad Luck, did you order the optional multi layer steel gaskets and bolts as well?

[@BadLuckGarage]

No sir. The initial install was done only with included hardware. I outlined I was going to do it that way first to find shortcomings for anyone interested in the system. 😉

[@gordonfranklin3232]

Thanks for the video. I didn't hear anything about what you did about the cats, maybe I missed it. Also, I am adding headers to my 2oo1 but I'm hanging on to my cats because I have emissions. Since I have to move the fwd O2 sensors further down on the headers do you think that will affect codes or passing emissions??

[@BadLuckGarage]

This is Part 1. There’s a Part 2.

[@shawnlibby675]

I bought an 04 GTO 5.7 6 speed manual whatever long tubes they installed are riding and melted right through my rack boot the hatter literally rides right against the hydraulic

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yea I would probably do something about that. 😜

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Bad Luck, did they really just slip in that easily? Especially the drivers side? No jacking at all? Did you have to take the steering shaft loose on the drivers side? Great video. Enjoying you down home easy going videos. Keep em coming! Can't wait for part 2 of this video to see what you think. I'm gathering parts to do a heads/cam/intake on my 97 this winter. These headers look like they could offer me a lot of flexibilty in the mid pipes department.

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yes they slid right in. It was rediculously easy really.

[@delibrain916]

How was drivability after install ? Heard big tq gain down low.. wondering about up top past 5k rpm

[@BadLuckGarage]

I’m sure it picked up some power up top more than down low. If you watch a few videos later, I actually dropped my 1/8 mile over half a second after installing these, adding some timing, and tuning out most of my torque management. This entire build is being covered in full detail in the “Chinavette “ playlist on this channel if you wanna get up to speed on it.

[@delibrain916]

@@BadLuckGarage thanks Ima go check it out, I bounce off limiter in 3rd at like 13.1 @108.80mph every run. Shifting to 4th slows me down in my 98 c5 m6 . Shit I'd love to just hit 12.7s at 112 in my c5

[@BadLuckGarage]

I’m just running 1/8 mile right now so that’s not an issue for me. But the 1-2 shift isn’t happy with the power I’m throwing at it right now. Currently running 7.3 @99mph in the 1/8th. Next thing on the list is a stall and shift kit then I’m sure I’ll be in the 6s (10s in the 1/4). Problem is I have the DRNova taking up the garage right now with the LS swap so can’t get the Vette in there to pull the trans. Should break into the 6s this spring though no problem. 👍🏻

[@delibrain916]

@@BadLuckGarage that's fast af for an ol basic c5 a4 lol I have fresh ls6 clutch so 340whp won't bother it in my m6. Lol 6s is pulling hard my drag bike runs 6.0s in the 8th lol trying to break high 5s.. went 123 mph on last run kinda shocked me

[@BadLuckGarage]

It’s fast considering my budget. If you check out the playlist you’ll see the plan was to have a 10 second car and spend less than $1500 plus a nitrous kit. As of now I’ve spent less than $800 and only gonna have about $450 more in the shift kit and converter and those two things should put it solid in the 6s.

[@boxedoutchevy]

Good video

[@BadLuckGarage]

Glad you enjoyed

[@jayDawg4Life23]

Bad Luck, So I have a stock 98 C5 and looking to improve sound and power. Would this be a good starting point?

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yes. Headers, Xpipe, intake, and tune are usually the starting fundamentals for any build.

[@614XJ]

So for my 98 would t be that simple to install the headers? Or a different process since the 2001+ had a slightly diff design? Thanks!

[@BadLuckGarage]

No clue brother. I can only attest to the model I installed them on. But it was definitely easy on this 02 automatic.

[@614XJ]

Bad Luck Garage i understand appreciate the video! This will definitely help me when I do mine. I'll hit up the forums and try and figure if there will be any difference. Love the build so far! And get rid of that wood inside omg lmao

[@614XJ]

Bad Luck Garage i understand appreciate the video! This will definitely help me when I do mine. I'll hit up the forums and try and figure if there will be any difference. Love the build so far! And get rid of that wood inside omg lmao

[@614XJ]

Bad Luck Garage i understand appreciate the video! This will definitely help me when I do mine. I'll hit up the forums and try and figure if there will be any difference. Love the build so far! And get rid of that wood inside omg lmao

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yea brother I had several people reach out to me after the first video and tell me there are some slight differences but then I had others say there’s went right in as well so I can’t really say for sure if it’s just installed error or perspective or variation in model years or possible a problem with quality control in China (LOL) but I know it was probably one of the easiest header installs I have done personally on a later model vehicle.

[@c5vette943]

Will deleting the air injection be bad for me drive the car until my tuner tunes it out or am i safe?

[@BadLuckGarage]

You don’t really tune out the air injection, you just pull the fuse. All it does is through air into the catalytic converter. It doesn’t effect how the car runs at all. You will however need to turn off codes for the secondary O2 sensors in the pcm.

[@c5vette943]

@@BadLuckGarage Thank you!

[@BadLuckGarage]

@@c5vette943 no problem brother. Check out the rest of the Chinavette playlist if you're interested in more budget performance ideas for your C5. And be sure to share if you're on any forums that you think may benefit from my videos. kzbin.info/aero/PLnObA-smhvwNp9TnLUdtrrAOzXQqkJGcW

[@gpc0708]

How high did u have to get the car for the headers to go in from the bottom? I have a set I am planning to install, hoping they go in as easy as urs did.

[@BadLuckGarage]

didnt measure but its just on a standard set of jackstands

[@gpc0708]

@@BadLuckGarage I have some standard jackstands as well, I believe they go up to 16.5 inches. That seems to be enough. Great video btw, ur install vids convinced me to get the headers.

[@BadLuckGarage]

Glad to hear that brother. 👍🏻 If you don’t mind, be sure to share some of them to get the word out to people who may need them. 👍🏻

[@gpc0708]

@@BadLuckGarage Just to give an update, I installed the headers today. Passenger side went in from the top, took a few minutes to get the angle right but only took a few minutes and it was in. Driver side went in from the bottom and it only took about about a minute. Altogether I removed starter, alternator, coil packs, spark plugs and wires. 02 sensors are plugged in, no extensions needed but the passenger side is close to rubbing on the header so I will probably wrap it with some heat protector. I should be able to finish the install tomorrow, got all the piping in place, just have to get the exhaust tips aligned.

[@BadLuckGarage]

Great to hear brother! We didn’t even take the starter off. But everything else you listed we took off. 👍🏻

[@anthonypapa8676]

EGR sys. tubes????

[@BadLuckGarage]

There’s no EGR system on a C5. There is an air injection system which is pointless without Catalytic converters. This header/X-Pipe setup deletes both.

[@MyVetteLife]

I wish they made a boom tube system for the c5

[@BadLuckGarage]

I’m sure he could do some kind of one off unit if you contacted him But the awkward shape that it would have to be for the way the C-5 Corvette exits might be a problem with the baffle system he uses to build those. I mean they are basically just a knock off of the tip design used on NASCAR’s. I mean they are basically just a knock off of the tip design used on NASCAR’s. I’m not sure if you have watched any of the videos from a turbo C10 playlist, but we were kind of trying to make one of those ourselves with the tip that John built for that truck. we just never got around to welding in any baffles. But when John was building that huge rectangular tip to come out underneath the step on the bed we were discussing adding some C-baffles not just for sound dissipation but also to strengthen the huge tip overall.

[@MyVetteLife]

@@BadLuckGarage love that nascar sound. Wish you did the other exhaust system.

[@BadLuckGarage]

My Vette Life Not sure if you watched the comparison video but it really came down to the Manzo system using cheap Stainless. Otherwise I would have bought it instead.

[@MyVetteLife]

@@BadLuckGarage yeah i did. Wish you gottwn the manzo. Could always return the other

[@BadLuckGarage]

My Vette Life Again, I have no desire to purchase a system made from substandard materials brother. I’m really happy with this system other than the clamps. I’ve already ordered replacements for those. 👍🏻

[@dominickguerrero5664]

Can I just leave the oxygen injectors hanging there if I can’t delete them

[@BadLuckGarage]

I wouldn’t recommend it.

[@Ls_corvette]

How long do the gaskets last?

[@BadLuckGarage]

How old is this video?

[@jtmarshall]

What cam you thinking ? A 5.3 stage 3 low lift from Texas speed is made to be one of the most radical cams ls6 springs can reliably handle... and itll be even more street friendly in your 5.7 www.texas-speed.com/p-1158-tsp-low-lift-cam-package-with-ls6-valve-springs.aspx

[@BadLuckGarage]

Whatever cheap eBay cam I can find

[@curt5253]

did you mention cost of parts

[@BadLuckGarage]

Around $400. Links to parts are in the video description.

[@jasonclement8205]

Did you use their gaskets?

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yes sir. In the videos I used everything that came in the box. I later went back and used different clamps but the gaskets are still holding up fine. In my experience the only downfall to using the composite gaskets is that you need to retorque them after a few heat cycles because they do shrink a bit. But after that they’re generally fine in NA applications. In boosted applications I would only use MLS gaskets and spray with copper seal before installing.

[@jasonclement8205]

Bad Luck Garage thanks man! Great video!

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yes sir. Anytime. 👍🏻

[@Lee-rc5en]

So how is it room wise working on the vette vs the truck? Lol 😂

[@BadLuckGarage]

Actually the Vette is way easier! Everything seems to be engineered to come apart easily and access easily so far. And the car sits so low that even in jack stands I can reach every part of the engine bay without standing on something. And I’m really happy to say since the hood opens backward I no longer have to worry about gashing my head open in the corner of the hood. That was a pretty common occurrence everytime I worked on SteppinWolf. 🤣

[@Lee-rc5en]

That’s awesome man. The vette is a fine piece of machinery. You can tell the people who built them really cared.

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yea the last Vette I owned was a 79 and a complete piece of shit. It was built and pretty fast but was still a piece of shit none the less. 😜 The old guy who owned this before me took damn good care of it inside and out. I don’t think this car had ever even seen rain or slept outside a garage till I got it. It’s almost a shame what I’m gonna do to it. 🤣

[@Ricovette]

Thank you so much for this upload! Thumbs up and a sub from me... Stay safe... Rico (01' Millennium Yellow)

[@BadLuckGarage]

Thanks for the sub and hopefully this video helped you out if that’s why you were watching it brother. 👍🏻

[@302vettelife2]

Same experience when I installed my SE headers. Fit like a glove. Like you, I left the air tube in. I did wrap the starter and some of the wiring. and did have an exhaust shop weld up the x pipe. Couldn't be happier with the set up and it's loud when you get on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKuYk6aDlMt3mLM

[@BadLuckGarage]

Yea I just checked out your video. Sounds good brother. Yea I did zip tie the wires a bit on the passenger side and a starter heat shield would probably be a good idea too. 👍🏻

[@jagunn1972]

Im Loving how ur hurting the vette purists feeling. fuckem! lol . Its ur car . If they want a say have them buy it from ya!

[@BadLuckGarage]

Lol, I don’t think I’m necessarily hurting “Vette purist” feelings as much as the “you get what you pay for” guys. 😜 I actually had a guy comment that he’s installed several big name $1200+ headers and x-pipes and that they use the same crappy clamps and have the same issues with leaks. So after hearing that it’s gotta hurt knowing you spent that kinda money on a system with smaller primaries and went through the same drama. I don’t necessarily condemn anyone though brother. If you’ve got that kinda money and want to be able to hang out at your local car meet spot and boast about name brand parts then I say go for it. But if you’re like me and you’re trying to build a whole car for less money than those guys have in their exhaust system alone, then ignore the haters and spend money on parts that just work. As with everything else I do, I’ll be doing a follow up video in a bout a year to attest to how well this system holds up. 👍🏻

[@jagunn1972]

Oh for sure. Ive installed many vette systems from bad ass high dollar one to elcheapo. Lol

[@BadLuckGarage]

Has you ever installed that Manzo system I was talking about? I just can’t help but wonder if the ball and socket up front and the full flanges in the back seal up better and also if the headers go in as easily as these did. 🤔

[@jagunn1972]

Not those particularly. Ive donr the ball and socket on trucks and Camaros . They have there good and bad. I preferbtye slip fit myself. . The twist u show on the mid x pipe is a thing i saw in the c5's. I like the idea of welding the adapters they send. Ivd had to similar fixes. The clamps would have worked well if the slip fit was a bit tighter. I used the exhaust seal paste and the amazon 3inch step wide stainless clamps

[@BadLuckGarage]

I bought two of the stainless “safety clamps” to replace the header clamps and going to buy two more to replace the midpipe clamps as well but haven’t installed them yet. I’ve used them before and they actually will bend over the joint to seal it so I’m hopung they work in this scenario. Do you have a link for the ones you’re talking about though? If these don’t work out I may try the steppes ones. 👍🏻

[@aaronlenarz6168]

Great video and as for the tape nazi, get a life bro! Tape works in a pinch, when working with tools leave your silver spoon at home! Thanks for the video Badluck!

[@jcs003]

Duct tape is concerning.haha

[@BadLuckGarage]

You don’t like unicorns? Cmon man!!!🤣🤣. There’s a story behind the unicorn duct tape brother. Gotta go back a few videos. 😉