Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Mid tubes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 29, 2009 | 01:40 AM
  #1  
bayz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default Mid tubes

I have a buddy who has a T/A and his car is lightly modded mainly because he want's to comply to california's smog laws. He absolutley won't get longtubes, he has shorties but will not deal with swapping them out every 2 years for smog. So I am taking a shot in the dark and was wondering if anyone has been able to swap midtubes from the top of the car? If you can it might be something he would consider-if anyone has any experience with this please let me know-thanks and have a good day.
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 08:12 AM
  #2  
gillbot's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,397
Likes: 0
From: East Palestine, OH - USA
Default

why do you need to go in from the top? A set of jackstands is all you need to get mids in from the bottom if they won't fit from the top.
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 09:44 AM
  #3  
NonGoggleGuy's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 1
Default

If you can get the car about a foot off the ground, through the bottom is MUCH easier & less involved. Going from the top requires A LOT of stuff to be removed. And you have to get underneath the car to hook the headers to the cats anyways, so....
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 01:19 PM
  #4  
bayz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Alright I see where your coming from, just hoping. How long did it take you guys to swap them in? Is the fitment on the drivers side as difficult as it is for the longtube guys? If it is he is just going to stick to his shorties.
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 01:32 PM
  #5  
NonGoggleGuy's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 1
Default

I actually didn't do my LTs myself (I thought it was a lot harder than it actually is - and without a lift, LTs become annoyingly hard to handle, but it's doable).

I would think the passenger side would be more difficult. I'd guess it's at least an all-day job in the driveway by yourself for LTs. Probably a little easier with mid-tubes.
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 01:38 PM
  #6  
1bdbrd's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 53
Default

FWIW, if you do your homework you can get longtubes that fit great with no problems. They can also be swapped in a day if you have regular hand tools, a jack, and jackstands.
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 03:12 PM
  #7  
Super Speed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: 'Merica
Default

Originally Posted by 1bdbrd
FWIW, if you do your homework you can get longtubes that fit great with no problems. They can also be swapped in a day if you have regular hand tools, a jack, and jackstands.
x2 Get some jackstands and if they are too short use some 4x4's to make them taller
Reply
Old May 29, 2009 | 04:01 PM
  #8  
bayz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

I have done longtubes on a few occasions, he is worried about doing it himself it sounds like he is going to stick to shorties-thanks anyways.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 29, 2009 | 06:23 PM
  #9  
NonGoggleGuy's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by Super Speed
x2 Get some jackstands and if they are too short use some 4x4's to make them taller
Your location isn't accurate. You can't be doing my mom. I'm positive of this because I'm doing my mom right now, and you aren't here....
Reply
Old May 30, 2009 | 01:02 PM
  #10  
Super Speed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: 'Merica
Default

Originally Posted by NonGoggleGuy
Your location isn't accurate. You can't be doing my mom. I'm positive of this because I'm doing my mom right now, and you aren't here....
How about now
Reply
Old May 31, 2009 | 11:27 AM
  #11  
gillbot's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,397
Likes: 0
From: East Palestine, OH - USA
Default

By yourself it can take the better part of a day if you pace yourself. It's really not too hard but going in from the bottom is usually MUCH easier.

In from the top, can be done but it really depends on the car.
Reply
Old May 31, 2009 | 11:33 AM
  #12  
Adam86's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Faribault, MN
Default

You can get mids in from the top if you remove the coil packs and valve covers. I still went through the bottom for the passenger side ones because it was still too much of a hassle from the top.
Reply
Old May 31, 2009 | 08:42 PM
  #13  
bayz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks guys but he just want's to stay smog legal
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2009 | 02:21 PM
  #14  
mike.d's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: newengland
Default

i have dynateck lts and there cats we just went to ca smog here in mass passed with no problem not sure if this helps
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2009 | 12:18 AM
  #15  
scites's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: milton florida
Default

i had my long tube hookers in withing 2 hours. with a friends help..thats after we had the manifolds off
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2009 | 09:53 AM
  #16  
Adam86's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Faribault, MN
Default

Correct me if I'm wrong but in California won't mids screw him over?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:25 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE