Are Headers really worth the money?
10-02-2012, 08:58 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Are Headers really worth the money?
I have a basically stock car, it has a Vararam air intake system and high flow CAT back system, but not much else. I was told to add headers as it will improve my HP and performance (20-30 hp) but my question to all you experts is the $1500 price tag really worth it? Will I notice a difference (top end or bottom end) or should I just save my money? Thanks.
Has anyone added headers as their first mod? what was the results?
Has anyone added headers as their first mod? what was the results?
10-02-2012, 09:08 PM
#2
Safety Car
XS Power headers really woke my car up along with a Vararam and tune up (plugs/wires/etc.) Definitely worth what I paid for them.
10-02-2012, 09:28 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Headers were the first mod I made to my C5...I also added the LS6 intake and a PP TBody to maximize the benefits of the headers. From your profile you have a 2000 C5 and like me it has the LS1 intake ( unless someone changed it) With a tune, it certainly improves the acceleration and even though its not a huge HP gain you feel the added power right away. 
10-02-2012, 10:21 PM
#4
Drifting
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Just installed my SLPs with nice gains, I paid 350.00 for a complete used system. I did the work myself. If you can get a cheap used set and install yourself it is a good mod. but not not so sure if you have to pay 1500 or more for new and installation. I just wrote a thread about my header install experience if you want to read it in tech section as well. SLP header install, My story.
10-02-2012, 10:43 PM
#5
Tech Contributor
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CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Contact forum member SUPERMAN09.. He sells XS Power headers and they are excellent for a lot less
BC
BC
10-02-2012, 11:22 PM
#6
Race Director
I love my sw headers but if I had to do it again I would save up and geta blower. I have headers tune exhaust ported tb basically all boltons and my car still feels slow. I want more and spent over 2k for what 50 hp? Another 2k and I could get another 150whp. Dollar per hp ratio doesn't compare. Figure out what you really want...
10-02-2012, 11:27 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
I love my sw headers but if I had to do it again I would save up and geta blower. I have headers tune exhaust ported tb basically all boltons and my car still feels slow. I want more and spent over 2k for what 50 hp? Another 2k and I could get another 150whp. Dollar per hp ratio doesn't compare. Figure out what you really want...
10-03-2012, 05:51 AM
#8
Drifting
10-03-2012, 07:43 AM
#9
Burning Brakes
For a car with no other mods, headers and exhaust aren't going to yield much of a power gain. They will with a tune. But if you're going to eventually go SC or Turbo, headers are a must, IMO. They're just one more mod in a long list of supporting mods. SC on stock headers wouldn't make sense to me...
10-03-2012, 07:59 AM
#10
Team Owner
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all part of the HP puzzle. Not one item is the magic bullet, but in combination.
yes it can be very expensive. each 1-3 hp more can cost $1000 each time.
Only thing MORE expensive is adding lightness, light weight carbon fiber parts. and I dont mean CF decal overlays,
Good Luck
yes it can be very expensive. each 1-3 hp more can cost $1000 each time.
Only thing MORE expensive is adding lightness, light weight carbon fiber parts. and I dont mean CF decal overlays,
Good Luck
10-03-2012, 08:31 AM
#11
Race Director
For a car with no other mods, headers and exhaust aren't going to yield much of a power gain. They will with a tune. But if you're going to eventually go SC or Turbo, headers are a must, IMO. They're just one more mod in a long list of supporting mods. SC on stock headers wouldn't make sense to me...
10-03-2012, 08:36 AM
#12
Instructor
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Decide how fast you want to go. Then come up with a plan to get you there. My car runs 12.90 with a vortex rammer and a tune its a 2004 A4 with 2.73 gears. I am happy with it.
10-03-2012, 09:57 AM
#13
Tech Contributor
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sounds like all you are interested in is HP...then no. If you value the awesome sound of air rushing through your system when you nail the throttle then the answer is.....PRICELESS!
10-03-2012, 10:12 AM
#14
Instructor
XS Power Headers and X-Pipe are half of that and I have yet to see a bad review on them. When I buy headers I will be buying XS Power or try and find a used set around $800 shipped.
Last edited by Bluesteve1; 10-03-2012 at 11:53 AM.
10-03-2012, 10:18 AM
#15
I added headers when I just had an intake and cat-back. It makes the car sound saaaaweeet. The power gain was about 30 for me with LG Pro LT AND a tune. If you don't get dyno tuned, then you get nothing but noise basically.
The cost of headers is 1500 but the install could run about 300, and the tune and dyno time is about 200-300.
If that's all you want to do, it isn't worth the cost. However, if mods are in your future such as a cam or headers, do it.
BTW, when you install headers, it makes repairs to things such as your AC and starter a major PITA! Put a heat shield on the starter before the headers go on or kiss the solenoid goodbye.
The cost of headers is 1500 but the install could run about 300, and the tune and dyno time is about 200-300.
If that's all you want to do, it isn't worth the cost. However, if mods are in your future such as a cam or headers, do it.
BTW, when you install headers, it makes repairs to things such as your AC and starter a major PITA! Put a heat shield on the starter before the headers go on or kiss the solenoid goodbye.
10-03-2012, 11:39 AM
#16
Burning Brakes
Plenty of people do, sure you are leaving hp on the table but some people dont want to spend the additional coin. Eloy with his z here made 585 to the wheels with a used a&a kit v1 version without headers. Just a catback not even a intake and that's plenty for him. I'm just saying paying 1500 for some headers to net 20-30 hp just isn't worth the money. Save up more and go bigger as others have said
Ya know, I did add TWICE that it was merely my opinion. I mean, lets face it. Unless you're dropping thousands on a super rare muscle car with hopes of selling it at Barrett-Jackson, you're never gonna get your money back from any car. I say buy the chit and enjoy it. We're all fools in this business.
10-03-2012, 12:45 PM
#17
Safety Car
10-03-2012, 01:34 PM
#20
Drifting
Not worth it unless you plan on doing a cam or more down the road IMO. Just way too much money for the gains you get on a stock car. All these people picking up 20-30 hp from a header swap are getting a lot of that HP from the tune alone.
If you plan on staying stock or close to stock check into the C6Z06 manifold swap. We just did the swap on my Dad's car for $350 and it definitely picked up a lot of power. No dyno comparison, but others have done this swap and picked up 20 HP. All you have to do is modify the 3 inch crossover pipe so it can accept a 2.5 inch.
If you plan on staying stock or close to stock check into the C6Z06 manifold swap. We just did the swap on my Dad's car for $350 and it definitely picked up a lot of power. No dyno comparison, but others have done this swap and picked up 20 HP. All you have to do is modify the 3 inch crossover pipe so it can accept a 2.5 inch.