I can't decide what brand of headers I want. All have their plus & minus points. Which brand do you have? Please vote and also post any good or bad points you have about a particular brand you have or have had. My car is a '96 coupe.

Price is somewhat of an issue but I have to balance that with quality. In other words, if I can get a set just as good as an expensive set cheaper I will. Does that make sense.......................?
I willl be mating the headers up to Corsa's so this is important
Bungs are not a problem. I can have them welded in.
Tuck is important since my car is lowered

If you choose the "Other" category please mention what the brand name is.

Even if you don't have a comment please vote.

This poll ends 5/24/2009

Thanks,
Weav

 

Ttt

 

TPiS for me. Easy Clean install. Very well built with full thick flanges. I was able to use my original manifold bolts. Came with 02 extensions and gaskets.

 

TPIS for me as well. You will not be disappointed. Great customer service.
tpis.com

 

I think the price matters most. I always here mixed reviews about them all.
install
coating
seems everyone has something to say about each kind. Also I have heard some are the same as others.

 

That is why the poll. Just to try and sort out some of the things you mentioned. There is no perfect set of LT's but I was hoping this may narrow it down just a tad. The poll runs for 30 days after that I'll make my decision.

You guys keep voting please! Thanks

 

OK if price is not an issue, I would rather have stainless headers and exhaust.

 

Good point! I should have mentioned I will be mating these up to Corsa's. Thanks!

 

One good thing EM has going for it is that they also sell the header extensions made to fit right up to the Corsa system, and they sell them as SS or alumuninized, and with or w/out cats. Makes skipping the exhaust shop pretty easy. Passenger side clearance is an issue that has to be dealt with, but it's not to bad. My TPIS headers had rusted pretty bad by about the 4th year. I couldn't get them to seal back up very well as a result. The built in stand off's on the TPIS saves some hassle and lets you reuse your stock bolts. I had one time complained about the TPIS set I had having a pinhole in them, but to their credit they were always willing to fix it for free, I just didn't want to deal with the removal/boxing/shipping part of it. The jet-hot coating on the EM's is nice too.

 

First you have to decide what kind of engine you want, if you are going to keep it stock, then you want 1 5/8 primaries; else you want 1 3/4.

To many people buy just for the name and not what is best for the car.



PS: I have been running Hedman for 2 yrs now on a mostly stock engine and I really like them.

 

I bought a set of Stainless Works long tubes along with RT hight flow cats several years ago during a group buy organized by the corvette kid. These units come with stainless custom bent pipes to run from your cats to the central resonator or your Corsa system. You just tell them what you have.

I've been very happy with mine and all debates and arguments about size and material aside for the way I drive my vette they work great. These tubes have the 1 5/8" primaries (vs the 1 3/4") dumping into collectors then the cats and then my stock LT1 dual exhaust.

My 95 A4 is a daily driver that I bought 5 years ago and I put 15k a year the car. Stop and go commuter driving and some "brisk" highway driving. I don't drag race the car but a few times around Pacific Intertnational with an instructor was pretty cool.

These tubes gave me a seat of the pants difference in the low and mid range rpm. Turn off the traction control in a deserted area and put your foot to the floor and the tires will spin easier than they did before and I'll leave it at that. I can't tell you what the measured impact of just the headers was because I was also planning on a cam etc so I didn't run a base line dyno at the time. 6 months later I had the hot cam and rollers installed and then the total gain after a top notch custom tune was 40+ to the rear wheels on a mustang dyno (250+ to 292)

Although these are well made thick flanged stainless headers, the pipes did turn color within the first week. You can see for yourself in the pics. If this is going to bother you then you'll have to have them hot coated or look elsewhere. These were expensive but worth it in my view for all of the time I spend driving my vette

These pics were the first week with the pipes this was before the top end work note the old plug wires.

 

EM's here.

 

My opinion i would not put a set of full lenght headers on your car if it's just about stock.I would put a set of hooker shorty headers on your car.Full lenght headers will not give you more performance or power.It might even hurt it off the line.I have the TPIS on mine but I have a 396 stroker in my car with around 560hp at the crank.

 

I agree with the poster above that installation of headers on a stock LTx car is debatable. Your car has a very good exhaust system from the factory. It's sooo much better than the L98 system that some people look for discarded LTx exhausts as a cheap upgrade for the L98s.

Melrose and Stainless Works are the highest priced of the ones you posted. At most, you'd be getting 1-2hp per $100 spent on that option. Not the best bang-for-the-buck.

The comment about using 1 5/8" headers is theoretically sound because stock engine flow is better matched to that size. If you don't believe me, look at every dyno/article on AFR's website and see what header size they use for 350 motors. EVERY single one of them is 1 5/8". And, those are built motors! *** But, I'm not sure anyone even makes 1 5/8" headers for LTx cars. Hedman Elites might work, but I'm not sure they wouldn't partially block part of the exhaust port. (I say might because LTx headers usually work on L98s).

The stock manifolds on LTx cars are considered by some as a shorty anyway, so even the stock manifolds are pretty decent. That's why I think the vote to keep your money is best -- especially when you list cost as a concern.

***footnote: Also, Vizzard shows 1 5/8" headers as the "right" size for your heads too.

 

I have only worked with TPIS and my DRM headers. The DRM unfortunately arent available anymore, but are a great fit. TPIS went in very well, and are quality fitment.

 

Are you sure about this?

I gained almost 30 rwhp on my C5 with LG headers. I find it hard to believe that an LT1 won't see similar improvements.

 

Am I sure about what?

Am I sure that $1000-$1500 for an exhaust system turns out to be a couple of hp per $100. Am I sure about the ideal size for stock C4 350 headers. Am I sure that an LTx C4 has a pretty decent exhaust off the line? What?

 

I'll beg to differ in that I use TPIS long tubes powder coated with the big fat flange that will never warp or leak and If you intend to do further mods in the future I highly recomend starting with a full exhaust with 3 in. pipes Dr Gas x pipe to even it out .

Mods are addicting and the more you do the more you want to do.
Next will be a cam and 1.6 rockers AFR heads . Holly 58 MM the list grows.
I have a totally stock 95 which is fun to drive anywhere.
But it doesn't have much of an attitude or a name !

Then I have the " Great White " A 95 ZO 7 LT 4 with everything but the kitchen sink in the drive train and the 383 fully forged engine.

Nothing like having your smile along with your mustache get swept to the back of your head by some serious exceleration from 450 hp and a 373 Dana 44 rear end.
Yep Addicting no doubt about it so do your mod's with an eye on the future cause it costs less to upgrade right the first time.

 

This is a great thread so far. Ive been in the market for LT, just havent had the money. there is some great feedback here. thanks for starting the thread weav

 

You bet! Really good feedback! I hope it keeps coming!