LT Headers.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I hear you. It all depends on where the value is found -and that is a personal thing. For some, value is having new/latest/greatest. For some it's having a show car/garage queen. It's a personal thing. As you've probably read, I had a C6....now I have a C4 and that was my choice. For me, the added performance of the C6 was of very little value; it didn't add to the experience in a perceivable way.
For ME if I want/need a "new car" a mod to my current car provides that new experience and renews the excitement, and strengthens the relationship. As we know, there are unlimited "improvement" or changes one can make to any car.
Regarding money (what a car is worth vs. money invested) modding all cars is a losing deal and buying a newer car to mod is even more so. It's a hobby, it costs money. It's not an investment. Forget about money, have/build the car you want and stick with it.
I had a Trans Am back when I was a dumb-dumb (young). I was very $$$ limited, but still, I managed to put 3 engines in it (305, 350 & a 400), 3 different trans', two rears, several brakes, two interiors, two whole stereo systems, I painted the car, wheels, suspension, subframes, on and on, The car was always changing and improving IMO. Every car I've had since was "better" and "worth more"....I've never loved another car or had as much pride as I did that one. Even my friends loved that car the most because as one friend put it, "That car was ALL YOU. It was the way it was, because you made it that way." He was right.
Something to think about before you sell a car you have invested in. I wish I still had that car.
.
For ME if I want/need a "new car" a mod to my current car provides that new experience and renews the excitement, and strengthens the relationship. As we know, there are unlimited "improvement" or changes one can make to any car.
Regarding money (what a car is worth vs. money invested) modding all cars is a losing deal and buying a newer car to mod is even more so. It's a hobby, it costs money. It's not an investment. Forget about money, have/build the car you want and stick with it.
I had a Trans Am back when I was a dumb-dumb (young). I was very $$$ limited, but still, I managed to put 3 engines in it (305, 350 & a 400), 3 different trans', two rears, several brakes, two interiors, two whole stereo systems, I painted the car, wheels, suspension, subframes, on and on, The car was always changing and improving IMO. Every car I've had since was "better" and "worth more"....I've never loved another car or had as much pride as I did that one. Even my friends loved that car the most because as one friend put it, "That car was ALL YOU. It was the way it was, because you made it that way." He was right.
Something to think about before you sell a car you have invested in. I wish I still had that car.
.
Where the value is found is a personal thing and everyone places the value diffrently.
I have had some C5's and C4's and they both have merit, but they are different. The C5's LS engines are very good and can be improved easily. The C5 is a stiffer platform and can handle better. However, the C4's are more fun to drive (for me) the feedback and the feel of the car is great. My LT4 is every bit as fast as my lightly modded C5 and if I wanted more I could upgrade either my LT1 or LT4.
It is a hobby like Tom said. I have had a lot of cars (70 or 80) and modified nearly all of them. When I think about them, it is the ones I modded the most and spent the most time on that really felt like "Mine" and the ones I didn't work on just felt like appliance cars. Like his Tran Am I had a '64 GTO that even while very $$$ limited, I put 4 motors, 3 transmissions,enough clutches that I could do it in 2.5 hours on the garage floor, suspension, reinforced the frame, several sets of headers, hand built solid motor mounts, radiators, painted it (Nocturne Blue metallic), several sets of wheels/tires, etc.
For me the point is to have a car I like and enjoy driving. For me the C4 works. Especially after I do some work to it.
One of my next projects will be headers too, so I appreciate the helpful posts about experiences with the different brands.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
Melrose headers fit very well, all things considered. Don't get their exhaust package though as it doesn't fit at all. I have a set of ceramic coated long tubes on my 96 LT4 without AIR. I had to do a little grinding/modification to the alternator/ac condensor mounting brackets to get everything to fit which wasn't bad at all. I also ended up cutting out the old cat bracket on drivers side. I remember their was a little trouble there, and it may have worked if I kept trying but I said to hell with it and cut it out. I did the entire install in one afternoon by myself, using jack stands. I'm no Mr. Goodwrench but I got the job done relatively pain free.
I have the same headers and the same grinding of the brackets mentioned for fitment. Other than that I got long tubes, cat delete, x-pipe and mid pipes and the installer said everything fit well.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
I thought you were searching for a C4 before? I've had two C4's and a C5. I like my current C4 best for specific reasons. Faster? Neither was as fast as I wanted. The C5 had 45 more hp stock than a stock LT1. So since neither is fast enough for me stock putting money into a car that cost more and won't gain value is no different than putting money into a car that cost less and won't gain value.
Last edited by Natrlone93; Apr 5, 2017 at 03:27 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Does it come with coatings or do you have to do it yourself? Now that it is in, is the access to plugs and other stuff easy or a Royal PITA?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
Having to grind stuff to make it fit and getting spacers welded for the brackets means the fit is "with some work" not "fit well" in my book. "Fit Well" means that it drops in without the crowbar, hammer or any sort of prying and twisting.
Does it come with coatings or do you have to do it yourself? Now that it is in, is the access to plugs and other stuff easy or a Royal PITA?
Does it come with coatings or do you have to do it yourself? Now that it is in, is the access to plugs and other stuff easy or a Royal PITA?
The grinding was on the stock bracket. Pretty sure all headers would require it. It just had to be rounded a little because the header is round and the bracket was square. The headers were ceramic coated and access to everything is better than it was with stock manifolds.
Last edited by Natrlone93; Apr 5, 2017 at 04:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
I just installed, or had installed, headman headers and true duals from central corvette. A, had to custom hammer fit the headers. B, sounds great and you can feel the difference. Buy them, install them, have fun. If that devalues my car, who cares, I like them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
The grinding was on the stock bracket. Pretty sure all headers would require it. It just had to be rounded a little because the header is round and the bracket was square. The headers were ceramic coated and access to everything is better than it was with stock manifolds.
So how is access after the install?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 47
From: Minneapolis MN
I thought you were searching for a C4 before? I've had two C4's and a C5. I like my current C4 best for specific reasons. Faster? Neither was as fast as I wanted. The C5 had 45 more hp stock than a stock LT1. So since neither is fast enough for me stock putting money into a car that cost more and won't gain value is no different than putting money into a car that cost less and won't gain value.
Still waiting to look at the cherry 92. Just got an oil change from the garage down the street on the sedan. Started talking vettes to the manager. He has owned two of them, had to sell due to buying a house. Said he knew someone with a cherry vet that may be selling. Next you know where both talking about 1955 chevs, he asked what the guy name is that owns the vette. Ron.......... his best friends dad (same car I plan on buying)! Said the guy is **** with his stuff and definitely buy it!
In the mean time I talked to Ron and told him to figure on the car is sold.
Last edited by Cool Runnings; Apr 5, 2017 at 07:00 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Still waiting to look at the cherry 92. Just got an oil change from the garage down the street on the sedan. Started talking vettes to the manager. He has owned two of them, had to sell due to buying a house. Said he knew someone with a cherry vet that may be selling. Next you know where both talking about 1955 chevs, he asked what the guy name is that owns the vette. Ron.......... his best friends dad (same car I plan on buying)! Said the guy is **** with his stuff and definitely buy it!
In the mean time I talked to Ron and tell him to figure the car is already sold.
In the mean time I talked to Ron and tell him to figure the car is already sold.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 47
From: Minneapolis MN
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,472
Likes: 3,290
From: Hartford WI
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Which has exactly what to do with the title of the thread YOU clicked into? Has in no way an relevance to his request for advice on HEADERS but you already knew that didn't ya. In fact, I'm sure your the special type that likes this kind of attention - We used to have moderators around here that took care of the special kids...maybe they're just tired of babysitting in every thread. Lucky you.
On my early C4 I have the TPIS headers and they went on without issue so the build quality was up there on them and never had an issue with the coating - been on for like 9 years IIRC.
For my LT1, I'm thinking seriously of going down the Melrose Smoothflow Headers route, I've heard many good things about them and for about $900-1k you have the headers and pipes all the way out to the mufflers.
On my early C4 I have the TPIS headers and they went on without issue so the build quality was up there on them and never had an issue with the coating - been on for like 9 years IIRC.
For my LT1, I'm thinking seriously of going down the Melrose Smoothflow Headers route, I've heard many good things about them and for about $900-1k you have the headers and pipes all the way out to the mufflers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 47
From: Minneapolis MN
Which has exactly what to do with the title of the thread YOU clicked into? Has in no way an relevance to his request for advice on HEADERS but you already knew that didn't ya. In fact, I'm sure your the special type that likes this kind of attention - We used to have moderators around here that took care of the special kids...maybe they're just tired of babysitting in every thread. Lucky you.
On my early C4 I have the TPIS headers and they went on without issue so the build quality was up there on them and never had an issue with the coating - been on for like 9 years IIRC.
For my LT1, I'm thinking seriously of going down the Melrose Smoothflow Headers route, I've heard many good things about them and for about $900-1k you have the headers and pipes all the way out to the mufflers.
On my early C4 I have the TPIS headers and they went on without issue so the build quality was up there on them and never had an issue with the coating - been on for like 9 years IIRC.
For my LT1, I'm thinking seriously of going down the Melrose Smoothflow Headers route, I've heard many good things about them and for about $900-1k you have the headers and pipes all the way out to the mufflers.
Kind of late to the beat down, don't you think (thread is 6 day's old). Please stop the personal attacks. Thanks.
Last edited by Cool Runnings; Apr 6, 2017 at 05:51 PM.