C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

96 Corvette Headers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2007 | 11:17 PM
  #1  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default 96 Corvette Headers

Trying to decide on headers for my 96 LT4
Searched and got some results but wanted to know what others are using and what do you think about them.
Looking for maximum performance and heck I like a noisy car :-)
I am going to do the whole exhaust system unless someone tells me the stock LT4 mufflers flow as well as aftermarket (flowmaster-magnaflow...)
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2007 | 11:43 PM
  #2  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

I've been very happy with my Exotic Muscle long tubes. Also running Dynatech 3" PowerCats and a Flowmaster Force II cat-back.

FYI: I'm pretty sure EM is running a GP on their headers.


-Mike
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 12:04 AM
  #3  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

Thanks Mike ... I wanna do this once
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 12:18 AM
  #4  
C4DC's Avatar
C4DC
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater FL
St. Jude Donor '06
Default

I don't think you will regret going with any of the higher quality brands. I have Stainless Works and like them. EM and Melrose make some sweet products as well. For me it came down to the stainless construction. It will last a lifetime.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 12:29 AM
  #5  
StealthLT4's Avatar
StealthLT4
Safety Car
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Default

Is SW the only company that makes SS headers? I like the looks of the EM and Hooker headers, but from what I can tell they are mild steel, which simply doesn't fly for me. Thanks.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 01:03 AM
  #6  
GM_96LT4's Avatar
GM_96LT4
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Madre
Default

Originally Posted by wfountain
Trying to decide on headers for my 96 LT4
Searched and got some results but wanted to know what others are using and what do you think about them.
Looking for maximum performance and heck I like a noisy car :-)
I am going to do the whole exhaust system unless someone tells me the stock LT4 mufflers flow as well as aftermarket (flowmaster-magnaflow...)
In my original setup; I had the TPIS LT Headers mated to a set of Random Tech. Cats and Corsa Exhaust. I loved the setup. The exhaust had a good note to it; didn't resonate, and sounded mean when you jumped on it.

My latest set-up has the TPIS mated to Dynatech Bullet Cats and a 3" B&B exhaust. With my cam; I can set off car alarms within a 5-mile radius.

Either way, I am happy with my TPIS. One problem that I came across; there was very little clearance on the passenger side tunnel hull and my headers. It would rub once in awhile and had to get it fixed. I am not sure what they had to do but just a warning.

Good Luck and as C4DC mentioned; I don't think you will regret any of the higher quality brands.

Glenn
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 07:52 AM
  #7  
MTVette's Avatar
MTVette
Race Director
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 681
From: Marlboro country MA
Default

I went with SW headers, and could't be happier. I don't have to worry about corrosion, and they have performed as advertised. Since installing headers, RT bullet cats, and an X-pipe, I have taken over 0.6 seconds off my quarter mile time, which now runs mid 12's, although I already had a Hotcam installed. YMMV.

Last edited by MTVette; Jul 23, 2007 at 07:55 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 07:38 PM
  #8  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

I have been burning up the web looking for choices and it seems alot of manufacturers make a fit for 91 and down but not 92-96
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 08:00 PM
  #9  
BAM92's Avatar
BAM92
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Default

www.exoticmuscle.com or www.tpis.com both make header specific for LT's. EM can set you up from header to tailpipe.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 08:24 PM
  #10  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by wfountain
I have been burning up the web looking for choices and it seems alot of manufacturers make a fit for 91 and down but not 92-96
1. Exotic Muscle
2. Melrose
3. Stainless Works
4. TPIS
5. Hooker (L98 but will work on LT1)
6. SLP and Hooker makes a shorty header.

How many more choices do you need.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 08:34 PM
  #11  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by STL94LT1
1. Exotic Muscle
2. Melrose
3. Stainless Works
4. TPIS
5. Hooker (L98 but will work on LT1)
6. SLP and Hooker makes a shorty header.

How many more choices do you need.

Ok I can take the abuse and I am willing to take it for the help
I just went to TPIS and see only to 91 specified. Is it that when they say LT1 that I can assume 92-96 ... Ok I am ready throw it at me
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 09:54 PM
  #12  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

Hey, no harm intended.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:06 PM
  #13  
Carolina C4 Racer's Avatar
Carolina C4 Racer
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: greenville SC
Default

If you are concerned about heat, stay away from stainless. They may last forever but everything else in the engine compartment might melt.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:29 PM
  #14  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by STL94LT1
Hey, no harm intended.
None taken ,, Just cutting up with you.. Thank you for the help.

On the heat subject .. wow the placement of those factory cats hard to get to.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:32 PM
  #15  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by Carolina C4 Racer
If you are concerned about heat, stay away from stainless. They may last forever but everything else in the engine compartment might melt.
So ceramic coated is the way to go these days then ?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:35 PM
  #16  
NASCAR314's Avatar
NASCAR314
Drifting
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 18
From: St. Peters MO
Default

Originally Posted by Carolina C4 Racer
If you are concerned about heat, stay away from stainless. They may last forever but everything else in the engine compartment might melt.
Try ceramic coated steel headers, keep heat down, make headers last, look good as well......perhaps you can ceramic coat stainless headers as well, not sure, intresting idea.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:48 PM
  #17  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

Originally Posted by wfountain
On the heat subject .. wow the placement of those factory cats hard to get to.
The factory cats can't be used with long tube headers. You'll need to run a bullet type cat. I'm running Dynatech PowerCats.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 96 Corvette Headers

Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:50 PM
  #18  
wfountain's Avatar
wfountain
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

How far from the headers did you mount them?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 10:54 PM
  #19  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

I slip-fit mine on the header's collectors.
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2007 | 01:45 AM
  #20  
GM_96LT4's Avatar
GM_96LT4
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Madre
Default

Originally Posted by wfountain
How far from the headers did you mount them?
TJ did my exhaust work and it turned out beautiful. He relocated my cats at the tailshaft of the transmission, right before the x-pipe.

Let me know, I can email you a couple of pictures.

Glenn
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:20 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE