looking for headers for my 1986 help
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Hooker Competition Plus headers are good but very pricey. Around $550 or so.
Hedman makes good headers with and without the AIR and EGR connections. Summit Racing has them. Make sure you get the version with the thermal coating. These will run in the $350 range.
You will also have to figure on another $200 to $300 for the rest of the exhaust hook-up, and other mufflers if you want them.
Full length headers like these will install with no real problems but once the passenger side header is in place, there is no way to remove the factory starter without removing the header. Most people will install a smaller gear reduction starter as those can be removed without header removal.
Headers will require the removal of the pre-cats but you can still run a Y-pipe and the main cat if you have to do emissions testings. I can't remember if these headers come with an installed O2 sensor bung, but one will have to be installed if they don't come that way. It's easier to get a heated O2 sensor and install it at the driver's side collector. There will be 2 wires; one for 12v and the other for the existing O2 sensor wire. That fools the ECM so that it goes into closed loop mode for economy/emissions.
Hedman makes good headers with and without the AIR and EGR connections. Summit Racing has them. Make sure you get the version with the thermal coating. These will run in the $350 range.
You will also have to figure on another $200 to $300 for the rest of the exhaust hook-up, and other mufflers if you want them.
Full length headers like these will install with no real problems but once the passenger side header is in place, there is no way to remove the factory starter without removing the header. Most people will install a smaller gear reduction starter as those can be removed without header removal.
Headers will require the removal of the pre-cats but you can still run a Y-pipe and the main cat if you have to do emissions testings. I can't remember if these headers come with an installed O2 sensor bung, but one will have to be installed if they don't come that way. It's easier to get a heated O2 sensor and install it at the driver's side collector. There will be 2 wires; one for 12v and the other for the existing O2 sensor wire. That fools the ECM so that it goes into closed loop mode for economy/emissions.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
I have TPIS (Tuned Port Injection Specialists) on mine; look them up on the web; also Exotic Muscle as I have heard here on the forum have a great set....do a search on the forum here as this topic gets covered pretty well...you'll get plenty of opinions and info..
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
I would add, go with the one that has the thickest plate where it bolts to the head. The last Corvette headers I dealt with were long tubes and they were from Hedman because of the plate thickness. After 10,000 miles, no gasket spitting.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NJ
I have melrose longtubes on my 90. They are not the cheapest by any means...but fit/finish is phenominal
Very high quality piece
http://www.melroseheaders.com/produc...eaders/c-4.php
Not sure if your actually in the market...but saw these hooker longtubes in the C4 parts FS section...take a look...seems like a decent deal http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...e-headers.html
Very high quality piece http://www.melroseheaders.com/produc...eaders/c-4.php
Not sure if your actually in the market...but saw these hooker longtubes in the C4 parts FS section...take a look...seems like a decent deal http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...e-headers.html
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
What will happened if you comletely remove the catalytic converters , and install pipes instead???
Performance wize and sound wize how loud and how strong it is going to be?????? I dont care about the inspection issue, for now! I am going to install HHO system on it and that will drop the emission!
Performance wize and sound wize how loud and how strong it is going to be?????? I dont care about the inspection issue, for now! I am going to install HHO system on it and that will drop the emission!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Loud. Consider using bullet cats at a minimum.... quieter/cleaner. Still plenty loud too.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 555
Likes: 2
From: RDU NC
I put the Hooker LT's on my 85- smog legal ones. Install wasn't too bad, nice fit and made a bit of difference. Got mine from a forum member for $300 I think used. BTW, I still have my factory starter (the mammoth one) and can still, just barely, get it in and out of the very tight squeeze.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 17
From: Toronto Ontario
Long tube headers made by Exotic Muscle are a very popular choice among C4 owners. A bit more pricey than the hookers but they come highly recommended by those who run them on their cars. Ease of installation, excellent ceramic coating and superb fit and finish are some of the more common trademarks of EM's headers. EM's customer service also appears to be top-notch as well.
I can't comment on the Hookers, Hedman or TPIS's offerings, since I've never run any of them of my previous vehicles, but if you decide to go with any of those, I'm sure you'll be more than happy with them too.
Just for your information though, EM is currently having a group purchase sale on their longtubes and are knocking $100 off their usual price. They're only producing 10 sets, so it's first come first serve. As far as I know, there are 8 spots left. Price is now $671 until all ten sets are sold off than the price jumps back up to $771. You may want to check out the G.P. thread located here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ic-muscle.html
I can't comment on the Hookers, Hedman or TPIS's offerings, since I've never run any of them of my previous vehicles, but if you decide to go with any of those, I'm sure you'll be more than happy with them too.
Just for your information though, EM is currently having a group purchase sale on their longtubes and are knocking $100 off their usual price. They're only producing 10 sets, so it's first come first serve. As far as I know, there are 8 spots left. Price is now $671 until all ten sets are sold off than the price jumps back up to $771. You may want to check out the G.P. thread located here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ic-muscle.html
Last edited by LT1*C4; Jan 25, 2009 at 02:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: freeland pa
thanks guys. listen i took off all the smog stuff and now i need a bracket for the altanator and i will have to size up for a new belt.. but as for headers im looking at the hedman.. any special one i should look at? i want to make the fit as easy as possible. i am not a mechanic. thanks robert
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
I have melrose longtubes on my 90. They are not the cheapest by any means...but fit/finish is phenominal Very high quality piece
http://www.melroseheaders.com/produc...eaders/c-4.php
Not sure if your actually in the market...but saw these hooker longtubes in the C4 parts FS section...take a look...seems like a decent deal http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...e-headers.html
Very high quality piece http://www.melroseheaders.com/produc...eaders/c-4.php
Not sure if your actually in the market...but saw these hooker longtubes in the C4 parts FS section...take a look...seems like a decent deal http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...e-headers.html
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
Making an alt spacer is real easy, just use a bushing or some tubing. Heck a long bolt with several nuts on it would even work. The stock brace worked on mine. Make sure to check the passenger side for clearence, I had to move the fuel lines and saw off part of the frame brace.
Pic for reference.
Pic for reference.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,305
Likes: 241
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
thanks guys. listen i took off all the smog stuff and now i need a bracket for the altanator and i will have to size up for a new belt.. but as for headers im looking at the hedman.. any special one i should look at? i want to make the fit as easy as possible. i am not a mechanic. thanks robert
There are aftermarket bracket/pulleys available to due just that. I built my own, but the pic will give you an idea on what's required.
If you going to go with Hedman, get the Elites with no smog stuff and weld in an O2 bung into collector adapter. Decent header for the price.
