I'll be installing a D44 and a nitrous system (100 shot NX) into my otherwise fairly stock '87 auto in a month or so. Future plans MAY include a 400 block...... I'm undecided right now. It occurred to me that this would be a perfect time to put some headers in since I'd have the system down anyway, so I did a search on "L98 headers". :eek: :eek: WHOA....... Now my head is spinning. I read every darn word of every thread :nopity .

Now I don't know what the heck to do. :confused: Obviously, headers would help, but the last thing I want to do is suffer thru the fitment, heat and leaking issues with a stock L98 if I don't go the other route. Is there ANYTHING out there thats gonna give me a fighting chance at satisfaction or shall i just wait til when and IF I replace the motor? :confused: The only problem I see with that route is just the potential for another little headache when a new setup is gonna have enough of them by itself. Anybody have any bullet proof experiences with something I might not have read about already? Thanx in advance for any input!!! The forum is awesome when you need sage advice. :cheers:

 

I have Hooker 2149 headers. They are coated and have all of the emissions equipment on them. They cool down so fast that you can literally grab the tubes with your hands after 15 minutes of the engine being off.

 

Thanx scorp, you seemed to really like yours in the posts I read before! No major hassles, huh? Looks like 1-0 in favor of yes. :D It's not that I don't want hassles mind you, it's just that I want to run in the 11's or 12's if I do gotta hassle something :lol:

Headers 1
Stock 0

 

By adding headers to your setup, you're eliminating one of the more restrictive parts of the L98, your exhaust manifolds. The headers are a great mod in terms of HP and TQ, but they also give you a great rumble from your L98. I've got the TPIS headers, and they definitely don't cool down as quickly as Scorp's do, they are nice headers. If you follow the TPIS install instructions, the job should be fairly easy to do. These also contain all emissions equipment.

Ron

 

RonRed thanks for your input!!!! Yeah, I'm up on the intake and exhaust probs with the L98's......... it's just that at this stage of my life I don't want any hassles if all I'm going to be running is a 13 second car. That's another story though......... I got a little touch of parkinson's goin and I just can't wrench like I used to (I can dance like heck though!) :smash: :smash: :smash:

For me, half a second in the 13's just isn't worth it anymore but if it's half a second in the 11's, wooooooooweeeeeeeeeeee! :D :D :D Looks like another vote for headers.
Headers 2
Stock 0

 

I am happy with my Hookers also :D

I've got the same Hookers as Scorp. I've made a number of changes to my car but the temps around the tranny tunnel are cooler now than they were before. The quality of the coating is great. No real difference in the amount of time it takes to pull the plugs. Some are easier and some are more difficult than they were with OEM exhaust manifolds, so it works out the same.

I love my HOOKERS

 

Caboboy,

Have you looked into whether or not the X-brace on the convertibles creates installation problems? I have narrowed my choice down to the TPIS and Hooker (leaning toward the TPIS). I'm curious as this is my next mod.

Maybe other convertable header guys can chime in here.


[Modified by chucks88, 8:47 PM 7/7/2002]

 

I went with the TPIS headers, because I was in middle of engine swap. Go for coating, even though it cost more. Hooker is similar. Yes ity will be louder. And hotter under the hood. Make sure you wrap any wires or plastic covers and tywrap them away (O2 sensor & starter wire for example). They will get melted along with high temp plug wires. The TPIS have a stong flange and mine don't leak after over a year. The Y pipe between the Headers and the CAT is where you will have trouble because of the convertible X brace. Call each company and get their words on it. Good Luck.
Chris

 

96LT1, thats really good news about the interior heat........ comfort's a biggie. So far it sounds like everyone is pretty satisfied with their choices. From the marathon research I did, it was obvious that hooker and TPIS were the leading candidates by far, but too, there were a fair amount of people that had problems with their setups.

Headers 3
Stock 0

Chuck, great point. I never once thought about the X brace :rolleyes: hummmm, I think we need to hear from other verts out there for sure. No doubt shorties would be just fine, but it's my understanding long tubes will help a larger displacement motor a lot more whereas shorties can work fine with a 350. See, this is exactly why this place works so well for all of us. This exchange of info is too cool. I love this place!!!!!!!! :cheers:

Other verts, you're up!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Tim,
I see you didn't buy a new place to hangout. As soon as I get some time my stock headers are coming off. Got a pair of LPE long tube... Good luck....

 

I can't comment on the Hookers, but if you go with the TPIS headers, make sure that you've got some spark plug wire wraps and that you use some good wiring techniques to keep these away from the headers. You'll end up with a spark plug wire that looks like scrambled eggs if you don't.

I've had mine for about 2 years now, and no leaks, no problems to speak of. Just keep them damn wires away! I've made some scrambled eggs myself. <grin>

With or without the headers, you still have a Vette. You're going to enjoy it either way. Happy crusin!

Ron

 

put me down as #4 for headers! :yesnod:

I had a set of hedmens on mine. they are low quality and cheap junk. I hit a few too many speed bumps and bent the flange slightly and they started leaking really bad. I went back to stock and ordered up a set of TPIS headers which I have not had a chance to install.
I chose TPIS because I did not like messing around with headers bolts like I did with the hedmans. TPIS headers use stock bolts. This also makes installing cylinder 8 header bolt in the far back a lot easier (which was always giving me problems on my hedmans).

As for the heat, I wrapped my hedmen headers and never suffered a burned wire ever.

I will not be wrapping my TPIS unless they give me some trouble.

However my stock exhuast is bruning up plug wires with in 15 mins of running. I had to goto jacobs ceramic wires. and they recently died (EGR tube burned a wire), so I drilled the wires out and put some MSD wires in the ceramic boots. no more melted wires here.

 

another vote for Hookrs here.
In my case, I did not want to melt wires so, I wrapped my headers with that fiberglass heat wrap. I rest so much more easier knowing everything is nice and cool down there. Only used one 50ft roll of 2" materal. I really should have used 2 rolls. Woulda been much better.
Also, I used header bolts from kragen. A brand called Spectre. Hex heads. You can put an open end combo wrench on them. #8 wasn't that bad for me.
also let me add that I did not use the O2 bung that Hooker puts in the #7 primary tube(or was it #5?). I had a bung welded into a reducer collector on the passenger side where there is plenty of room for it and not on the driver side next to the slave cylinder(manual trans).


[Modified by 89 Paul in Cal, 1:30 PM 7/8/2002]

 

I have LPE 1 5/8" headers and I like them. The biggest draw back is they aren't emission legal (though they have the air tubes) because they eliminate the precats. They are quite a bitter louder than stock. The headers gave a nice hp/tq gain in my car.

 

I have hookers on my vert. There is no problem with the x-brace. My installer did have significant problems with the fit of the hookers. He had to use a set of junker heads to make them fit ok. EGR tube fitting was far from perfect. There was a bolt on the chassis that rubbed that he ground down. One of the auto tranmission linkages had to be reversed too. He also welded a new bung for the O2 sensor on the collector.

Glad I had a professional install it. Once it was on, to problems in 18 months. Finish still as good as new.

 

I put a call into TPIS today and asked about clearence issues with the X-brace. They said that they may or may not fit with out adding some washers underneath the X-brace to pull it away from the exhaust.

Looks like TPIS for me.

 

Todd, the place down there is still a distinct possibility, that's one of the reasons I'm holding off on the new motor :D ( cha-ching$$$$)!! Had a nice little ride last nite too, we missed you.

So I guess to summarize this thing so far, we can say that Hooker, TPIS and LPE headers are a cut above, with coating a MUST. Beyond that, some guys have to wrap their wiring, some guys don't, some guys wrap their headers and some guys don't.

For those of us with verts.......well, there are even more issues :confused: . Chuck, you were leaning toward TPIS to begin with, did you also check with Holley ( or Lingenfelter) on the others? It would be interesting to hear their take on it. And, I'm wondering if maybe a lot of the associated problems are avoided by the experience and talent of the guy putting them in and his knowledge of the pitfalls????

It's starting to sound to me like maybe I need to stay put til I make an engine change. I mean heck I've had this car 10 years without any problems to speak of. So why push it for a stock motor? Now that I've thought about it, I can't even make a good decision on tube size anyway til I decide what I'm gonna do :confused:

Thanks for all the info everybody, I think this is one of those subjects that just doesn't have any clear cut perfect answers. On a side note, what a collection of GORGEOUS cars in this thread....they show a lotta work and a lotta love.

 

I had hooker 2151's in my car, I have an 85 with straight plug heads, the fit was horrible!! I had to "dimple" 4 of the tubes just to get spark plugs in, nevermind the boots. The things looked like the manifolds on a 5.0 Explorer when I was done! heh

Anyways, I put a pair of $100 Hedman headers in it, and I couldnt be happier with the fit and install of them. When this set rusts out, I am gonna order another set and get them coated.

But yeah, I am happy with my cheapo Hedman Headers

Bill

 

I'm planning on putting these headers in myself. So I asked my 'Vette mechanic........What are the best & easiest to install and he said TPIS. Go ask you mechanics fellas and see what they think. I'd be curioius.