are headers worth it
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Cant expect a big increase like oh wow from any bolt on excpet a blower or nitrous kit. Headers do work across the rpm range for the most part
Personally I dont care for used parts but being as the price for vette headers are a ripoff source a good used set just make sure the flanges are nice and straight.
Never understood why (except for pure profit)a coated set of headers for a Camaro or Chevelle of good quality can be had for 5-600 but a Corvette is 1000 up. Nothing special about them. Same with catbacks gimme a break
Have one of the best systems you can possibly get on my A body was under a grand including a nice X and some Ultraflows.(and theres a LOT more in materials on them)
Last edited by cv67; Apr 16, 2016 at 06:05 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 831
Likes: 31
From: Merritt Island Florida
I'd get rid of that TPIS prom asap.
Good long tubes on your car should be worth about 2 tenths and 2 mph easy. About 20 ish to the wheels. Look at a stock L98 header and you can see why. The AIR tubes actually protrude in the small port ways. Believe it or not a worked stock shorty header even offers some inprovement. L98 stock love exhaust improvements...yours will even more
Good long tubes on your car should be worth about 2 tenths and 2 mph easy. About 20 ish to the wheels. Look at a stock L98 header and you can see why. The AIR tubes actually protrude in the small port ways. Believe it or not a worked stock shorty header even offers some inprovement. L98 stock love exhaust improvements...yours will even more
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 78
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I'm surprised you would still have those three cats still. If you dont want the headers, removing the three cats will help a lot. Get a front Y pipe without the cats and either eliminate the 3rd cat or replace it with a new one. You may actually free up a lot of power you already have that is being robbed due to a clogged converter or converters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,380
Likes: 388
From: Lakeville MI
I'd consider something like the Pypes 2 1/2" x-pipe exhaust (with manifold extensions) mated to your existing Borla mufflers as a relatively low cost solution. I'm not crazy about the look of the Pypes muffler outlets, but I've have always liked the Borla tips and sound.
This type of system could be easily adapted to long tubes, if desired.
FWIW: Adding LPE 1 5/8" longtubes to my previous manifold/duals did not result in any gains. Results will be strongly dependent upon heads, cam, intake, tuning and rest of the exhaust system.
This type of system could be easily adapted to long tubes, if desired.
FWIW: Adding LPE 1 5/8" longtubes to my previous manifold/duals did not result in any gains. Results will be strongly dependent upon heads, cam, intake, tuning and rest of the exhaust system.
Last edited by tequilaboy; Apr 23, 2016 at 02:45 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Emails are the low end of the priority list for a company like that; they deal with telephone sales all day. I personally went there in 2012 and towed my car up there. Call Jim; he knows his stuff and will get you a set of headers- probably the best on the market for a C4. I bought a second set that I have in a box in my garage "just in case" things start getting harder to find for these outdated machines.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 8
From: West Islip NY
I have spoken to jim many times, he probably does know his **** but he and the rest of the crew have screwed me around so many times, read my first message, they have uncoated headers in stock for $700 and 3-4 weeks if i wanted them coated. 3-4 weeks to them will be 6 to 8 minimum by there time table. anyway im gonna lose the 3 cats, if i notice any gains then ill probably do the headers. Like i said I already have a full borla cat back already