jmgtp

I had another thread about passing my final emissions test. So naturally, i'm looking for that next mod. I was tossing around cam or LT headers. Ultimately, it won't be a cam yet. I don't want to risk blowing apart the bottom end and I don't have the time or wallet for a rebuild at the moment so LT headers it is!

The car is a 94 LT1/ZF6 with about 115k miles. I've treated it well and have the car in a great place. I rebuilt the entire suspension and brakes. It has Loyd Elliot heads and intake, 1.7 Scorpion RR w/ guide plates, Mezeire waterpump, LT4 knock module, 4.11 gears out back.

It currently has short tubes into stock cats into an x pipe (no resonator) and then out through the stock pipes and mufflers. It sounds good and doesn't drone at all. Barely louder than stock but a much more aggressive note.

Ive only found a few set of LT headers for this application. Wondering what you have all used? What fit best? What had to be modded? Ceramic coated, stainless or mild steel? My fabrication skills aren't bad - I've welded plenty of exhaust systems up so a bit of work is OK. I don't want to have to cut up any part of the car though.

I dont need to worry about the ignition wire brackets as I run LS1 coils. I'll want some kind of cats on the car as I don't want that exhaust smell sting.

so what are the options and how did they work out for you?

blue94

I installed Melrose LT's on my 94 around 8 years ago, coated mild steel, and installed from the underside with no issues.

vette196

I am very interested in this thread, I should be getting my heads and intake back from Lloyd Elliott in a week or 2. I have a 96 A4 and went with the LE2 package and a cam (currently deciding which one) and will be adding LT headers w/o emissions.
my top 3 choices:
Melrose
TPIS
Exotic muscle

Looking forward to replies

STL94LT1

I've had good luck with EM long tubes, been running them nearly 15 years.

Also running Dynatech bullet PowerCats. Maybe just a small amount of exhaust smell, but running an aggressive cam.

Your cat-back will need to be modified to run any long tubes.

grandspt

I have been happy with ARH headers (LT4). They are probably a bit more expensive than the others but I have had no issues with them.
They are stainless, uncoated, have all smog fittings and cats with Xpipe. I did install Thermotec heat barriers where the cats are located to protect the fiberglass. There were a couple of other modifications I made to make the system look stock.

vette196

I wasn't going to go with cats but I think I will use the cats that you are talking about. Between the gas smell and the rare chance of a visual inspection I could use them. I plan on using the resonator delete pipe with xpipe and stock mufflers that I currently have

aklim

The others sound nice but I haven't used them before so IDK. I used TPIS coated and they have been easy to install. I can get to all plugs easily. I don't have AIR either but that is only making it easier.

RicardoG

I just got the Melrose coated no emissions headers for my 94.
We shall see how good the fitment turns out.
Found a lot of threads vouching for the Melrose.

My plan is to run the LT1 catback with these headers. Seems to be a good flowing true dual system. I will probabbly replace the cats with bullet type cats.

RG

Gibbles

​​​​​​​I have the melrose on my 84, i have been happy with them, and the coating has been holding up nicely.

rklessdriver

I have run Exotic Muscle on my 92. Also put them on 2 customers LTX C4s with no problems. Fit well but the coating did not hold up on any of them. We had one set reciated andvswapoed the other set for ARH stainless....

I used Hooker Super Comps on my 84 orginally... fit well and factory coating held up pretty well. Customer also has them on his 91... they are the emission AIR tube ones thou. Other than complicating over the valve cover plug wire routing no problems.

I swapped one of my customers LT4 cars over from EM to ARH.... fit was a nightmare. Nice headers and stainless steel but the supplied X Pipe didnt fit for ****.

I swapped my 84 to Stahl... race car but the fit is awesome and Stahl makes any size primary tube up to 2".
Will

drcook

If you look at Stahl's website, it states that they are not manufacturing anything else and that their equipment is for sale.

http://www.stahlheaders.com/

Cjunkie

1-ARH, 2-Kooks..........the rest pretty much junk

rklessdriver

The lead fabricator at Stahl, (Greg Stump) is working for/with Kerry Hitt at Advance Composite Products (ACP). They have all the orginal jigs and equipment.

717-232-2800.

http://www.acproducts.us/index.htm

Will

drcook

thanks for posting that up. I (and hopefully others) will bookmark their site for future reference.

RicardoG

I hope the OEM Spark plug wire looms can be used with the Melrose Headers. Otherwise I will change to "Over the Valve covers" routing and MSD 8.5mm super conductor wires.

Waiting for this to buy my wires.

I am sure the MSD's are too fat for the OEM looms. Been there already.

Besides that, wich combination would be louder with the melrose headers;

The X Pipe with bullet cats or the OEM resonator and no cats? This would be still using the LT1 mufflers. My guess is the X pipe with bullet cats will be louder

jmgtp

The LT1 resonator is straight through, I don’t believe it does much of any muffling. I think bullet cats would muffle more. I have an x pipe in place of the resonator right now on my car with stock cars. It’s not noticeably louder but sounds more aggressive. I’d go with bullets and X.

383vett

I have ARH stepped headers, 1 3/4 to 1 7/8. They were a tenth faster than Holley Super comp 1 3/4. .

DGXR

You can contact this guy and ask what he has planned for the headers he is removing:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...confusion.html

96 lt-4

I had Stainless Works 1 5/8 long tubes on my 383 LT4 and they fit well.

mrodoc

I have an LE2 build in a 1994 4A, with Dana 44 and 4.11. I went with TPIS. Install was easy, fit like a glove with no modifications. I can remove all plugs in ten minutes. They are 1 1/2 years old and still look like new.
I am CAT free and no resonators.