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

Header clearance

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2017 | 07:15 PM
  #1  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default Header clearance

I'm going to get either Melrose, TPIS or EM headers for my 96.
would anyone know which one has the best clearance from the ground?
Thanks
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2017 | 09:09 PM
  #2  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Don't know about the rest but I don't see much more you can gain without raising the car with my TPIS. YMMV
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2017 | 09:22 PM
  #3  
gerardvg's Avatar
gerardvg
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by vette196
I'm going to get either Melrose, TPIS or EM headers for my 96.
would anyone know which one has the best clearance from the ground?
Thanks
Hi

I have headman long tube headers, they are a bit lower down than standard. However I have never scraped them in the three years, I did have pictures of them but thanks to photo bucket I cant post them anymore....
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2017 | 09:25 PM
  #4  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Originally Posted by gerardvg
Hi

I have headman long tube headers, they are a bit lower down than standard. However I have never scraped them in the three years, I did have pictures of them but thanks to photo bucket I cant post them anymore....
You must drive your car very slowly in any situation where a bump is possible. I don't usually run into the bumps at speed but I'm not hyper vigilant looking for bumps and I have scrapes on mine.

Can't you use the "insert image" button and load the picture?
Reply
Old Sep 6, 2017 | 11:18 PM
  #5  
383vett's Avatar
383vett
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Default

Add to you list ARH Headers if you want the best performance. Merged collectors and equal length get you a few more hp. No problems with ground clearance.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 01:44 AM
  #6  
STL94LT1's Avatar
STL94LT1
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Default

No ground clearance issues with my EM's.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 02:08 AM
  #7  
gerardvg's Avatar
gerardvg
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by aklim
You must drive your car very slowly in any situation where a bump is possible. I don't usually run into the bumps at speed but I'm not hyper vigilant looking for bumps and I have scrapes on mine.

Can't you use the "insert image" button and load the picture?
Hi

Photobucket have put a stop on using images unless you pay to do that ....

Anway my c4 does not go slow over speed bumps, i actually hoof it over them to settle my suspension.
​​​​​​they are probably only an inch lower tops than the standard exhaust, they must have huge speed bumps in your area.....
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 05:32 AM
  #8  
grandspt's Avatar
grandspt
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 289
From: MA
Default

I have the ARH headers and no ground clearance issues at all.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 07:41 AM
  #9  
black_89_vette's Avatar
black_89_vette
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 6
From: Winchester Ontario
Default

I have Hooker 2149's and no problems with ground clearance.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 09:20 AM
  #10  
mrodoc's Avatar
mrodoc
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 234
Likes: 20
From: Stuart Florida
Default

Originally Posted by aklim
Don't know about the rest but I don't see much more you can gain without raising the car with my TPIS. YMMV
TPIS. 1994,TPIS fits like a glove, no clearance problems over speed bumps or steep driveways.
No banging or bending of headers to make them fit. Excellent, and mine came with O2 sensor pigtail extensions.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 10:19 AM
  #11  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by aklim
. YMMV
what does that mean?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 10:20 AM
  #12  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by grandspt
I have the ARH headers and no ground clearance issues at all.
I would consider them, but they are like 2x the price and with the money I'm spending so far.....
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:11 AM
  #13  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Originally Posted by vette196
what does that mean?
You may be able to gain more clearance without raising the car but I'm not sure how to.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:13 AM
  #14  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Originally Posted by vette196
I would consider them, but they are like 2x the price and with the money I'm spending so far.....
Good stuff isn't cheap nor does it have to be. I usually prefer to delay the purchase if I can't afford it all today as opposed "make do" with cheap crap.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:14 AM
  #15  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by aklim
You may be able to gain more clearance without raising the car but I'm not sure how to.
I meant YMMV
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:15 AM
  #16  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Originally Posted by vette196
I meant YMMV
Your Mileage Might Vary
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:17 AM
  #17  
vette196's Avatar
vette196
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by aklim
Good stuff isn't cheap nor does it have to be. I usually prefer to delay the purchase if I can't afford it all today as opposed "make do" with cheap crap.
I don't think the headers I listed are cheap crap, just want to do everything while the engine is out. For example, I was going to do the intake at a later date, but to remove it again, no thanks, so I spent the $200 to have it ported.

I'm not sure why ARH are so expensive, full system? Better materials?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Header clearance

Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:20 AM
  #18  
WW7's Avatar
WW7
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
Default

Just stay away from Hookers, I have the Competition Plus ceramic headers and after 4 years the collectors are all rusted up.. And I almost never drive in the rain, they're junk...WW.
.
.

Last edited by WW7; Sep 7, 2017 at 11:22 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 11:21 AM
  #19  
aklim's Avatar
aklim
Team Owner
Active Streak: 60 Days
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Default

Originally Posted by vette196
I don't think the headers I listed are cheap crap, just want to do everything while the engine is out. For example, I was going to do the intake at a later date, but to remove it again, no thanks, so I spent the $200 to have it ported.

I'm not sure why ARH are so expensive, full system? Better materials?
Materials maybe. Engineering and testing may be another. How it fits with the car as far as installing is another factor. Do you want to have to take apart the things around it to install? Do you have shoehorn it in? Do you have to take the starter off to get at the back plugs?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2017 | 01:13 PM
  #20  
ghoastrider1's Avatar
ghoastrider1
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
Default

I have Headman headers. Had to hammer fit one pipe to fit my 86 auto. Would never buy again.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:27 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE