I know this discussion has been had and I have looked over the past threads but would like input on headers.

I have a 96 coupe.

I had my cats take a dump last week. I am cutting them out myself and putting in a patch pipe for now. No shop around here would delete due to the car coming with the cats from the factory. I had to learn how to wire weld this week. Its not pretty but its not leaking, for now. This is not an expense I am ready to take on now....ugh...sometimes the car has different ideas.

If I were going to go with Corsa exhaust system what header would you recommend? And why?

I dont need the emissions ports as my stuff has been shut off in the PCM.

Thank you

 

I'm doing one not the other. TPIS LT headers, hi-flow cats, x-pipe into stock catback. I can justify $1000 coated headers, but not a $1500 catback system "for sound" , not power

 

I was going to ask .... Are you going to the Corsa system because you like the sound? the stock dual exhaust is not restrictive on the stock engine. You would get a better bang for your $$ over the long term by spending the money on a set of long tube headers. There are a number of high quality systems out there. I went with stainless works a long time ago and still very happy with them. LT headers into RT bullet cats then into the stock cat-back exhaust. The headers give it a lower (slightly louder) sound.

 

Quick questions. Where are you at? And why did you cut the cats, instead of just gutting them.?

 

I have a 95 6spd conv and looking at SW headers and cats. How was the install? I've read the directions from SW and saved a CF post on them, and seems pretty straight forward. Thanks

 

I have TPIS on mine from years ago. However, I had to take a day to die grind all of the weld bead from the inside that was restricting flow. Not a fun job but car is doing great. My Melrose headers on the C5 were outstanding from the start with no extra work required by me.

 

Hello,

I am sorry to start a thread then just disappear. This weekend got a little crazy with work and daughters first college visit.

Someone asked where I am located, Dallas TX.

My car is an LT4 6sp, rebuilt engine with GM Hot cam, 525 lift at .218 duration. Sounds good, good power. Previous owner removed the stock mufflers from the rear of the car leaving only the main muffler under the car and the cats just after the manifolds. I decided to remove them instead of gut them because access inside the passenger one was very limited and I didn't know how I would open that up and clear it out. I cut them out and welded in flex/repair pipes in their place. To do this repair I had to learn how to weld. I had some HF tools I didn't ever use so I took them back and I had to ill fated Pittsburg jack stands that went back as well and got myself a small 125 Fluxcore wire welder. That was an adventure. Youtube to the rescue. I managed to get the pipes in place and welded. It doesn't look pretty but they don't leak and I got a wire welder out of it. Never hurts to have one of those around.

Now the car is loud, this would be awesome if I were 16 but I am 52, hahahaha. It also drones and there are vibrations and low end power under normal driving conditions seems to be a little off. It is a little annoying. The car is registered in TX as an Antique, 25 years old, so it will not have an emissions test. Right now the car is still setup with the stock cat back collectors/connections. I didnt cut any of that stuff. I could go headers mounted to the original pipes that are there and still in good condition leave the main muffler in place and add new mufflers at the rear of the car. That might be a much more cost effective way.

I will have to sell off some of my items from my other hobbies to cover this so I need a plan... What would you do in my situation?

Thank you for the input.

 

My LT4 with HOT cam, manifold and heads ported by Lloyd Elliot, Long tube TPIS with Corsa exhaust does not drone. Really pleasant at cruise but barks a pretty good sound at WOT and puts down 373rwhp/ 353 torque or thereabouts IIRC. I also have the 30# Bosch injectors. Corsa has a great service policy also. After many years I got free replacement of crossover tube. The welds had begun to crack a little. No questions from Corsa. Simply sent a picture and they sent replacement. I didn't even have to fool with return of original.

 

TPIS headers, I looked them up on the website. They look nice. I like the bolt stand offs on the mounting flange. I will be going without the emissions stuff. Did you go the same route, if so did they have the O2 bung on them? I still have to run upper O2 sensors for proper mix.

 

I would be surprised if TPIS still sells them without the EGR bung. Manufacturers have been getting cracked down on as there is no guarantee the purchaser is using them “off-toad”. All headers will have the 02 ports.


You’ve got two issues you are trying to solve, and both need a solution, because what you have isn’t working.

My suggestion would be to go with headers and find a factory cat-back system. You live in Dallas, so you should have a good selection of somebody’s take off parts. And even if you had to travel and get it, you shouldn’t need to go far. This will tone down your resonance/drone and give you a nice sound. You can splurge a bit and go for a set of ARH or stainless works headers and get their car setup.


if you don’t like the exhaust sound from the first suggestion, then call and order a Corsa.

 

I do remember having to 'correct' the angle of the standoffs to line up with heads. Even so, I had to thread-sert one bolt hole after boogering it up. I don't know if TPIS has improved their program but I wouldn't use them again - too much work. If you do go with them make sure to check the bolt line up to make sure you don't have to go through what I did. I did all my grinding to remove the slag from inside the tubes before placing against the heads. Otherwise, I would have sent them back immediately before grinding on them.