Headers for LT4
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Metamora Illinois
Headers for LT4
I was thinking of bolting on a set of headers for my LT4 coupe. However, I don't know how much of an increase in horsepower it would make without additional modifications. I'm not interested in cam replacement. The car is stock with the exception of Borla mufflers and a K&N air filter. I wondered if anyone else had installed headers to a stock LT4 and if they felt much of a difference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: Headers for LT4 (Kevs LT4)
Before I started to mess with the motor I had all bolt ons like : Longtube headers, Corsa cat back, MSD box,wires, coil, 52mm TB, 4:10 gears, Vortex. The car went 12.5-12.6 and the motor was not touched. So yes they will help. :cheers:
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: Headers for LT4 (Kevs LT4)
If you're going to do it - get long tubes - I put the Lingenfelter/Hooker shortys on my old LT4 back in '97 along with a Borla 2&3/4" Challenge system & didn't see a single tenth or mph at the drag strip. I didn't dyno it, so I can't be totally precise, but it certainly wasn't worth the money. I've heard the Borla & even Corsa stuff doesn't flow as well as B&B Tri-Flow - Tri-Flow with X-pipe is the hot setup - at least on my friends' 3 ZR1s - X-pipe is loud though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: Headers for LT4 (NASCAR314)
:confused:
How do you guys put on Long Tube headers on a 96 Model with the OBD-II system and 4 oxygen sensors???
And still pass emmissions ???
:confused:
How do you guys put on Long Tube headers on a 96 Model with the OBD-II system and 4 oxygen sensors???
And still pass emmissions ???
:confused:
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,060
Likes: 1,165
From: N. Alabama
Re: Headers for LT4 (Kevs LT4)
If I were you, I would look at the Exotic Muscle headers. I put the TPIS headers on a couple of months ago and was really disappointed with the workmanship. I had to grind out the weld bead on the inside of the tubes, had to open up the bolt sleeves to align bolts with heads and had to bend stove pipe to allow clearance of valve cover. I still cross threaded one bolt into head because the bolt sleeve on the header was WAY off of perpendicular with head surface. I did manage to retap the hole and get it tight. All in all it took the better part of a day to clean up the headers with the air grinder. NO excuse for such bad rigging in the jigs before they welded them up. No more TPIS for me. However, having ranted enough about that, I did see 340.8 RWHP and 334.5 torque on the dyno with the mods in my signature. An increase of 50HP or so from stock.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Re: Headers for LT4 (southern_son)
Plus, Merle at EM has a slick set of pre-fabbed adapters to connect his LT headers to a Corsa cat-back system. You have 2 options here - Random bullet cats or a blank pipe that fits in their place. He developed the jig to make these using my LT4 with his EM headers and the Corsa PowerPulse catback I already had, so everything fits just right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,079
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater FL
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Headers for LT4 (Kevs LT4)
You will definately notice a performance increase, but if you don't use cats, the noise will be much louder with an aftermarket exh system. I would love to put on the long tubes and random cats on my car someday...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Re: Headers for LT4 (tailgunner)
What Rich means by "tuning it out" is that you can have your PCM recalibrated to remove the DTC switch so that it won't throw a DTC for the missing sensors. Or you can purchase two sensor simulators and plug them into the harness where the sensors were. These little guys sends a dummy signal to the PCM so that the PCM will thing all is well from the sensors that are no longer there. Here is where you can purchase the sims:
http://www.casperselectronics.com/cg...gi?product=HID
http://www.casperselectronics.com/cg...gi?product=HID
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: My Own Private Idaho
Re: Headers for LT4 (tjwong)
What Rich means by "tuning it out" is that you can have your PCM recalibrated to remove the DTC switch so that it won't throw a DTC for the missing sensors. Or you can purchase two sensor simulators and plug them into the harness where the sensors were. These little guys sends a dummy signal to the PCM so that the PCM will thing all is well from the sensors that are no longer there. Here is where you can purchase the sims:
http://www.casperselectronics.com/cg...gi?product=HID
http://www.casperselectronics.com/cg...gi?product=HID
Very cool. Thx :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: Headers for LT4 (Kevs LT4)
Something else to know is all the currently available long tube headers require further exhaust fabrication to connect to the rest of the exhaust system.
I believe DRM used to sell Watson headers that plumbed right into the factory exhaust. No longer available though...:(
I believe DRM used to sell Watson headers that plumbed right into the factory exhaust. No longer available though...:(
