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

headers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 11:33 AM
  #1  
Vett-eight-nine's Avatar
Vett-eight-nine
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ON
Default headers

What are people running for headers and is it worth it on an otherwise stock engine.
How do you deal with the cats issues? :steering:
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 12:52 PM
  #2  
Red Tornado's Avatar
Red Tornado
Team Owner
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Default Re: headers (Vett-eight-nine)

LT headers might give approx. 15 hp on a bone stock engine. Headers - coupled with a good exhaust system setup - merely SETS THE STAGE for engine and other performance-related mods. Get ready to spend money, there's no two ways about it. The performance gains from headers will synergize everything together as a "package". In the beginning, I tried to fight this but realized if you want real-world performance then you have to pay the piper and consider intake, heads, cam, the works (which included a chip recalibration). Doing it half-way is half-baked. Best thing to do is save the $$ (thousands), take your time and decide. Just throwing headers on will make is sound cooler, and yes will give you some real nice mid-range punch, but it begs of you to do alot more - you have to have a larger plan! I don't know what year corvette your are referring to (no info, nothing in profile), but I'm assuming its an '89 (based on your screen name, unless thats when you graduated), so thats why I mentioned intake and heads (although the heads can be left unported if you can't afford that) as part of the items to consider.

Good luck!


[Modified by bradvette, 12:55 PM 2/7/2004]
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 01:22 PM
  #3  
Vett-eight-nine's Avatar
Vett-eight-nine
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ON
Default Re: headers (bradvette)

Indeed, '89.
How did you run your cats?
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 01:43 PM
  #4  
86PACER's Avatar
86PACER
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Default Re: headers (Vett-eight-nine)

I have the Hooker 2151 headers. My factory pipe had pre cats. The new pipe (Hooker 16720) that fits the headers does not. The y-pipe feeds into a main cat. Even without the precats, my car still passed emission testing.
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 01:59 PM
  #5  
Vett-eight-nine's Avatar
Vett-eight-nine
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ON
Default Re: headers (86PACER)

This is good to know. I would think California cars may have had "heavier duty main cats. :confused:
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 04:38 PM
  #6  
vader86's Avatar
vader86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,127
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Re: headers (Vett-eight-nine)

You have a precat on each side and the main cat, no difference in a CA car these days.

When you do longtubes, you get rid of the manifolds and the front Y-pipe which contains the precats. So then you only have the main cat.

In most states, you can pass emissions testing with just the main cat, so long as the engine is in tune and the main cat is good.

Hooker 2149 contains the hookups for EGR and AIR pump, and has the O2 sensor bung in it, so thats what most of us like. TPiS also makes a good set. You would need the 2149 headers and the 16720 front Ypipe that fits the headers and bolts to the main cat in the same place.


[Modified by vader86, 3:39 PM 2/7/2004]
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2004 | 06:51 PM
  #7  
Dark-Knight's Avatar
Dark-Knight
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,133
Likes: 1
From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~
Default Re: headers (Vett-eight-nine)

:iagree: with bradvette, headers are the first step of a journey.


[Modified by Beautiful Beast, 5:53 PM 2/7/2004]
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To headers





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:10 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE