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Header Question

Old Feb 15, 2005 | 11:50 AM
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Ok I was talking to a friend about installing headers in my car (01 MN6). Right now I have GHLs bullets and the Halltech Stinger.

He said that he read an article where they showed that the headers did not improve HP that much for the money in the vettes. I guess the article said that the camaro found tons of gain from the new headers, but the vette had pretty good flow already so the gain was not that much.

If that was true then I would re-direct my money into new gears, but since everyone here has done the ehader change I would have to think the article is wrong.

Any dynos of gains out there for me to look at?
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 12:00 PM
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I installed GHL LT headers and gained around 25 peak hp. Most of my gain was "under the curve" however and my peak power comes on around 2500rpm and stays through 5000rpm. I feel a definite seat of the pants improvement and recommend LTs. I'll post the dynograph soon.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 12:06 PM
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headers are a must have with these cars.

Chris
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Ok I was talking to a friend about installing headers in my car (01 MN6). Right now I have GHLs bullets and the Halltech Stinger.

He said that he read an article where they showed that the headers did not improve HP that much for the money in the vettes. I guess the article said that the camaro found tons of gain from the new headers, but the vette had pretty good flow already so the gain was not that much.

If that was true then I would re-direct my money into new gears, but since everyone here has done the ehader change I would have to think the article is wrong.

Any dynos of gains out there for me to look at?
Actually it is the CAT back that sees no gains - The headers give nice gains for sure
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 12:46 PM
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Your friend may have read an article about Shorty Headers. If that is what he was refferring too, he's pretty much correct.

As for Long tube headers, you should be able to get 25+ HP gains from all I've heard.
I have yet to have mine installed so I can NOT speak from personal experience, but I did read up quite a bit on these before buying my LG's.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 01:01 PM
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Everything I have seen states about a 25-30 hp gain with LT headers. This was also what a tuner told me. I'd say LT headers are a good addition.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 01:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Glennm27
Your friend may have read an article about Shorty Headers. If that is what he was refferring too, he's pretty much correct.

As for Long tube headers, you should be able to get 25+ HP gains from all I've heard.
I have yet to have mine installed so I can NOT speak from personal experience, but I did read up quite a bit on these before buying my LG's.

This would make sense....

thanks
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 01:07 PM
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I have been reading a lot on this subject too and I will be adding headers for sure (just a matter of budget). I have decided to go with the LG LT headers, from what I've read , with proper tuning and all, they produce some of the biggest gains in HP and Torque for the C5
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by FrankTank
I have been reading a lot on this subject too and I will be adding headers for sure (just a matter of budget). I have decided to go with the LG LT headers, from what I've read , with proper tuning and all, they produce some of the biggest gains in HP and Torque for the C5
In fact, I ordered a set of LGM LTs w/cats yesterday. I'm hoping for 350+rwhp/360+rwtq on an '02 M6 coupe with Blackwing and Quad Borla Stingers.

Glenn, you've had those for a while. Get them installed!
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 02:18 PM
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ttt

OK..I'm confused. From what I have read, long tubes headers on their own won't give you much HP gains unless you go with the high flow (or no) cats, X-pipeand an aftermarket exhaust. Since I live in NJ, the high flow cats are out of the question since it's my understanding that I will not pass emmissions inspection. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by nwdanner
In fact, I ordered a set of LGM LTs w/cats yesterday. I'm hoping for 350+rwhp/360+rwtq on an '02 M6 coupe with Blackwing and Quad Borla Stingers.

Glenn, you've had those for a while. Get them installed!

I've had them about a month. They are getting coated right now, being installed late March. I actually want to run the first Corvette Challenge event at Englishtown March 19 WITHOUT them, then get them installed then compare the results after the NEXT Corvette Challenge, April 2.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenovice
ttt

OK..I'm confused. From what I have read, long tubes headers on their own won't give you much HP gains unless you go with the high flow (or no) cats, X-pipeand an aftermarket exhaust. Since I live in NJ, the high flow cats are out of the question since it's my understanding that I will not pass emmissions inspection. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I've kept my stock OEM main cats and I've gotten a good gain with my LT headers. I do have an X Pipe and aftermarket mufflers, but that's only for sound and the general concensus is that they add no power. The headers definitely add power just on their own. See sig for numbers.

- Mark
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 06:41 PM
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I did my exhaust including long tube headers, high flow cats, x pipe, and B & B Bullets all at once, and I can feel the horsepower and torque increase big time. Not to mention it sounds like a Corvette should.

Gotta get that cam now.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenovice
ttt

OK..I'm confused. From what I have read, long tubes headers on their own won't give you much HP gains unless you go with the high flow (or no) cats, X-pipeand an aftermarket exhaust. Since I live in NJ, the high flow cats are out of the question since it's my understanding that I will not pass emmissions inspection. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
It's not the high flow cats that give you the gain...it is the headers themselves.
The main reason so many use the high-flow cats, is most of the popular header kits out today are designed as complete systems all the way to the rear of the car, so they include the cats and X-pipe. They utilize none of the stock H-pipe, and won't connect to it. It makes for a nice, clean bolt-on approach, as well as more flexibility for the header design and cats/straight pipe interchangability. Systems like the LG, FLP, Kook's, and Supermaxx are like this.

There are some LT headers which are "just the headers", and are designed to mate to the stock cats. You will have to do a little cutting of the stock pipes to fit and connect them, but once installed, they will offer much more power too. Look into the TPIS or Stainlessworks headers if keeping the stock cats is important to you.


Last edited by Y2Kvert4me; Feb 15, 2005 at 09:21 PM.
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 09:20 PM
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Get LT headers & eliminate the pre-cats...you will be happy!
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Old Feb 15, 2005 | 09:30 PM
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This is the dyno for my vette. Its before and after the LGM LT header
install w/high flow cats. No tuning was done to the car either.

A picture paints a 1000 words;

Last edited by Vetteran; Feb 15, 2005 at 09:41 PM.
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Old Feb 16, 2005 | 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Vetteran
This is the dyno for my vette. Its before and after the LGM LT header
install w/high flow cats. No tuning was done to the car either.

A picture paints a 1000 words;
>> SNIP DYNO GRAPH <<
Thanks for posting that graph. I can't wait to get mine installed!!!
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Old Feb 16, 2005 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
Ok I was talking to a friend about installing headers in my car (01 MN6). Right now I have GHLs bullets and the Halltech Stinger.

He said that he read an article where they showed that the headers did not improve HP that much for the money in the vettes. I guess the article said that the camaro found tons of gain from the new headers, but the vette had pretty good flow already so the gain was not that much.

If that was true then I would re-direct my money into new gears, but since everyone here has done the ehader change I would have to think the article is wrong.

Any dynos of gains out there for me to look at?
I had the LGM long tube headers with high flow cats, plus 4.10s installed at the same time. All I can say is that there is a very noticeable difference. I'm trying to schedule a tune to get a little more and to see some HP numbers. Next time we meet up, take it for a spin.
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Old Feb 16, 2005 | 11:05 AM
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looks like saying 15 - 20 RWHP is the increase which is pretty good IMHO.

thanks guys I am staying with original plan - LT Headers, High flow cats, x-pipe then 4.10 gears...
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Old Feb 16, 2005 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
looks like saying 15 - 20 RWHP is the increase which is pretty good IMHO.

thanks guys I am staying with original plan - LT Headers, High flow cats, x-pipe then 4.10 gears...

Go for it Bob!!!

My vette went from 289 rwhp to 322 rwhp in my A4 with Kooks LT, high flow cats and X-pipe! More importantly, you could really feel the change, much more than with a Blackwing air filter. Its really a difference of night and day. The sound is great as well. I went with a Z06 ti exhaust since I didn't want my vette to be too loud but it still sounds awesome! The headers really livened up the Z06 ti. You'll definitely be please with a set of GHLs. Believe me, you won't regret it. You've personally seen how happy I look when I drive around in my vette.
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