so you just do half of what you had planned, ya gotta luv it, anyway I'd just go with headers, and leave the gears alone. Good Luck
**Gears or Headers? Which would you do and why????**
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 0
From: Burbs Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06
**Gears or Headers? Which would you do and why????**
Its that time of year everyone. Tax refund time! 
I was intially going to do both Headers(and high flow cats and X) and a 4.10 rear, but the wife quickly and swiftly put the kaybash on that. Did I mention quickly?
Went kinda like this:
Me: "Hi honey. I love you so..."
Wife: "No, nothing more for the car".
Anyway, I now have the choice to do one or the other. I have a '99 6spd Coupe with a B&B catback and air intake.
What would give the most performance for the money? Both are going to cost me $1200 installed, parts included. I dont drag race all that often, and love driving the car both in twisties and in a straight line.
Ok guys and gals...have at it...
I was intially going to do both Headers(and high flow cats and X) and a 4.10 rear, but the wife quickly and swiftly put the kaybash on that. Did I mention quickly?Went kinda like this:
Me: "Hi honey. I love you so..."
Wife: "No, nothing more for the car".
Anyway, I now have the choice to do one or the other. I have a '99 6spd Coupe with a B&B catback and air intake.
What would give the most performance for the money? Both are going to cost me $1200 installed, parts included. I dont drag race all that often, and love driving the car both in twisties and in a straight line.
Ok guys and gals...have at it...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
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From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Unless you have an a4 trans I would go for the headers. It will sound great and increase the H/P.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,042
Likes: 3,582
From: Central MO
It depends on what you are looking for.
For performance improvement, get the gears, at the expense of gas mileage if you have an A4.
If you want better breathing and the possibility of better gas mileage (HAHA!), get long-tube headers.
For performance improvement, get the gears, at the expense of gas mileage if you have an A4.
If you want better breathing and the possibility of better gas mileage (HAHA!), get long-tube headers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 810
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From: Kennesaw, GA Peach State Posse
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I chose to do gears first. I have an A4 and went to 3.42 last October. Big seat of the pants performance gain along with a Yank 3200. Much more than I could have got with just headers I think. I want to do headers soon as I can though. 
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Race Director
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From: Far side of the Moon
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St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
If it were my dime I'd do the headers and high flow cats first (and X-pipe while you're at it). 
Maybe think about heads and cam when you are ready to go from stock 3.42 gears to 4.10's.
Have fun...
Maybe think about heads and cam when you are ready to go from stock 3.42 gears to 4.10's.
Have fun...
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,592
Likes: 1,710
From: Converse TX
If this is a daily driver I would do the headers as it will not affect your gas mileage like gears will. Now if this is a weekend warrier gears will make your car a faster sleeper with those 4.10 and you MN6. I know as I did this with my F-body headers first and mileage not affected and then I went 4.10 and shaved off 5 mpg from what I got before, but it really woke up my car
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,322
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From: New York NY
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
I would go with the gears. Headers make the car sound better, but in my opinion dont offer a whole lot in the performance department. You should also put a new set of tires on the christmas list if you get the gears.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by peter pan
If this is a daily driver I would do the headers as it will not affect your gas mileage like gears will. Now if this is a weekend warrier gears will make your car a faster sleeper with those 4.10 and you MN6. I know as I did this with my F-body headers first and mileage not affected and then I went 4.10 and shaved off 5 mpg from what I got before, but it really woke up my car
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 31
From: Allentown PA & Elk Twp NJ HPDE Addict
Originally Posted by Ghostly1
Personally, I'd rather headers because I like the different/louder exhaust note. If you're looking for a mod that will give you the most "seat of the pants feel", you might want to get the gears.
Also in my case I'll be doing a cam and perhaps heads too, so the headers in my view are just part of the whole package to get the motor to breath better.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,205
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From: Chicago-NW Burbs Illinois
Gears and a stall could knock off about a second in the 1/4 mile if thats what your looking for. if you plan on a cam later on you will need both anyway. I would do the gears and stall first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
IMHO, I THINK??? that most of the people recommending gears MISSED that you have a 6 SPEED - I think people would say IF you had an a4 auto and were after performance, do the gears. But since you HAVE a 6 SPEED, I'd think that you probably pick up some SOP just by using the lower gears - this is my GUESS -
Anyway, if I guessed correctly, then you probably want to go w/ headers.
Just my .02
Anyway, if I guessed correctly, then you probably want to go w/ headers.
Just my .02
