Headers: Edumacate me
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,841
Likes: 0
From: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Alto MI
Headers: Edumacate me
Been a while since I've been in C5 Gen, so bear with me.
2000 m6 coupe. Only mod is a Halltech Stinger. I'm looking at exhaust as well, and I'm set on Corsa Pace Car. X-pipe while I'm at it.
Here's the question(s), then: Best long-tube header? Probably looking at keeping the cats. What will mate up the best with the Corsas? Best bang for the buck? Don't know that I have the wherewithall to do a self-install, so I'm gonna have to take it all somewhere.
TIA
2000 m6 coupe. Only mod is a Halltech Stinger. I'm looking at exhaust as well, and I'm set on Corsa Pace Car. X-pipe while I'm at it.
Here's the question(s), then: Best long-tube header? Probably looking at keeping the cats. What will mate up the best with the Corsas? Best bang for the buck? Don't know that I have the wherewithall to do a self-install, so I'm gonna have to take it all somewhere.
TIA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 22
From: Lititz PA
I can only speak for American Racing Headers since I haven't had anything else on my C5, but I could not be happier with them. Fit and finish is one of the, if not the, best. Build quality is incredible.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,841
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From: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Alto MI
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,599
Likes: 1,717
From: Converse TX
I have AR headers and had TPIS before and the fit and finish of the AR is much superior, LGs that my buddies have are also a top notch set of headers and one of my blower buddies loves his kooks 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,841
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From: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Alto MI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 22
From: Lititz PA
Tied into Stingers and I couldn't be happier. I didn't install them, but a real Corvette shop should be about to do it in around 2 hours if I had to guess. They absolutely scream around 3800rpm.
*Without a tune you'll feel an increase, but with a tune, oh boy...
*Without a tune you'll feel an increase, but with a tune, oh boy...
Last edited by YeloFevr; Mar 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 417
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Kooks through stock cats then Borla XR-1.
SOTP feel, I remember right after the install, I was getting on the interstate. Normally I would downshift into 5th to get some extra momentum going to get up to speed. ( going from 65 to say crusing at 75 or so). This time I just used the gas pedle and I could feel the extra TQ start pulling right away. Really didn't need to downshift to get up to my crusing speed, still don't. The smile has been on my face ever since, and that was even before my tune! But unfortunatly it's never enough. That's why Heads and cam are next. At least for a while, I hope.
SOTP feel, I remember right after the install, I was getting on the interstate. Normally I would downshift into 5th to get some extra momentum going to get up to speed. ( going from 65 to say crusing at 75 or so). This time I just used the gas pedle and I could feel the extra TQ start pulling right away. Really didn't need to downshift to get up to my crusing speed, still don't. The smile has been on my face ever since, and that was even before my tune! But unfortunatly it's never enough. That's why Heads and cam are next. At least for a while, I hope.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
I agree. ECS put on the American Racing kit which included the headers, hi-flo cats and x-pipe. This mated up to my Corsa cat back perfectly. I'm very happy with the setup.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Alto MI
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 2
Racers "in the know" go with Billy Boat 304SS shorty headers, for that true useable torque range and SOTP neck snapping acceleration improvement, no doubt, no doubt. 
Me, I run BB 304SS Shorty`s pretty soon, when they get here
Me, I run BB 304SS Shorty`s pretty soon, when they get here
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Unless you have an extremely modified engine you will not be able to tell the difference in performance in headers(except the difference between long and short tubes). I went with Jet Hots coated longtubes, ceramic coated inside and out, for a little over $500 shipped. No vette tax there. They also come with a bolt flange that any muff shop has flanges to fit.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
All of the following brands will give you basically the same power level, and have received good reviews here on the forum in terms of fit and finish;
Dynatech
Kooks
American Racing
LG's
Dont let anyone tell you one brand makes more power than the other, they all make about the same. Alot of how much power you'll get is who tunes your car, and how good a tuner they are. You'll see tons of claims on here about people saying X header makes the best power, but you'll never find to side by side apples to apples comparison. The only difference would be if you started comparing Short tube headers vs Long Tube Headers. Short tubes dont make as much power and are a waste of money.
Good luck
Dynatech
Kooks
American Racing
LG's
Dont let anyone tell you one brand makes more power than the other, they all make about the same. Alot of how much power you'll get is who tunes your car, and how good a tuner they are. You'll see tons of claims on here about people saying X header makes the best power, but you'll never find to side by side apples to apples comparison. The only difference would be if you started comparing Short tube headers vs Long Tube Headers. Short tubes dont make as much power and are a waste of money.
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
okay just give me a few days to make the drive from Chicago to Cali
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 2
FINE FINE, It`s ON, I will contact the bald guy from the Pink`s show, also we will need a young lassie to flag start us with her uhhhh, ummm, well a pink santiny shiny material should be used, just so we can both clearly see it basking in the moon glow,,, type deal.
Also perhaps you missed the "racers in the know" part, famed and legendary racers such as :
Billy Bob
Billy Joe
Billy Sue
and none other than, Billy Boat HIMSELF !
Oh dude I can`t wait, and I am a clean racer, so no pulling one of the 8 plug wires to mis-lead you prior to placing our bets. Also you should know I`m running Flowmasters, thats right Flows !
Still "wanna go",
Yeah I thought so
Also perhaps you missed the "racers in the know" part, famed and legendary racers such as :
Billy Bob
Billy Joe
Billy Sue
and none other than, Billy Boat HIMSELF !
Oh dude I can`t wait, and I am a clean racer, so no pulling one of the 8 plug wires to mis-lead you prior to placing our bets. Also you should know I`m running Flowmasters, thats right Flows !
Still "wanna go",
Yeah I thought so
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 10
From: Austin, Texas
I recently had a set of LTs (TPIS) and Cat'd X-pipe installed, mated to Z06 TI's, and believe me you can tell the difference!!! In both the SOTP feel and the sound.
And if you decide to go with a set of headers, definitely get a tune
You'll be happy you did 
It is now a totally different car
roscoe
And if you decide to go with a set of headers, definitely get a tune
You'll be happy you did It is now a totally different car roscoe