Question about headers
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 4
From: Ontario and Kissimmee Fla.
Question about headers
Been a member for a while, never posted.
I am interested in having headers installed, I have an 03 Anniv. auto, corsa pace car exhaust. What will headers do for me and what type should I buy?
Thanks
Dave
I am interested in having headers installed, I have an 03 Anniv. auto, corsa pace car exhaust. What will headers do for me and what type should I buy?
Thanks
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
Long tube headers will give you a bit more power (about 20-30 HP) from what I have read, and will make the exhaust louder. Somewhat expensive for a little HP gain and a different sound. Also, a dyno tune would be good after the header install, which should result in a bit more power and a larger total expense..
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,225
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From: The Great Truth: "There ain't no free lunch"
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Hey Cool,
Along with "much louder"
, you will find a more responsive engine...A cold air intake and tune would also be worth the investment....As far as which ones......wellll our vendors can make suggestions and ad infinitum debates are available through "search".......
Along with "much louder"
, you will find a more responsive engine...A cold air intake and tune would also be worth the investment....As far as which ones......wellll our vendors can make suggestions and ad infinitum debates are available through "search".......
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Along with the hp gains you will notice a deeper exhaust tone. They really wake your c5 up!
Check out the LG streets we offer. The fit and finish is second to none.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-from-jwm.html
Check out the LG streets we offer. The fit and finish is second to none.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-from-jwm.html
Last edited by JW Motorsports; Jan 30, 2011 at 01:31 PM.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 496
Likes: 14
From: Phoenix AZ
Before you buy you need to decide what it is you are really looking to gain. Are you wanting a little additional performance or as much as possible. Do you want to stay 50 state emissions legal?
We offer both shorty or long tube headers. The shorties will give you about 15hp, are 50 state emissions legal, direct bolt on part and will increase sound ever so slightly. Our long tubes on the other hand have shown increases of over 40hp with our complete set up which includes high flow cat pipes, x-pipe and an axle back system and more is possible with a tune and you will notice an increase in sound but not a major difference.
You can read more about our shorties and long tubes at www.bbexhaust.com or call us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
We offer both shorty or long tube headers. The shorties will give you about 15hp, are 50 state emissions legal, direct bolt on part and will increase sound ever so slightly. Our long tubes on the other hand have shown increases of over 40hp with our complete set up which includes high flow cat pipes, x-pipe and an axle back system and more is possible with a tune and you will notice an increase in sound but not a major difference.
You can read more about our shorties and long tubes at www.bbexhaust.com or call us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
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David Merkel
Marketing Dir.
Billy Boat Exhaust
David Merkel
Marketing Dir.
Billy Boat Exhaust
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Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 619
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From: Wheeling IL
What are the differences in size? I think there are 1 3/4 and 1 7/8 versions. When should you get the 1 7/8 version? It seems the bigger the header, the more hp gain but I have a feeling there is a catch. Can someone please advise on the different sizes.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 496
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From: Phoenix AZ
If you ran around with your foot buried in the throttle all day running at max rpm's then the larger tubes may be for you. If you are more concerned about everyday driving and stop light to stop light performance the 1.750" is the better choice.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 12,331
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Yes you will see 1.750", 1.875" and maybe even a 2" headers however through testing we have found that the 1.750" is the best all around on the C5 for 99% of people. You may see a couple HP more from the larger tube headers however it is further up in the rpm range that you will never use it plus the increases in the lower rpm's are less than the smaller tube header. You also usually see a loss of low rpm torque with the larger diameter tubes.
If you ran around with your foot buried in the throttle all day running at max rpm's then the larger tubes may be for you. If you are more concerned about everyday driving and stop light to stop light performance the 1.750" is the better choice.
If you ran around with your foot buried in the throttle all day running at max rpm's then the larger tubes may be for you. If you are more concerned about everyday driving and stop light to stop light performance the 1.750" is the better choice.
I have 1.75 AR headers and until i start making upwards of 600+ hp there is no reason to go with a larger header. Hell i shift at 6800 at wot and am still using the 1.75 headers.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 289
Likes: 19
From: Hilton Head Island, SC
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I have an 03 MN6. I initially put Corsa Pace car cat back on and was very happy with it for several months... that is until I finally decided to add LG Street long tubes to it. And now it is WOW!!! Big difference and much better. The pace car exhaust had a rather high pitch for what I wanted. I was looking for more of a muscle car sound, and I got it adding the headers. It was a pretty easy DIY install and the fit was good. I did add a Blackwing, coupler and have it tuned. I have been very happy with the results! Good luck and let us know how you do!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
I went with the LG Streets and x-pipe that was recommended by my Installer, Corvettes of Houston. It's been an incredible difference after they performed the work!
It's also been noted by them and others that unless you are pushing 650+ hp and running at the WOT RPMS it's overfkill....the 1 3/4" header pipes are fully capable and deliver LOT's of power.
It's also been noted by them and others that unless you are pushing 650+ hp and running at the WOT RPMS it's overfkill....the 1 3/4" header pipes are fully capable and deliver LOT's of power.
Last edited by sfc rick; Jan 31, 2011 at 08:35 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
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From: Republic of Texas
Your choice of headers will depend on what you're wanting to gain and where. All headers have a "sweet spot" where the exhaust pulses harmonize and the torque is significantly higher.
Assuming a stock-cubes N/A motor......
Longer primaries will net you a gain lower in the powerband while shorter primaries will give more power towards the middle or top. For reference, my old SSAC headers had ~24" primaries and they peaked about 3000rpm
The exception to this are the giant LG headers. The 42" primaries have TWO sweet spots in them: around 2200 and 4400 rpm.
In addition, the size of the primaries will also play a part in determining the area of most gain. Smaller primaries like 1 5/8" will speed up the exhaust flow resulting in more torque. If you get a H/C swap, a blower or spend a lot of time in the top of the power band, 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" primaries will have less of a restriction on the increased volume of gasses being moved.
For your current application, I think any of the ARH, Kooks or OBX will fit your application nicely while still saving $$ for more mods later on.
Assuming a stock-cubes N/A motor......
Longer primaries will net you a gain lower in the powerband while shorter primaries will give more power towards the middle or top. For reference, my old SSAC headers had ~24" primaries and they peaked about 3000rpm
The exception to this are the giant LG headers. The 42" primaries have TWO sweet spots in them: around 2200 and 4400 rpm.
In addition, the size of the primaries will also play a part in determining the area of most gain. Smaller primaries like 1 5/8" will speed up the exhaust flow resulting in more torque. If you get a H/C swap, a blower or spend a lot of time in the top of the power band, 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" primaries will have less of a restriction on the increased volume of gasses being moved.
For your current application, I think any of the ARH, Kooks or OBX will fit your application nicely while still saving $$ for more mods later on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: New Baltimore Michigan
Guys are talking about the hp gains, but where you will feel the diff. is in the torque. lt headers give you some good low end torque for a street car thats where you play anyways 1st thru 3rd maybe 4th if a manual. i run lg super pros with stock ti's out back on my 04z and love it
Steve
Steve
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 148
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OK. For what it's worth. I have an 02 vert M6 on which I had previously installed a Blackwing cold air intake and Borla two tube cat backs. It still wasn't quite the sound I was looking for. So last spring I intalled Kooks long tube headers and since, like you, we don't have state inspections, I took of the cat converters. What a difference!!!! Now it really rumbles. But some vette owners don't like that. I do. And I also had it dyno'd. If you remove the converters, your check engine light will stay on. You need someone with an HP computer to remove the light. At any rate, I don't regret it a bit. Love the sound and with all that I have done, the HP kick has been recorded at 43. So go for it and good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 44
From: If you wanna live life on your own terms, you gotta be willing to crash and burn Florida
I just bought a pair of BBK's shorty headers from the CorvetteGuys. I'm poor so I couldn't afford LT's so, this will do for now. I'm staying up in WI and my car is sitting until April, but a few bro's are coming over in a few weeks to install em'. I'll keep you posted on how they sound, but I wont know how they perform until spring when the salts off the roads. They were 399.99 w/free shipping.