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View Poll Results: Which mod... Wheels or Headers?
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Which mod would you do? Wheels or Headers?

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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:35 PM
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Default Which mod would you do? Wheels or Headers?

Title says it all... I'm debating which direction I want to go with my car. I already have a Corsa catback and Vararam, and I am torn on whether I should freshen up the looks of my car and get a new set of wheels or go with headers and a dyno tune and get a nice bump in power and sound.

What would you do?
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:38 PM
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Do you race it?
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:52 PM
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Depends on the wheels. Considering the same question myself.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:53 PM
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Wheels will def make the biggest change in a fresh look!!!
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by RetiredSFC 97
Do you race it?
No, I do not race it at all.

Originally Posted by Zap City
Depends on the wheels. Considering the same question myself.
A wheel of my choice that I like better than the stock thinkspokes!
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:55 PM
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I guess I'm a wheel snob - unless you are going for some expensive multi-piece forged wheels that don't add a lot of weight, I would go for the headers and tune package.

Wheels only look good when the car is standing still - when the car is rolling, you won't see them, and even then - they look like spinning disks.

Headers and a tune on the other hand are something that you will appreciate every time you start the car and drive it.

The politically correct response is do what makes you happy - but I hate politically correct responses!
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:58 PM
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I did not see a noticeable gain out of headers on my earlier 97, so my old C6 never got any headers, neither does my current 02.
There is a difference in sound though if you want louder.

I would have to go with wheels for the most bang for your buck !
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by corvettezman
I did not see a noticeable gain out of headers on my earlier 97, so my old C6 never got any headers, neither does my current 02.
There is a difference in sound though if you want louder.

I would have to go with wheels for the most bang for your buck !
You never saw a noticeable gain in performance with headers?
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by C5Wolfe
You never saw a noticeable gain in performance with headers?
Not really. I am guessing on a stock car, headers are going to probably add no more than 20 HP (provided you do nothing else). I can't justify $1500 for 20 HP.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:26 PM
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Headers are cheap horsepower. You can't go wrong. Get a good tune. It will yield results. Wheels later....
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:32 PM
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How bout a compromise. I'd like to add 18 fronts and 19 rears to toughen up the stance a bit. I've got a set of GHL bullets on the way to replace B&B bullets that are making my cabin buzz like crazy. Is there much advantage in going with a tune on a catback only car without headers? The difference saved will go some distance on some new wheels. Best of both worlds, or dreaming? Just thinking out loud. I'm looking to wake the car up a bit, but not necessarily run 10s on the track. Is a tune without headers a waste? I heard headers and a good tune is worth as much as 40 HP. That in my opinion is worth $1500.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Zap City
How bout a compromise. I'd like to add 18 fronts and 19 rears to toughen up the stance a bit. I've got a set of GHL bullets on the way to replace B&B bullets that are making my cabin buzz like crazy. Is there much advantage in going with a tune on a catback only car without headers? The difference saved will go some distance on some new wheels. Best of both worlds, or dreaming? Just thinking out loud. I'm looking to wake the car up a bit, but not necessarily run 10s on the track. Is a tune without headers a waste? I heard headers and a good tune is worth as much as 40 HP. That in my opinion is worth $1500.
You can probably get 15-20 Hp with a good tune without the headers on a stock car. A good tune will cost you about 100 to 150 bucks.
So that goes back to my theory that adding the headers is only good for 20 HP, now if that is worth $1500 to you, then go for it.

SLP on their web site claim a gain of 30 HP with their headers on a C6 LS2, so it would be safe to assume it would be lower than that on a LS1.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:43 PM
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More power is always good, but a fresh set of wheels can really make the car stand out in a crowd. I'd go with the wheels for now.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 10:36 PM
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The way you drive get some wheels
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 11:04 PM
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 11:15 PM
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well to me more power for the same amount of fuel burned makes things more efficient, and to me that means better mileage and more fun. But i've never had headers on any vehicle i've owned. I'm not very big on cosmetic upgrades most of the time. Could you post some pics of the wheels you're thinking of, or a link to em?
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 12:56 AM
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Go 4 the wheels
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To Which mod would you do? Wheels or Headers?

Old Jan 4, 2012 | 01:05 AM
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I say performance before looks, but that's just me. I drive my car, I love power, and the more I get the more I want. It's a sad addiction really... power=money and money=power, no matter how you look at it.

If you drive your car like a sports car and want to enjoy the power you can gain from headers/tune, then go with that. If you like to look at your car, maybe put it in a show every now and then, and making it look better makes you happy, then buy a set of wheels. Either way, whichever one you choose, down the road you could always get what you don't get this time.

BTW, I'll have headers off of vette #1 (that we're parting out) available soon. PM me for details if you're interested!

Last edited by herZ06; Jan 4, 2012 at 01:13 AM.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by TorchRedRocket
Title says it all... I'm debating which direction I want to go with my car. I already have a Corsa catback and Vararam, and I am torn on whether I should freshen up the looks of my car and get a new set of wheels or go with headers and a dyno tune and get a nice bump in power and sound.

What would you do?
Ah my favorite question brad you know my answer! Your gonna spend more on wheels/tires then you would on headers/tune unless you find a smoking deal on a set of used wheels/tires here on the forum
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by corvettezman
You can probably get 15-20 Hp with a good tune without the headers on a stock car. A good tune will cost you about 100 to 150 bucks.
So that goes back to my theory that adding the headers is only good for 20 HP, now if that is worth $1500 to you, then go for it.

SLP on their web site claim a gain of 30 HP with their headers on a C6 LS2, so it would be safe to assume it would be lower than that on a LS1.
Im sorry but I disagree. You should get 35 with headers and tune.
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