[Z06] Help with bolt ons!!
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 33
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Help with bolt ons!!
Okay, so I know there are a million threads and posts about bolts on for a c5z but I'm looking for a legit answer because I'm buying this week.. So therefore, what are the best headers period for my 04 z06?? Best number to the ground as well as loud(noise means nothing, but I like my car to scream) from what I've read it's FLPS, kooks, stainless works, and a few others? Help me out with the right size and power number with tune and dyno so I can buy them. Also, best bolt ons besides cam or anything above it.. Should I get an under drive pulley or no.. Like best intake, should I get the fast manifold with just bolt ons, uhm best size pipes and headers that fit.. Open or not? Etc. help out forum junkys 
I am looking at 2inch or 1 7/8 looks headers with the kooks catless x pipe to 2.5 borla no muffs.. Vararam intake.. Maybe underdrive pulley, throttle body, porting, and radials?
Any numbers or advice or sizes and opinions will help!
Thanks
Ps lost my 468rwp goat:/ bought an 04 z
I am looking at 2inch or 1 7/8 looks headers with the kooks catless x pipe to 2.5 borla no muffs.. Vararam intake.. Maybe underdrive pulley, throttle body, porting, and radials?
Any numbers or advice or sizes and opinions will help!
Thanks
Ps lost my 468rwp goat:/ bought an 04 z
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 70
LG or American Racing are usually considered the best headers. Kooks does have its fans, but the first two are more popular.
They are also the most expensive. I wonder why?
It is hard to tell by a post, but slow down and do your research. "Buying this week" without fully informing yourself can cause problems. Just my two cents.
They are also the most expensive. I wonder why?
It is hard to tell by a post, but slow down and do your research. "Buying this week" without fully informing yourself can cause problems. Just my two cents.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 816
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
I have an 03 Z, LG Pro's/or super pros (1 3/4) catted Xpipe and Corsa Extreme exhaust, Blackwing CAI, Harland Sharp Trunion upgrade and an ECS full street tune......She moves....Back pressure is a myth, if you experience a loss of TQ it is because you bought garbage headers or you improperly installed your exhaust. Tq my lag a bit behind HP but TQ is the tougher number to gain..
As far as your mechanic telling you the 2" headers are not for your set up, he is right. It is like putting Heads on your car for a 4.0 or larger bore. It will not optimize your set up. Horsepower and TQ is dependent on how well air/fuel/spark burn occures within the cylinder.
When everything port matches (Intake>MAF>TB>Intake> Heads> Cylinder Bore> Headers>Exhaust) and an incredible tune you have great atomization of fuel, swirl into the cylinder then spark ignites at the perfect moment. All of this happens because you have flow without flow then it is tough for a tuner to do his job...Just my take on it.
As far as your mechanic telling you the 2" headers are not for your set up, he is right. It is like putting Heads on your car for a 4.0 or larger bore. It will not optimize your set up. Horsepower and TQ is dependent on how well air/fuel/spark burn occures within the cylinder.
When everything port matches (Intake>MAF>TB>Intake> Heads> Cylinder Bore> Headers>Exhaust) and an incredible tune you have great atomization of fuel, swirl into the cylinder then spark ignites at the perfect moment. All of this happens because you have flow without flow then it is tough for a tuner to do his job...Just my take on it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 816
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
As far as the FAST is concerned, unless your buying the larger throttle body your wasting money. The gains will be very small on your set up vs. the LS6 intake. Get an electric water pump instead.
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I would do the underdrive pulley when you do the cam to save some labor. It's not as easy to do as it was in your GTO, you have to pull the steering rack out of the way to get to the balancer which adds extra labor. If you do it during a cam you kill two birds with one stone.
I'd personally skip the throttle body. My first mods would be, intake, headers, catback, thermostat, and a dyno tune. Then I'd look into doing a cam for more power, or, going the supercharged route.
I would do the timing chain during the cam install for sure. As for the water pump, you can do an electric one which usually frees up 5hp or so, but they are a bit costly.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
We use Kooks here, but the truth is performance wise, the difference between any of the big brands will be negligible. I prefer Kooks as they are local to us, and do a fantastic job. I have always been impressed with the quality and customer service there.
I would do the underdrive pulley when you do the cam to save some labor. It's not as easy to do as it was in your GTO, you have to pull the steering rack out of the way to get to the balancer which adds extra labor. If you do it during a cam you kill two birds with one stone.
I'd personally skip the throttle body. My first mods would be, intake, headers, catback, thermostat, and a dyno tune. Then I'd look into doing a cam for more power, or, going the supercharged route.
I would do the timing chain during the cam install for sure. As for the water pump, you can do an electric one which usually frees up 5hp or so, but they are a bit costly.
I would do the underdrive pulley when you do the cam to save some labor. It's not as easy to do as it was in your GTO, you have to pull the steering rack out of the way to get to the balancer which adds extra labor. If you do it during a cam you kill two birds with one stone.
I'd personally skip the throttle body. My first mods would be, intake, headers, catback, thermostat, and a dyno tune. Then I'd look into doing a cam for more power, or, going the supercharged route.
I would do the timing chain during the cam install for sure. As for the water pump, you can do an electric one which usually frees up 5hp or so, but they are a bit costly.
A good cam like a COMP 228-236 .600/.600 change the Valve springs. 425/400 RWHP/RWTQ....
If you plan on doing the heads then do the intake/TB: 440/410... Other than that the LS6 intake is all you need,it really is a good intake. I recently read a article about a cammed LS3 in GMHTP they had a H/C/E set up and when they switched to the LSX102r they gained nearly nothing. 5hp is not worth 1200.00 bucks to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
As a matter of fact here is a stock internal 346 with a LS6/LS2/FAST intake compairison:
http://www.gearchatter.com/viewtopic10974.php
I am in no way trying to persuade you not to get the FAST, by all means if that is what you want then do it. I just think you could save your cash for a better upgrade like a cam or heads and cam.
http://www.gearchatter.com/viewtopic10974.php
I am in no way trying to persuade you not to get the FAST, by all means if that is what you want then do it. I just think you could save your cash for a better upgrade like a cam or heads and cam.
Last edited by deadcafe; Apr 8, 2013 at 08:09 PM.