[Z06] Which Headers if at all
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville California
Which Headers if at all
Time for my next upgrade, any pros & cons feedback for installing headers, which brand to go with etc., lot's of bashing on the LG stuff made in china?, leak issues? but on the other hand many satisfied customers? how much real gain above a Honker intake and a tune will you actually achieve installing headers? reports are 20 to 30 with headers and a tune but what would you get from just a tune and CAI? Any detriment or reports of cooked items under the hood? Not to mention being in California and having to work around smog issues, but still with all concerns would like to have them. Found a vendor to do the Super Pro lt's install, dyno tune and plugs for $2,000. darn fair deal IMO but still on the fence. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
The clutch line travels pretty close to the driver's side exhaust manifold. After installing headers, you may find that a couple consecutive WOT shifts causes a change in the firmness and/or engagement point of your clutch pedal. If you rarely shift above ~5k rpm then it's not really an issue.
Damn good price. If you have a plan for getting around smog, then I say go ahead and pull the trigger. I would request that they wrap your clutch line with a couple layers of this - http://www.firesleeveandtape.com/AB-...g-S-FS-VCL.pdf - and an outer layer of this - http://www.firesleeveandtape.com/AB-...-FG-AL-VCL.pdf
Not to mention being in California and having to work around smog issues, but still with all concerns would like to have them. Found a vendor to do the Super Pro lt's install, dyno tune and plugs for $2,000. darn fair deal IMO but still on the fence. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Last edited by skyavonee; Jun 5, 2013 at 06:39 PM. Reason: edited for accuracy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
Alot more guys in CA are doing C6Z/C6 ZR1 manifolds, Downpipes and H/X-pipe.. Some add the AIR and some tune it out. CA emmissions are pretty strict so these are stealthy OE parts that have reported with a tune 20-25hp gains.. the LT's will gain more TQ, the LS7/LS9 exhaust will gain about 1/2 the TQ of the LT's but are again stealthy and only 300-400 for the entire setup. ZR1 mid pipe is a X and LS7 pipe is a H both in 3".
I have a set getting ready to go on my C5Z. there are a couple posts about the swap.
I have a set getting ready to go on my C5Z. there are a couple posts about the swap.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 32
From: Ocala FL
Here were my results on my '04 Z:
Bone stock the car made 359whp, 347 tq
With a tune it made. 366whp, 358 tq
I then added a Vararam intake, 160 degree thermostat, and re-tuned. New numbers were 376whp, 364tq
Then a few months ago I added NGK TR6 spark plugs, Kooks 1 7/8th headers with no cats, and ported throttle body. New numbers were 392whp, 377 tq
I don't think boring the throttle did anything power wise other than throttle improvement. So basically I picked up 16hp and 13 tq by adding headers and ditching the cats.
If you have to keep the cats in California your results will probably be a little less. So let's say 10-15hp and 10-13 tq. I was torn for a long time whether $2k was basically worth that. I did it more for the sound than power but I'm running no cats.
Last edited by JeremyGSU; Jun 5, 2013 at 10:04 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,250
Likes: 656
From: San Diego Ca
I have put long tubes on 2 cars and shorty headers on 1. I don't recall any modification short of a change to a big cam that did more to destroy the driveability of the car than the change to headers. Even the shorty headers will introduce a lot more heat and noise in the car. After modding a number of cars I have gone back to wanting a factory modded car that has had a large number of engineering hours that maintain warranty as well as NVH when adding addtl horsepower.
Just my experience. You can build in all the NVH you want.
Just my experience. You can build in all the NVH you want.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville California
Something like that probably would work not to mention helping with heat issues, but I certainly don't have the capacity to make something like that!
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville California
Most people who post stuff like that don't know what they are talking about. A 20-30hp gain is going to be from having nothing to adding a tune and headers. If you already have an intake and a tune, adding headers and re-tuning is not that big of a jump.
Here were my results on my '04 Z:
Bone stock the car made 359whp, 347 tq
With a tune it made. 366whp, 358 tq
I then added a Vararam intake, 160 degree thermostat, and re-tuned. New numbers were 376whp, 364tq
Then a few months ago I added NGK TR6 spark plugs, Kooks 1 7/8th headers with no cats, and ported throttle body. New numbers were 392whp, 377 tq
I don't think boring the throttle did anything power wise other than throttle improvement. So basically I picked up 16hp and 13 tq by adding headers and ditching the cats.
If you have to keep the cats in California your results will probably be a little less. So let's say 10-15hp and 10-13 tq. I was torn for a long time whether $2k was basically worth that. I did it more for the sound than power but I'm running no cats.
Here were my results on my '04 Z:
Bone stock the car made 359whp, 347 tq
With a tune it made. 366whp, 358 tq
I then added a Vararam intake, 160 degree thermostat, and re-tuned. New numbers were 376whp, 364tq
Then a few months ago I added NGK TR6 spark plugs, Kooks 1 7/8th headers with no cats, and ported throttle body. New numbers were 392whp, 377 tq
I don't think boring the throttle did anything power wise other than throttle improvement. So basically I picked up 16hp and 13 tq by adding headers and ditching the cats.
If you have to keep the cats in California your results will probably be a little less. So let's say 10-15hp and 10-13 tq. I was torn for a long time whether $2k was basically worth that. I did it more for the sound than power but I'm running no cats.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 113
From: Los Angeles
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
Our headers are almost ready for the C5. Check out the results on the C6 forum, but our Tri-Y design is making some serious power. 100 percent made in the USA, in our own facility in Salt Lake City! Check these threads out:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ay-torque.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...vette-z06.html
Let me know if you have any questions! They should be done by the end of the month
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ay-torque.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...vette-z06.html
Let me know if you have any questions! They should be done by the end of the month
