I recently got a dyno tune for my 99 C5 6sp with 102k miles on it. I bought a set of OBX headers for $400 and installed them myself. I have put on a set of LGs before and these where just as easy with zero fitment issues at all. the only thing i have to say is you have to buy all new hardware such as gaskets,clamps and bolts as the ones included kinda suck.

I have read a ton of hate for these headers on here and i think its completely unjustified with not much proof.I think people only bash them because they are either unamerican or they want to justify why they bought their $1200 headers instead of buying them at a fraction of that price. Before buying these i read multiple posts of people saying they don't put down the same power as LGs or kooks which is 100% false.When you factor in a 15% drive train loss i am putting down 418hp and 420tq with a 99 that has the smallest cam of all the C5s and ls1 intake. Also i know the early models had fitment issues but these are amazing and have zero issues.

If you are thinking about purchasing a pair I 100% recommend them over paying $1200 just for the corvette tax.

The Dyno was also done on a 90 degree day in south Florida with high humidity.

For comparison https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lled-long.html

We have the exact same mods besides i don't have an ls6 intake, ported TB, 160 thermostat, under drive pulley, power duct bridge or aftermarket MAF. I do run the same plugs and wires. I make a considerable amount more power and he has multiple other mods that i do not.

This post is to give a good counter view that many have against these Chinese headers and to help people like myself who did a ton of researching to find out if OBX headers are any good.


My car is full bolt on only with 102k miles
OBX headers
stock ls1 intake not an ls6
B&B PRT exhaust
Blackwing air intake.
Dyno tune

 

Thanks for a neutral opinion on those headers calbrit561, I also had heard terrible things about them here at the forum. In the end, people buy whatever they like or can afford, weather the product is american or otherwise. Some of the boys here take some products at heart and anything else either sucks or it's crap.

Glad you took your time to post your results and satisfaction with those headers. That will help others in their decision making. Thanks.

 

Doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sure there are Vendors on here who have their headers made in China and then stamp their name on them. In fact I'm 99.9% sure one Vendor on here does!!

 

Thats exactly my point of this post there are just posts bashing these things with no proof to back it up its all hersay. I just want to show others that these cheap headers are not bad and that a college kid like me who cant afford expensive headers can still make the same power or more with a cheap setup installed and tuned i paid about $900 i cant even but a set of American headers for that much. Now longevity wise that's another story but so far they seem to be made very well and i think they will hold up just as good as any other header out there.

 

I put the OBX headers and catless x pipe on my 01 when I installed the LS3. I put a Vengeance Racing VRSP-2 cam in at the same time, It did 428hp and 411tq to the wheels. that was with the stock air box and throttle body. I did switch to a LS2 oil pan, but I had no issues installing mine either. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone on a budget.

 

Any pics from the install?

 

Well done

 

No. I ended up doing it on ramps and finishing it on a friend's lift. It was a pain in the *** since I was not prepared to fit them in from the bottom I figured I could go from the top if I took everything out and it didn't happen. In 100 plus degree heat in Florida summer I wasn't even thinking about taking pics.

 

Those are some good numbers you got with the mods you have.

 

No. I ended up doing it on ramps and finishing it on a friend's lift. It was a pain in the *** since I was not prepared to fit them in from the bottom I figured I could go from the top if I took everything out and it didn't happen. In 100 plus degree heat in Florida summer I wasn't even thinking about taking pics.

 

Thanks for sharing with us. I love it when inexpensive stuff performs just as good if not better than the overpriced options.

 

I here you brother, that happens to me also when I'm working on mine all hot a sweaty and I finished the job and no pictures. Lol

 

Been running OBX headers for 5 years and 32XXX miles with no problems at all.

 

One of the first mods I wanted on my 99 was headers, when I saw how much they were I was shocked. I knew of other cars that were so much cheaper. When I found XS Power headers with X-pipe and high flow cats for half the price of name brands and then reading up on them it was a no brainer for me. I love the power and sound, and research shows really good Dyno numbers !!!!!!

 

After a lot of research for my cat back exhaust i went with the XS Power. Also made in China. Fit was perfect. Quality of the construction looks excellent. Very happy with the results.

A close friend who has different products made in China and has been doing so for decades says you really don't need to be concerned about products made in China. Says they do an excellent job with everything he has made there.

 

I love real world honest reviews

 

Is this just headers or headers and X-pipe?

 

FINALLY a thread about headers where people are agreeing that NAME BRAND doesn't necessarily mean BETTER !

After moving up from a 2000 SS Camaro to my FRC Vette, I couldn't believe the price of headers for these cars !! I paid roughly $350 for a set of Hooker headers and Y-pipe for my SS. When I went looking for a set for the Vette they were well over a grand for these things !! Talk about a RIP OFF !!!

I have heads, cam, intake, etc. waiting to go on my FRC. The last thing I need to buy are headers and they will be OBX, XS Power, Maximizer, Dynatech, etc.... they're all around the $750-$800 price range. AND they're all STAINLESS STEEL !

They're JUST HEADERS for crying out loud !!!! No reason the gouge the buyers eyes out because of a NAME BRAND !

Okay I'll get off my soap box now...

 

Buying parts for these cars is about finding the good deals. Because it is a corvette a lot of the people that own them have a large disposable income and do t care about the price as long as the name is the one they want. These headers are a prime example of a great product for a reasonable price considering what other brands sell for.

There is a company that advertises there coilovers on here and they cost roughly 2 grand. There coilovers are made in the same factory in china as the ones you can get on eBay for almost any import car for 600/800 dollars. They charge more money simply because it is a corvette and not because tha parts are expensive to manufacture.