Headers Question
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
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Headers Question
I'm considering adding headers, but I want to stay smog legal. So far, the only Cali legal headers I've found are these......
http://www.jbaheaders.com/headerdetail.asp?PartNum=1817 ?
How much HP increase should be expected from a set of shorty headers like these? And.....does anyone know of a better set that's also legal in Cali???
http://www.jbaheaders.com/headerdetail.asp?PartNum=1817 ?
How much HP increase should be expected from a set of shorty headers like these? And.....does anyone know of a better set that's also legal in Cali???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,224
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From: Rowayton Ct.
I'm still learning, but I think it is not the headers so much, as the cats, the oxygen sensors, and how you set up your tune to pass either the ODB test or the probe up the tail pipe test.
Sorry I can't be more helpful, I live in Connecticut.
hhntr111
Sorry I can't be more helpful, I live in Connecticut.
hhntr111
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I am a big fan of the Tri-Y design. Bassani makes a set of Tri-Y's that they have applied for CARB certification. Not sure what the status it of this, but it may be worth looking into. Someone has a used set in the parts for sale section right now for a very reasonable price as well. The headers are not stainless, but the rest of the system is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: Layton Utah
Suggest that you do a search in the C5 Tech section for "Headers". You will get all kinds of info. Basically, most people think that you don't get much HP increase from the shorty headers. This leads one to Long Tube headers. These produce significant HP and torque at all RPMs. The big problem is that they are not legal in many states. Why? Because the long tube headers necessitate the relocation of the pre-cat O2 sensors. Still many Californians install and run the long tube headers. From the search results you can see what their explanations are. Good Luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Ashburn VA
Originally Posted by Ron Price
Suggest that you do a search in the C5 Tech section for "Headers". You will get all kinds of info. Basically, most people think that you don't get much HP increase from the shorty headers. This leads one to Long Tube headers. These produce significant HP and torque at all RPMs. The big problem is that they are not legal in many states. Why? Because the long tube headers necessitate the relocation of the pre-cat O2 sensors. Still many Californians install and run the long tube headers. From the search results you can see what their explanations are. Good Luck!
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The only shorty headers that I have read anything about are the B&B ones and they are supposed to give a 10-12 hp gain. Long tubes on the other hand, can give anywhere from a 20-40 hp gain (at least as claimed by the manufacturers).
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
You may also want to check out the latest Car Craft magazine. They had some surprising results and favorable things to say about the later stock manifold, which are a Tri-Y design by the way. You may want to consider the cast iron replacements to your 99 manifolds. I think yours are still the steel manifolds, not sure though.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
I kno Stu is running shorty's and hes making TONS of power, it's a good bit of work installing headers, so whatever you choose make sure you get the most hp for the labor!
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