First, thanks to everyone on here for helping me out. In looking for places to have headers installed, I am getting some really inexperienced local folks giving me advice. I have been getting some people who have never installed headers on C5, telling me I will have an exhaust leak between the header and head in less than 3 months.

Just a show of hands, how real of a concern is this? If you know of any horror stories with headers leaking, please let me know. Also, if I can't find an installer I trust, I'm going to find the time to do it myself. Thanks for your input on this one.

 

First, where do you live? That will help members provide a installer.

Second, I have not heard of anyone posting header leaks in a looooong time.

Third, what brand header are you planning to install? More than likely, if its a known brand, you will not have any issues!

Good Luck

 

I live in South Mississippi, and I've been looking at LG and Dynatech, but I have heard of the sagging issues with Kooks, so I plan to stay away from them. I've never changed headers, but I have patience, so I'm hoping that will get me pretty far if I can't find someone with experience.

 

Come up to Michigan, y2k02c5 hooked me up with a great installer for my LG's and I couldn't be more pleased!!! Do not listen to people that don't know what they are talking about. Good Luck!

 

You are getting some seriously bad information.
First off about the exhaust leaks. I haven't heard of anyone having an exhaust leak around here with a set of KOOKS, LGs or Dynotechs in a helluva long time.

With good gaskets and a quality made set of stainless steel headers, leaks are a thing of the distant past.


KOOKS and "sagging issues"????? I have plenty of clearance, even with the heat shields on the cats.



The only headers that I have heard of that hang a bit below the tunnel are the LGs, and even that is so minimal as to not be an issue in a non lowered car.



Now if your car is lowered, don't be surprised if you have clearance issues.

 

If you have the patience and do your homework, installing your own headers is easy. The worst part of the whole thing is getting your car high enough in the air when putting the driver side up from underneath the car. I won't tell you how I did it, because it was not the safest thing I ever did. Patience is the key. Take your time and reinstall the starter before you bolt the passenger side up.

 

If you are going with the LG's, why not just driver over to Lou's? Make a weekend out of it, and then you don't have to worry about the installation at all.

Otherwise, you might want to contact Futral in LA.

 

I installed my kooks myself last year and not a single problem with them since... No leaks. No sagging or touching issue (stock ride height).

On top of that... speaking of only my exp w/ the kooks only... excellent build quality in welds and bends, clearance is awesome with access to plugs and no heat concerns with the wires or any other components under the hood like the steering rack (which earlier dynamax headers had issues being close enought to rub against on some owners vehicles).

And I just checked the underside after a recent oil change and with the car being garaged, the aluminized mid-pipe is not an issue.

If you do a search, you'll probably see my posts last year going thru the install. If the locals are giving you that kind of advice, I'd say do it yourself and you'll know it was done right. I consider myself an average DIY'er and was able to install the kooks by myself.

I don't even remember when I installed them... Basically got them on, been enjoying the added performance and haven't had to give them a second thought... which is how a solid mod should be.

 

Been running 1 3/4" KOOKS for some time, absolutly no sagging problems, but do stay away from the paper gaskets. If anything the KOOKS tuck in better than the stock pipes and the KOOKS LT's will allow you to use all the O2 sensors. Self installed in about 12 hours with help from http://ls1howto.com/index.php?article=29 But both sides went in from the top. Performance improvement will be about the same with any brand you chose.

 

Lots of good information and advice on this thread.

I don't have longtubes. I am a shorty header kind of guy. But all things being equal, I wanted to throw this thought into the mix since metal is metal, regardless of whether it is a longtube or a shorty.

For my own reasons, I originally ordered two sets of identical "ceramic coated" short headers. One went on the car, and one into the closet in my living room.

About a year later, I was rumaging in the closet and noticed the short header and took a look inside. There was a small amount of surface rust on the inside of the collector, which kind of startled me since the headers had been stored inside the house. So, naturally, I feared the same was happening to the identical set on my car.

I had also seen topics on this forum related to headers rusting out, with several pictures included in those topics.

In response to my fears, I ordered a set of stainless short headers to replace the ceramic ones, since I know the stainless will, in theory, last for an eternity.

Anyway, my point is this.... If you live in an area that sees a lot of snowfall and salt/sand on the roads, you might want to consider looking at a stainless steel setup, and foregoing ceramic coated headers. Even if there isn't any snow or ice on the roadway, that doesn't mean the salt or anti-icing chemicals aren't getting onto the bottom of the car. And if the headers are scratched or nicked in anyway, the protective coating they come with doesn't do much good.

If I ever decide to go with longtubes, one of the major factors for me will be whether they are stainless steel or not.

Just wanted to throw the possible corrosion issue out there as well, since it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Edited note: Oops. Sorry. I didn't read far enough. I see that you live in the south, so I guess the snow and ice comments don't apply.

 

I think the post of making it a weekend trip is a better idea. Its only around $400 to install the headers, it will be done right, and your car will be TUNED afterwards.

 

Check out thunderracing.com

They are in Baton Rouge, LA if you don't feel like driving to Dallas. I bought my CLB from them. I have heard they are a good shop but cannot speak with personal knowledge.

verysoon

 

I too, am seriously considering a set of header and have been hesitant due my experience with header gaskets constantly going bad (this was 20 years ago).
I am also leary of emission testing. Though I currently live in a state with no such testing, my job could conceivably send me to any state (read CA, NY, NJ) and I don't want to be hassled getting an inspection sticker. I have seen posts here where members had to find lenient emission inspection stations that would go on the sniff or computer diagnostic rather that a visual inspection. I am angling to go to Maryland/Virgina/DC area so anyone around there have comments on this issue?

I am interested in the headers that GHL has started making due to the quality of my Bullet catback. Any feedback from those that may have them installed?

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm a heck of a lot more confident now. I'll look into the rec by Verysoon to check out the shop in Baton Rouge, and I know have DIY instruction guide. You guys rock?

By the way, keep up the posts if you have any info at all to add. I actually had a conversation today with another "old timer" who said not to do it due to the tremendous heat in the engine compartment. I guess the tons of shady tree advice will keep on pouring in. I'm just glad I'm talking to you guys who have exact experience on the exact same vehicles.

 

I installed the Dynatech headers a month ago or so. Took about 6 hours with a friend helping and on his lift. Job went smooth as anything and Dynatech fit and quality was excellant. Like others have said, just make sure you have the car up high enough and do it when the car s cold. (I had to drive mine anout 45 minutes to get to my friends house) Good Luck and keep us posted.
Bobby

 

Contact 21st Cent Muscle Car in Dallas. They did great work on my C4 and C5.

 

Well, I think I have found a solution. It's about an hour and a half away, but they said they can knock it out on a Saturday (thanks to the tip to use Thunder Racing). For the Dynatech system, they charge $1950, installed. I'll have to drive her up early so they she cool down, but I just need to find the weekend to do it. It's seems like a pretty good option to me, but I'd appreciate the 2 cents. What's everyone think of that plan?

 

He he he, Thunder has some great cams too

 

"Come up to Michigan." When half of Texas seem to be C-5 tuners?

 

Well Maryland now does the OBDCII emissions test - as long as your car is not throwing codes, you will pass no matter what you have or have not on your car. I have been running my FLP's and have never had a gasket failure - that really seems to be a thing of the past!