Has anyone used Melrose headers and how did you like them? If you have before and after dyno numbers that would be great.

Tino

 

ttt

 

Aren't those the mild steel headers that are painted and not coated?

I would suggest looking into a stainless steel set and/or ceramic coated set.

 

I remember reading somewhere that those are the ones that West Coast Corvettes carries. See their catalog or website.

 

I just put a set on and haven't driven it yet. They're a little small for my application, but should still be much better than the stock exhaust I was running.

I took a measuring tape to it, the primaries are 22" long, about 10" shorter than LGs. The collectors are straight, not merged or in a venturi shape. They're probably missing 5-10rwhp peak from other brands due to the collector, and maybe 15rwtq at lower rpm due to the shorter length (purely guesstimates). But they do have all four O2 sensor bungs, are easy to install, are very solid and have no questionable welds or flanges. They are ceramic coated steel, not stainless, and everything lines up right.

 

I bought the Melrose exhaust system for my 2001. It hasn't been put on the car yet but I did quite a bit of research before making my decision. On a stock LS1, they made 38hp and 35ft/lbs of torque from the baseline stock numbers. They were one of the few that could supply me with numbers based on a pure stock LS1 and then the numbers after the exhaust swap. I received similar information from some other manufacturers except that their baseline tests were done either using an LS6 or an LS1 that had been modified. This is not helpful as you need results from just the exhaust changes as a benchmark for later if you do make upgrades to the cam, heads, etc. I'll admit that I'm still a little skeptical about the numbers but since Melrose worked with GM to make headers for their ASA cars I tend to think they know something. Also, their quality is excellent and their headers are aluminized steel and then jet hot coated, not just carbon steel. Even carbon steel that's been jet hot coated can start to rust. The rest of the system is stainless steel and it's 2 3/4" which is more than enough for the stock LS1. I'm not convinced that the long tube headers are any better than this set up. In fact, I was looking at Bassani's system before I bought this one because I felt they were also excellent. Until there is a standard put in place that will allow you to compare results from different manufacturers on a level playing field, you'll just have to talk to different people who've been there and done until you're satisfied you're making the right decision.

 

I would really appreciate some before and after real world dyno numbers if they are available. I would like to know if there is a performance advantage or disadvantage with the Melrose as the primary tubes are 10" smaller in length?

Tino