I have read and seen enough to know LT headers rule. I am going to be buying some for my car but before I get excited, can anyone tell me what the best Long tube headers are as in the ease of fit. I want ones that will have the best ground clearance. Iam having installed by the shop thats building my motor but I want something that wont scrape my driveway or have any clearance issues. Can you also maybe give me some links with the recommendantions as I hear LG or other brands but have no clue where these places sites are at. I would greatly appreciate any help here. Also On a LS6 heads/manifold and F11 cam with these long tubes would a built 10 bolt with brace hold or do you think I am entering into the 12 bolt area. I mainly drive on street, only track 1 or 2 times a year and am on a yank 3000 stall convertor running nitto 555r 315 drags.

 

Brian,
I am also in the market for LT's. The ones I have seen discussed on this site and you most likely can't go wrong with are the LG's, Kooks and Dynatech. Asking forum members on which one is better is a tough one. I would say they are all very comparable and would probably suggest getting them jet hot coated. I have a 1970 Chevelle SS with Hooker Super comp headers that were jet coated and they reduce under hood heat in a significant way.

Best of luck in your choice, price will probably win out in the decision making process.

Tino

 

KOOKS

Some of the quickest C5s here run them.

http://www.kookscustomheaders.com/

 

Get the Dynatechs!!! Great fit, easy installation, very high quality!!! Plus you can be like me!

 

I'm running LG's on my wife's 2000 and am very pleased.

 

www.lgmotorsports.com
That is where I got my Long Tubes from

 

Headers war again!

 

Chances are, if you see enough people willing to die for their brand vs. enough people willing to die for the another brand, than you can probably buy either one and feel happy.

Of course, the kooks' site has more pictures of Shmustangs, whereas LG has nothin by Vettes. So for the "I HATE FORD'S" crowd, the LGs win out.

 

I put on LGs last week. Fit is excellent and installation was pretty easy.

 

How did you like the performance increase?

Tino

 

Excellent so far. Absolutely love the sound. I have a 24 hp increase without a tune and running without the oxygen sensors plugged in. Going back to the dyno tomorrow morning and hopefully will post the final results tomorrow night. I had to chop the front sensor plugs and splice them on to the rear sensor lines so I could plug into the front. Did that today.

 

Just to mix things up

I am running the QTP's that are a Tri-Y design. They install very easy, the O2 sensors go back in as they do in the stock system, no hassles at all with cable lengths, etc. The headers mate to the Random Tech system that is made for these headers including high flow metal matrix cats. Nice close up fitment to the bottom of the car. All stainless steel. You don't see the same publicity with the QTP's as some of the other more "touted" brands, but the numbers and the torque curves speak for themselves. Careful of huge claims as many games can be played with the dyno numbers. Here is an interesting header article if you are interested:

Header Article

 

What kind of power did you get?

Tino

 

If I were buying headers today, I'd get either the QTP's or the Kooks.

 

especially if you're looking for some headers that fit up tight to the bottom of the car. Vettenuts looked for a long time and studied the issue forever. I've studied a lot, too. Did a spreadsheet comparing, from what I could tell, two similar cars and their dyno sheets for the LG and QTP headers. They mirrored each other throughout the power curves and differences swapped back and forth throughout the RPMs. Based on inaccuracies and differences between dynos, you could say they were exactly the same. (Note: tire inflation affects dyno readings....remember pedaling your bike on half inflated tires as a kid? Imagine rear tires inflated to 45 psi for a dyno run.)

Now, if going all-out with a head/cam package and bumping the redline up to 6600+ RPM, you'll clearly see an advantage from the LG's (Kooks, for that matter) due to the nature of 4 into 1 headers versus Tri-y designs.

Oh, and actually, "long tube" isn't the most important aspect.....equal tube length is the most important thing and why the Kooks and LGs can squeeze more HP and TQ out of long-length primary tube headers. Their headers are near equal length. Other things, like merge collectors, squeeze out a few more horses, too, but at higher cost. If your racing for money, worth every cent. For me, the extra money would go better towards other speed items.

Upshot - if price doesn't matter and you have to have every single ounce of power "under the curve," then go with LG's. Value buyers would be better with QTPs, or if really cost conscious and another 5 HP (approx.) doesn't mean as much, go Dynatech.

If clearance is the biggest issue, then it's a no brainer - QTP. Oh, and I believe you'll get an easier install with the QTP.

I've no personal experience with any listed. These opinions are only based on what others have reported and what I've learned about exhaust systems, so holster the flame throwers.

Hope I've helped.

 

I got 25 HP peak with a 12:1 AFR on the dyno. This AFR is very similar to stock, i.e., is conservative. I had more power on the dyno when he went leaner with the AFR but he then dialed it back for street driving. At 13:1, which a lot of people seem to run, it would have been closer to 30-35 HP peak if I had to guess as we had one run that was 30 HP peak more but that was still at about 12.5:1 AFR.

I don't personally want to sway you in any direction, I am merely suggesting you do your homework and don't go solely by popularity. Determine how you will use the car and what you want in the future. I don't take my car to the track so peak numbers were not as important to me. I wanted something easy to install that were soundly designed and would provide me a little more grin factor in everyday driving. I am very happy with my choice, and others are with theirs as well. You have to determine what you want from your car and what your budget is. Good luck.

 

Check out Stainless Works LTHs. They are reasonably priced and hi quality 304 stainless steel. They offer various systems and have exellent customer service.

 

Immensely.

 

Koooooooooooooooks !!

 

For those of you that requested the dyno charts they are up. Check them out at the bottom of the page here .