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I'm new so don't laugh at me. But I have heard a lot about headers. Can someone explain to me what they are, how they effect your cars performance and sound, who makes the better brands and what kind of dough do they cost. Also, is this a hard job to install or what? Do you need to install something else along with them or do you just add them alone and there you go?
Thanks for taking care of me.
From: Virginia Beach VA...originally Burtonsville, MD
Well basically headers allow for more exhuast flow and in turn more horsepower. get longtubes vice shorty headers. if you get an offraod x-pipe, which means no cats, you can still pass emmissions in most states with o2 simulators and a good tune which you should get anyway once you put on the headers. LG makes the best, i'm puttin them on my Z in Jan. Kooks and hooker long tubes are pretty good too. Good luck.
Ok, I already have put on a set of Corsa Exhaust mufflers and tips. What do I do to this set up, add an X pipe then long headers ?? Sorry I'm still a little confused. And how much would the LG brand cost?(what does LG stand for)
Why are these the best? Please provide data. They may be the most popular, I will give you that and I am sure the LG cheerleaders will soon start. But what is best for one is not best for another. I am running QTP's after much research and still believe I made the right choice.
Ok, I already have put on a set of Corsa Exhaust mufflers and tips. What do I do to this set up, add an X pipe then long headers ?? Sorry I'm still a little confused. And how much would the LG brand cost?(what does LG stand for)
If you buy the LGM headers talked about above you do not need to by a cross pipe. The headers include everything you need from the engine to the Corsa cat backs you have. The LG headers are very well liked on this forum, and in many cases produce the largest HP and TQ increases. It is what I am running with Corsa Indy Pace Car cat backs. The Header increase the exhaust noise A LOT at full throttle. Normal driving is a little louder. If you get a set of headers plan on having your car dyno tuned to get the most out of them. After my install I gained an additional 17 or so HP from before to after the tune. I would also recommend getting a set of high flow cats. I ran my car a few days with out the cats and the exhaust smell was horrible at every stop light.
There are lots of opinions about which headers are best...just like which ice cream is best. You need to do your own research, but bacisally there are about 5 or 6 good choices. You should get long tubes, not shorties. You will get meaningfullly more power, more and better sound, maybe not as good mileage. In my case, that's because I like to make pipe music.
I have had on my car at one time or another: Lg's (just installed), Kooks, TPIS, Breathless. I don't dyno so I have no numbers for you. From the performance standpoint I can tell you the Breathless were junk from the minute they were installed. Between the LG's, Kooks, and TPIS I can tell no seat of the pants difference. From the installation point of view: Hands down easiest is the LG's, then TPIS, then Kooks, then Breathless. From the quality standpoint: Kooks, LG's, TPIS, Breathless. From the looks standpoint LG's, KOOKS, TPIS, Breathless. Please keep in mind that the LG's and the Kooks are stainless, which is much better from the start than the mild steel used in the Breathless and TPIS systems. These are simply my opinions of the products I have used in my personal C5, nothing more. I have not tried any of the other systems out there so I cannot tell you about them. Of the products that I have tested I can recommend both the LG's and the KOOKS quality pieces. Again just my opinion. Bob
I just installed Lg's last week and I'll tell you the sound at WOT is incredible. I haven't had a dyno yet to see how much hp I got but the sound alone is worth it. If I knew they would make the car sound this good I would have gotten them sooner.
Great, Thanks for your help. The cats, do they come with the headers or are they something I have to buy/order seperate?
And if so , who makes those and are they like everything else I'm reading about here ...numerous brands and styles with as many favorites between members???
Great, Thanks for your help. The cats, do they come with the headers or are they something I have to buy/order seperate?
And if so , who makes those and are they like everything else I'm reading about here ...numerous brands and styles with as many favorites between members???
Each company will have cats for their headers You must ask for them. As previously posted there are many different brands of headers out there. You need to decide exactly what type of performance you want from your car, then you would be able to narrow the field. I would suggest a stainless longtube system over shorties with mild steel.
I would not do headers if I was not looking at a future H/C package unless you are looking for deeper sound out of your pipes. I would instead do gears. Gears will give you more acceleration than headers will.
Saying that you can look at my sig. I did not do headers until I decided to add the H/C package. Once I made that decision I knew the stock headers would not be good enough. The sound is really loud on WOT and yesterday in the city I got a ton of great comments (plus I set off about 3 car alarms in a 100 foor area when I hit it). I love it but something to think about.
BTW - I have kooks with high flow cats and GHLS....
As for opion's everybody is going to have onel. But for actual data our headers make the best overall gains across the board if you have ant ? call me at 631 586 9002 ext 308
Thanks George for your assistance.
Weasel, can you de-code some of the abrv. you left for me please?
What do the following mean;
1.H/C package?
2.WOT?
3.GHLS ?
Sorry to be out of the loop but I'm new and just learning the lingo.
Thanks George for your assistance.
Weasel, can you de-code some of the abrv. you left for me please?
What do the following mean;
1.H/C package?
2.WOT?
3.GHLS ?
Sorry to be out of the loop but I'm new and just learning the lingo.
1. Heads and Cam
2. Wide Open Throttle
3. Aftermarket muffler sysytem