What header system do you recommend
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Johnson City NY
What header system do you recommend
Hey guys, I have a 2000 stock c5 coupe with only a blackwing, an SLP maf and Z06 mufflers. I want to get some sound and horsepower out of this baby it is just too damn quiet. I was wondering what is the best header and midpipe system with high flow cats. I am nervous about screwing with things, dont want codes and rough idles etc. I have seen what seems to be a lot of nightmares on here from header installs. I also was concerned about the heat from the headers melting things under the hood. The car only has 8k miles on it so I am not sure if this is even wise to go screwing around with such a nice car I just want to get some more hp without messing up too much. Thanks for your thoughts!
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Bryn Mawr PA
That is exactly what I was concerned about. I did not want too much noise but wanted the better breathing of long tubes but no codes, or other problems associated with less than optimal fitment and design.
Went with professionally installed 1.75 Kooks plumbed into stock cats. Downstream is Bassani XPipe and Ti exhaust. Car is '99 FRC and it sounds great...almost too loud but if kept in 6th, a great, sedate cruiser. (There is a noticeable howl at 2500 rpm that can get old but there is always another gear to quiet things down a bunch.)
Install was done with engine out of car since I had a Stealth cam installed and the garage preferred to pull the motor.
Never a code since stocks cats are in place, the headers do NOT hang down and ground clearance is same as stock.
Good luck!
Went with professionally installed 1.75 Kooks plumbed into stock cats. Downstream is Bassani XPipe and Ti exhaust. Car is '99 FRC and it sounds great...almost too loud but if kept in 6th, a great, sedate cruiser. (There is a noticeable howl at 2500 rpm that can get old but there is always another gear to quiet things down a bunch.)
Install was done with engine out of car since I had a Stealth cam installed and the garage preferred to pull the motor.
Never a code since stocks cats are in place, the headers do NOT hang down and ground clearance is same as stock.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by ital976
Has anyone ever had problems from the heat of the headers melting stuff?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
headers
I have QTP's. They installed very easy and sound awesome.
Mine have never thrown a code. Still oem tune. No cats, w/ o2 sims.
Fit very good, so haven't melted anything. Also, near stock ground
clearance. High quality 4-2-1 header with quality 2 3/4 x-pipe.
Very happy so far.
Mine have never thrown a code. Still oem tune. No cats, w/ o2 sims.
Fit very good, so haven't melted anything. Also, near stock ground
clearance. High quality 4-2-1 header with quality 2 3/4 x-pipe.
Very happy so far.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Tx
I've got the LG Pro Street series headers on my car, Fully polished stainless all the way back. And they're on special right now. Headers and x-pipe now come shipped FREE. I think the price for the no-cat version is $1195 or something like that.
I love the hell out of mine. click the link in my sig to take a look.
Shane
I love the hell out of mine. click the link in my sig to take a look.
Shane
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
I must say that LG Long tubes and the Dynatech Supermaxx headers are my favorites: Fitment, ease of installation, quality, and, best hp improvement for the buck.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,021
Likes: 3,556
From: Central MO
If you are looking for more performance, you might consider going to lower gears. If you have the stock 2.73's you could go to Z06 3.42's, or to 3.73's. You'll feel like you've gained a ton of horsepower.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by David426
Whatever your choice, only go for the longtubes. Shorties are a waste of time and money
or you could look at Cearmic coated headers, they remove lots of heat from the engine bay not to mention the foot wells in the cabin.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 0
From: I finished a Marathon, did you? Michigan
CI 6-7, 9-10 Veteran
I went with the LG's. After all of my research and considering future mods, they were the only ones I knew I would be happy with. Do a search on the forum. You will find that there are many choices out there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
My overall list from top to bottom
#1 LG Pro Long Tubes
#2 LG Street Long Tubes
#3 dynamax headers
#4 TPIS and Kooks
Best Performers:
#1 LG Pro Long Tubes
#2 LG Street Long Tubes & dynamax headers & Kooks
#3 TPIS
We prefer the LG's because they have consistently seen better results down low than all of the others. I like the Kooks but their install is definitely not as straight forward as the LG or TPIS. Performance difference is very very slight.
Phil
#1 LG Pro Long Tubes
#2 LG Street Long Tubes
#3 dynamax headers
#4 TPIS and Kooks
Best Performers:
#1 LG Pro Long Tubes
#2 LG Street Long Tubes & dynamax headers & Kooks
#3 TPIS
We prefer the LG's because they have consistently seen better results down low than all of the others. I like the Kooks but their install is definitely not as straight forward as the LG or TPIS. Performance difference is very very slight.
Phil
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,575
Likes: 1,685
From: Converse TX
[QUOTE=Shane_S]I've got the LG Pro Street series headers on my car, Fully polished stainless all the way back. And they're on special right now. Headers and x-pipe now come shipped FREE. I think the price for the no-cat version is $1195 or something like that.
Can not go wrong for the price as my buddy just received his set of these and just waiting on his B&B's and he will have a complete system for his 99 coupe
Can not go wrong for the price as my buddy just received his set of these and just waiting on his B&B's and he will have a complete system for his 99 coupe
