I have been getting ready to bite the bullet on headers. I was going to get the LG streets but am rethinking that now because of the cats (I wanted Randoms) and a few issues I was reading in an earlier post. I will look at the others a little closer before I decide.The Pro's just seem too expensive, and LG tells me not worth it unless I am going to really build the engine a lot more. Don't want to start header wars, but I'm listening to opinions. All my searches say Kooks, LG or Dynamax.

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys that live in inspection states use O2 sims or do you edit the sensors out in tuning? Whats the best way to go? Anything else you can do to make these as smog legal as possible? Trying to learn everything I can before I do it. I don't like surprises. Thanks for any advice.

 

:smack forehead smilie:


.. believe me .. the cats dont make THAT much of a difference.

I have found a set of, i believe to be, magnaflow cats that flow the same numbers as the RT cats if I recall better for a fraction of the price.


and it depends on if they do visual checks, the sniffer test, or if they just check for check engine lights.

if its a visual, going to need some cats, sniffer: ive heard of people passing without cats but a REALLY good tune, and check engine lights or codes: 02 sims or edit it out.

im here in FL and run TPIS and an offroad x-pipe .. i could justify the $1500 for a header system .. i got a nice used coated set and they would perfect.

 

give us a call and we can discuss some options for your app 631 586 9002 ext 308 George R

 

i have the lg's and run simms.,the 3 brands you named are all good[kooks,lg,supermaxx]as far as the earlier post that you read,i would ignore it for the simple fact that it was a foul up on cats that LOU WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF,but the person decided to go with a lesser type header.if you are going to do headers,stick with the 3 you have mentioned and decide from there.JMHO

 

I have TPIs gutted cats and I can tell ya..if I had to pass emmisions.............

I am thinking about getting some Hi Flo cats but probably won't spend the big $$$$ for RT's

 

I've got the Dynatechs with both sets of O2 sensors in place. I don't throw codes and expect there will be no issues passing the emissions tests. They don't do a visual in Missouri; they check for codes and run a treadmill test if you have codes.

 

Yeh, was not going to consider a chaeper brand of header. I realized the size problem the other poster talked about was a mistake and I have no question of LG's customer realations. I am just trying to get the best system I can, and I understood that the Randoms were the best and this is one place I don't want to cut corners. My header choice though will definitely be one of the three. I do have to pass Mass. inspections though so I need to be careful to avoid future hassles.

 

I opted for the LG street series and couldn't be any happier and I installed them myself with the help from my wife in my garage. If I had to do it again I would use a lift but I would buy from Lou's LG's again! Had some issues but they were resolved with a phone call. You can't get any better customer service like the the guys @ LG Motorsports.

Just my 2 cents

Mike P.

 

from other thread


Guys,
Random Stainless steel cats cost over $550 per pair. That was the idea behind the Street Series, to allow the Corvette customers to have a lower priced choice when buying headers.

At $1195 for the off road headers, we only add $200 for the cats. If you want Random cats we would have to add the $550, which would make this header fall into the High Priced Catagory at $1745.

We all would love to have it both ways, but Random does not lower their price to help LG sell headers. Again, we can supply the high priced random cat.

The internal metal substrait material inside the cats that we sell is the same as the Random cats. So you are still getting a cat manufactured by a first class US catalytic converter manufacturer but without the shine. The cats are still stainless, but not polished.

We do our best to provide a products for the Corvette community. The big gripe about our Pro Long Tubes was the cost. So we came out with a lower priced version without all the premium features to fill the gap and meet the needs of the Corvette owner who wanted value but not necessarily the most expensive product.

For those who are building up their engines to the max, the Street Series is not the header for you. But for those of you who want more performance and are NOT going to build the car up for low 10's, then our LG Street series header is for you.
First few sets had the wrong cats
We got the wrong size cats shipped to us for the first few sets, and I believe that we got all of them switched out. But at no time did we show or promise a polished Random cat.

I hope this clears up the confusion.

Thanks
Lou Gigliotti LGM
__________________
LG Pro Long Tube Headers, MOST HP, MOST TORQUE

 

I have had Breathless, TPIS, KOOKS and LG Pro's. While 1 or 2 of the others performed, I find the LG's to be the best overall. From the SERVICE, to the quality finish, to the super easy install, to the great performance. You are paying for the entire package, you get what you pay for. You want the best spend the money and talk to LG LOU WILL GET YOU THE RANDOMS WITH HIS SYSTEM

 

Melrose LT's here both CATS and all sensors, no codes. I have Randoms also.

 

As the others said, all 3 you mentioned are good, Kooks, LG or Dynatechs.

I have the Dynatechs with hi-flow cats and am very happy with them. In IL all they do for newer cars is the on-board system check..to my knowledge they do not do visual inspection, or dyno test, just check for codes by plugging in to your computer under the steering wheel , OBDII compliant I believe they call it.

My car does throw cat-effiancy codes because I have not tuned the car yet to shut them off (rear 02's)..but I willl do this eventually so I can pass emissions.

I set up a group purchase here on the forum, got 10+ people to buy in and a forum vendor got us the price of 1,295 for the whole kit, including Hi-flow cats.

My .02

 

I was all set to buy LG's when I stumbled on the Melrose headers. Couldn't be happier!

 

I have the LG Pro Lts, but with the cheaper cats. The only drawback is they are not polished, and I can live with that. The price for the system was $300 less than with the Random cats. Mike at LG, who was on the install team said the new cats flow as well or better than the Random ones, so I think I got a great deal. Just my $0.02 worth.

 

How is the install on the Melrose ? I am trying to decide which headers im going with also.

 

Hi guys,

As you know, I really like our LG Headers If you want our Street Series headers, you will get the full set, including high flow, (Not polished) cats, but the remainder of the system will be polished. Internally, these high flow cats are the same metal matrix cats.

These headers will yield the same power as any header with a 2 1/2" X pipe, on the market. It is my feeling that the 2 1/2" X pipe will not be sufficient for a full blown 500 rwhp hot rod. that is why I don't recommend them for fully built engines.

But compared to what is on the market with a 2 1/2" X pipe there is not much difference except price.
******* $1195.00 without cats or $1395 with high flow cats included PLUS FREE SHIPPING IN THE CONTINENTAL USA

That is about $300 less than the new dynatech pricing and $400 less than our LG Pro Long Tube headers.

The primary tube design is exactly like our Pro Long Tubes, but we opted for a less expensive non-merge collector and a less expensive 2 1/2" X pipe and rear pipe to appeal to some of the Vette owners who are not looking for the last drop of horsepower.

And when installed properly, the service engine light is a non issue with an 02 sim or tuning.

The graph below is a 99 6 speed before and after, without cats. The car was totally stock when it arrived and just got street series headers and a cold air filter.

The torque from this design is also one of the pluses as is the case with our LG Pro Long Tubes.

We have passed the tail pipe sniffer test with our headers and cats, as well as the OBDII plug in tests.
The cats that we use result in a clean enough exhaust to pass the sniffer easily. I am not what the testing is like in Florida though.

thanks and let us know if we can help you .

Lou Gigliotti LGM
972-429-1963

first graph LG STREET SERIES before and after 99 C5 coupe
31.4 rwhp and 38 rwtq gain.



Second graph, LG Pro Long Tubes before and after 01 Z06


Thrid graph, LG Pro Long Tube headers 03 Z06

 

Excellent informative reply Lou. Now, don't you have a tune to play with? Get to work..........

No emissions in Florida

 

I actually paid my mechanic to do the install. Well worth the money. Total for headers, x-pipe, random cats and labor was right at $1800 installed. He did have to jack the engine slightly to get them in, but overall he said it's a pretty easy install. Don't get me wrong, I love the LG's, but after seeing the Melrose on a C5 coupe he was working on I was sold.

Honestly you'll be happy with either the LGM's or the Melrose. Facts are facts...headers are one of the best mods to a C5.

 

So, is it better to edit the O2 sensors out after install or to use the sims? I guess I am not seeing the difference if they both acheive the same thing. And it seems some are running the O2's without doing anything and still not throwing codes? Also, will the Random Cats actually be any cleaner and more efficient in the end (for the extra money)or the same as another cat with maybe a higher flow?For me the extra 300. would be worth any possible problems at inspection time if they actually did run a little cleaner.. As they say, "if you eat the horse, don't choke on the tail."