Header Justification
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Header Justification
Yes, I've read all the threads but I'd like some specific input.
From what I've read long tubes will give me 30 - 40 RWHP with high flow cats. I find it hard to justify about $1,500 for these gains. I've installed headers before and am not excited about installing myself so $1,500 would be a low ball number for something like the LG street series package installed.
I have a K&N HIPK installed which they advertise as up to 13 HP gain. I find SOTP comments humerous but I do feel an improvement with the K&N. Not sure how much.... I paid $100 for the K&N used from a forum member. I'm pleased with what I got for the money spent.
I find it hard to justify the cost of long tubes for the return. Not interested in additional mods like heads and cam. If I were I know long tubes would be needed for a complete package.
Your thoughts?
Rick
From what I've read long tubes will give me 30 - 40 RWHP with high flow cats. I find it hard to justify about $1,500 for these gains. I've installed headers before and am not excited about installing myself so $1,500 would be a low ball number for something like the LG street series package installed.
I have a K&N HIPK installed which they advertise as up to 13 HP gain. I find SOTP comments humerous but I do feel an improvement with the K&N. Not sure how much.... I paid $100 for the K&N used from a forum member. I'm pleased with what I got for the money spent.
I find it hard to justify the cost of long tubes for the return. Not interested in additional mods like heads and cam. If I were I know long tubes would be needed for a complete package.
Your thoughts?
Rick
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,705
Likes: 4,549
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
i installed LTs a few weeks ago and picked up right around 35.
they change the pitch of the exhaust note thru my Ti's to what my ears sounds like a perfect sounding exhaust.
for the same money you could get direct port nitrous if you want a bang for the buck.
they change the pitch of the exhaust note thru my Ti's to what my ears sounds like a perfect sounding exhaust.
for the same money you could get direct port nitrous if you want a bang for the buck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by jdmvette
i installed LTs a few weeks ago and picked up right around 35.
they change the pitch of the exhaust note thru my Ti's to what my ears sounds like a perfect sounding exhaust.
for the same money you could get direct port nitrous if you want a bang for the buck.
they change the pitch of the exhaust note thru my Ti's to what my ears sounds like a perfect sounding exhaust.
for the same money you could get direct port nitrous if you want a bang for the buck.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Bryn Mawr PA
I have driven both LT cars and LT cars with moderate cams. Am not sure that 40 hp is the result of LT only but they do make a very noticeable difference in not only performance but sound as well. Be careful here since if you do not wish any more sound, LT's are propbably not for you! (I have Ti's as well and they really howl...)
I also added a Stealth II cam and LS6 manifold and that resulted in another nice boost. After tune, my stock headed 99 FRC put down around 380hp to the ground with great torque and drivability.
I also added a Stealth II cam and LS6 manifold and that resulted in another nice boost. After tune, my stock headed 99 FRC put down around 380hp to the ground with great torque and drivability.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
You can do headers for less than $1500, if you're willing to do some research and parts ordering and have a knowledgable installer or have the ability and the equipment to DIY.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
if you are not doing H/C I would skip headers. Not worth the price of admission....
I would change gears and for less money you will get a faster car.
I would change gears and for less money you will get a faster car.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
If you aren't going to do H/C, the headers are not necessary. Gears will be a bigger bang for the buck...
However, once you get past the air intake and the tune..extra HP starts to get very expensive.
Gears still aren't cheap ~$1200 installed at some places.
Headers around ~$1800 installed
The costs only go up from there.... If you can resist the temptation, you are better than many on this forum (including me)
Chris
However, once you get past the air intake and the tune..extra HP starts to get very expensive.
Gears still aren't cheap ~$1200 installed at some places.
Headers around ~$1800 installed
The costs only go up from there.... If you can resist the temptation, you are better than many on this forum (including me)
Chris
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by rikhek
Yes, I've read all the threads but I'd like some specific input.
From what I've read long tubes will give me 30 - 40 RWHP with high flow cats. I find it hard to justify about $1,500 for these gains. I've installed headers before and am not excited about installing myself so $1,500 would be a low ball number for something like the LG street series package installed.
I have a K&N HIPK installed which they advertise as up to 13 HP gain. I find SOTP comments humerous but I do feel an improvement with the K&N. Not sure how much.... I paid $100 for the K&N used from a forum member. I'm pleased with what I got for the money spent.
I find it hard to justify the cost of long tubes for the return. Not interested in additional mods like heads and cam. If I were I know long tubes would be needed for a complete package.
Your thoughts?
Rick
From what I've read long tubes will give me 30 - 40 RWHP with high flow cats. I find it hard to justify about $1,500 for these gains. I've installed headers before and am not excited about installing myself so $1,500 would be a low ball number for something like the LG street series package installed.
I have a K&N HIPK installed which they advertise as up to 13 HP gain. I find SOTP comments humerous but I do feel an improvement with the K&N. Not sure how much.... I paid $100 for the K&N used from a forum member. I'm pleased with what I got for the money spent.
I find it hard to justify the cost of long tubes for the return. Not interested in additional mods like heads and cam. If I were I know long tubes would be needed for a complete package.
Your thoughts?
Rick
Oh and youll keep doing mods, trust me!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 1,088
From: NE OH
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Between LG Pros w/ Jet Hot coating and a few other extras (tools for install, tune, etc) we're probably in it for around $3500 for the 'header mod'. Was it worth it? Technically....no. But I always wanted a car w/ headers so in the end...yes.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Hobbs NM
St. Jude Donor '06
You might want to look into TSP new LT headers. They are mild steel but are ceramic coated and sell for under $600. There is a thread that I just read about them earlier today so it shouldn't be to hard to find.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln NE
you can get the Jet hot headers for $650 shipped. after that a good tech should take 3-4 hours... anymore is just lazy from what i've herd from all the DIYers... so $75 an hour or whatever their rate is x4 = $300ish so $950 installed.... Dyno tune or mail order tune gonna run you about $250ish... so now $1200. 1200/35hp = $34.28 per hp... not really that bad..
Headers will increase fuel econ... so just look at it... as in about 10 years they will pay for themselves...
Headers will increase fuel econ... so just look at it... as in about 10 years they will pay for themselves...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,304
Likes: 283
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
If you are looking for more engine power gears won't give you that. They will give you a mechanical advantage at the cost of more RPMs. So you will accelerate faster but when cruising you will be at a higher RPM. This may not be an issue for you. So it depends what you want out of the mods.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO.
Long tube headers and high flow cats are a very popular upgrade adding a seat-of-the-pants HP difference. But there's a trade-off, that being noise. If you like doing road trips, longer duration than just to/from work, you may want to re-thing this, or investigate it further?
I'm a fan of doing a custom tune, which depending upon how your car is currently running, can add 25-30 HP. A custom tune runs about $550, usually with three dyno runs: before, after, then tweeking, and a final run. A $250 tune is a "canned" tune, usually without any dyno testing. Simply a reprogram based upon other cars the tuner has done with similar modifications.
Find a tuner with Dyno capability on-site, or invest in LS1 Edit and EASE software and you can do it by email with a competent tuner.
I'm a fan of doing a custom tune, which depending upon how your car is currently running, can add 25-30 HP. A custom tune runs about $550, usually with three dyno runs: before, after, then tweeking, and a final run. A $250 tune is a "canned" tune, usually without any dyno testing. Simply a reprogram based upon other cars the tuner has done with similar modifications.
Find a tuner with Dyno capability on-site, or invest in LS1 Edit and EASE software and you can do it by email with a competent tuner.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
Likes: 217
From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
I ran a best of 11.62@ 119.x mph before my header install.
After the headers & a retune, although I added an RPS clutch (maybe a tenth gain) & skinnies for the run(maybe another tenth gain).This would have gotten me a best of 11.42 @ 119.x mph.
I ran a best of 11.21 @ 122.x mph. Think the headers helped?????
I do!
Ron
After the headers & a retune, although I added an RPS clutch (maybe a tenth gain) & skinnies for the run(maybe another tenth gain).This would have gotten me a best of 11.42 @ 119.x mph.
I ran a best of 11.21 @ 122.x mph. Think the headers helped?????
I do!
Ron
