I know asking this question is kinda like asking which is better blonds or brunetts, everyone has an opinion. I have a pretty much stock setup with the exception of the RM racing cold air intake and B&B PRT exhaust. I was looking at LT's with cats and new x pipe. I want the best fit (not a lot of refab time) and the best performance within the stock RPM ranges. I may do cam and heads but that would be a long time off. Also who makes the most complete kit? I hate having to go to the store and get more parts that should have come with the kit.
MIKE

 

You cannot go wrong with either of these.

LG Pro's
American Racing
Kooks
Dynomax
Stainless Works

They are in no particular order, just a list of the high quality products many here use.

 

.....oh, and the answer is brunettes!

 

no, blondes!

 

I've always wondered if they call girls with black hair Blackheads??

Oh Yeah, I vote with ARH

 

 

You can't go wrong with these. I personally just purchased American Racing. I have heard that the install on these are the easiest (both go in from the bottom). Mine came with the "hi-flow" cats and the X-pipe. These go all of the way back to the catbacks. I will be installing them in a few weeks. I ran out of time this weekend because I put in 3:42 gears and a 2800 Stall convertor. I'll report back on the headers once they are in.

 

You are all wrong.












The correct answer is redheads!

(Oh, and I'll be buying the American Racing Headers in the very near future.)

 

Wow! More comments on hair color than headers. Interesting. I seen good things about all of the listed headers here on the forum. A lot of the data on the ARH, and LG are for higher RPM ranges. I'm looking at a pretty stock motor. Also Iwill ne really interested to see how your install goes. I would think all in from the bottom would be easier. I looked at the LG install info and there was a lot of top side removal to get the pass side in.


I have to go with Red also... It's just a good call

 

Hmm, redheaders!

 

I like LG

 

LG's here and love them.

 

Actually you've got it backwards there....the LG's are more noted for the low- to mid-range horsepower and torque production over the American Racing Headers. The ARH headers make more power on the upper curve of the rpm band. Either set will be a phenomenal increase over the stock manifolds.

All comes down to how much cash you want to spend for those last 5 to 10 hp and whether or not you need stainless....

Texas Speed - $600 to $800

LG's - $1,000 to $1,200

ARH/Kook's/Melrose - $1,500 +

 

American Racing Headers

 

AR's and LG's===still on the fence.... not shure which headers Ill get.
But blones, brunettes, or redheads....

attitidue, i love a hot red head!!

Chris

 

I just installed LG's long tube pro's... with cats.. 4 hour install... getting the stock manifolds out was harder than getting the new LTs in. HP may not be a huge improvement, but the sound with my GHL catback is great and the response is much quicker. I guess they are platnium blonde.

 

The less slip-fit & clamp joints, the better. 'Nuff said.

 

A vote here for the ARH

 

You may want to read Tony Mamo's post in this thread and make you decision based on your goals.

To post or not to post.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been biting my tongue ever since I read this thread for the first time a few days ago. Some of the info is good and some of it is of course just a bunch of BS from cheerleaders of certain products who usually have some agenda you may or may not know about (welcome to the performance automotive related message boards).

There is no one size/one brand header fits all....I have extensively used and tested BOTH in question and they both have their place in the market and will enhance and subtract from different parts of your power curve. Each is better suited to it's own set of parameters and driving styles.

Phil....it was pretty much a no brainer that a shorter 1.875 tube was going to enhance your track times, power, and high RPM charge. You have a high strung solid roller small block with the breathing capacity to turn it 8000 RPM's or better and still effectively fill your cylinders. The much longer primary pipe of the LG design simply won't work at that RPM....not to mention the smaller diameter pipe at that RPM (and power level) was also not as optimal any longer (but IMO the tube length was the larger issue in Phil's very unique combination). Phil...on a side note your Mustang project looks sick....saw some pics in another thread

But back to the topic at hand.....if I were selecting a header for a mild hydraulic roller 346 (mainly street oriented) that spent most of its time below 6500 the LG system with it's very long primary pipes are IMO the header of choice. If I road raced a slightly more aggressive conbination they are probably still the header of choice (having to come off a corner at say 3-4K and having to be more concerned with area under the curve power).

Now if I was looking to skew the curve a bit higher up and was more interested in drag racing, street racing, or simply punching big HP numbers on the dyno the shorter primary pipe and very detailed collector the ARH features is a no brainer. Add a blower or increase displacement or RPM (solid roller) and the ARH design makes more sense again. Craftsmanship and ease of install is also another plus of the ARH system (the tig welds are artwork), although the LG install is alot faster to install than quite a few other brands available and you wont be cursing when your done.

The bottom line is I recently swapped the headers on my current 383 combo looking for a stronger top end charge and better carrying power past peak. As some of you know, I have been running the LG system for some time now with it being extremely effective on my former mild 346 very optimized high output combo. It was ideal for that build and was still surprisingly effective in my 383 solid roller motor. BUT, like most of us there came a time I was looking for more and I always felt a shorter and fatter primary pipe would enhance my top end charge. The ARH system was well constructed and just what the doctor ordered but like big cams and most other things engine related there is no free lunch. I fully expected to lose some midrange TQ and I did....about 20 ft/lbs at 4000 RPM (optimized versus optimized combinations). BUT, I got exactly what I was looking for upstairs with a bump in peak HP of 8 HP and 10-12 more HP past peak. From 5K and up the ARH system started making gains over my former power curve with the largest gap from 6K to redline (as you would expect). If I roadraced the car with this combination or was more concerned with low midrange grunt this swap wouldn't have been the right move for me, but seeing as I mainly street and dragrace the car (with a six speed trans) the reality is when I'm really serious about getting from point "A" to point "B", I spend all my time at WOT between 5500 and 7300 RPM's so in my situation I felt the swap was beneficial (and a spirited four gear to redline pass later that evening confirmed that to be the case).

Which header is better?? Neither of them....what you need is the right tool for the job and better evaluating your own combination will hopefully help you decide which piece will work best for you. IMO, they are two of the topshelf choices you have to choose from and you can't go wrong with either. In fact the point I have been trying to make here should really have been more of a generalized statement (not brand names) comparing header system "A" with 38" long 1.75 primary pipes to header system "B" with 28" 1.875 primary's. Both offer very different benfits and compromises to the end user, but choosing either one of these systems will leave you with a big smile on your face.

Hope this helps clear up a few things with the great header debate....although I'm sure a thread just like this one will pop up in a week or two. Seems to just be one of the hottest topics on this board (and others) and for some reason no one ever seems to get tired of it.



Regards,
Tony

PS....The point I am trying to hit home above pertains to many products on the market....my own included. As good as the AFR 205 head is, it only makes the most sense in certain applications....obviously not all applications. Sure then our 225 might fit the bill but that comes with certain compromises and of course also has it's limitations. The entire combination (every component) and its main focus (primary usage) must be carefully evaluated and matched if you really are trying to build a world class combination thats somehow better than the sum of its parts. Choosing the right header will be a key factor in the build and will help shape your engine's power curve and personality.

 

Kendo, Anyone who believes there's that much difference in torque between the two brands at 4000 rpm may also be interested in buying the Brooklyn Bridge for a dollar. The facts are ARH's will in most cases produce as much torque if not more in the lower rpm ranges than LG's or any other brand without sacrificing top end power. ARH offers more than one system for these cars and when sized properly will deliver substantial gains throughout the rpm range. Do yourself a favor and don't believe the continuous and self promotion. We've done the testing countless times and nothing stated in that post holds water.