Which would you folks recommend?

Which set fits the best?

Regards,
John

 

Don't forget TTS and the new LGMotorsport headers (they look pretty damn wicked from the photos). Have you got the XR-1 installed or not? TTS is a little more expensive than the TPIS. More gains are seen from the long tubes, don't know much about the LGMotorsports since their so new. Later Grier

 

B & B are short tubes. Everything I have read indicates you will get more power from long tubes, like the TPIS. You have a car without the pre-cats, so long tubes are a good application.

01 and 02's with the pre-cats don't work well with long tubes, because the pre-cats have to come off. I guess I shouldn't say they don't work well, it's just that you are messing with a significant emissions device. The B & B's bolt right on even with pre-cats.

 

I went with the B&B's because they are bolt ons, no cutting or welding. They are also stainless steel. I did the install myself which also was a plus ;)

 

There are several newer long tubes coming out. I suggest you take a wait and see apporoach and get the best bang for your buck.

 

Don't forget the Tri-Y Belangers. They are tops in quality, fit and performance IMO.

 

I got the B&B Shortys.. since they are essentially better versions of the stock manifolds... For a high HP motor LT's are the way to go... but with a daily driver... Shorty's are fine...

They can handle the power... I know this for a fact...since I have seen a Mallett 435 Supercharged car w/ shorty's dyno only 8RWHP less than the same car with LT.... the owner kept the LT's but for 8RWHP... it may not be worth the emissions risk...


[Modified by NewVetteLover, 1:57 PM 12/22/2001]

 

Just for the record, a high hp motor will see a minimum of 20 ponies (probably more) gain with long tube headers over short tube. Just went through this with ARE dyno testing my 427. Wade at ARE tells me that it's not as big a deal as you get closer to stock hp. Unfortunately, I'm in a state that does visual inspections, so the pre-cats stayed on. Went with the B&B shorties. Now if I could just find a mod friendly inspection station. Which ever way you go, best of luck with them.

 

TPIS Long Tubes are great.The rpms come up quicker and you "hear"the difference.My TPIS took a while to install but they are worth it. I'm sure I net between 15-18 H.P.:cool:

See the full page of TPIS header install pics on my home page...

 

I've had my B&B shortys on for 2,000 miles, coupled with a Corsa Indy system and Bassani x pipe the sound is fantastic. The headers made the car sound a little more raspy than just the Corsa system. I had the B&B tubes ceramic coated inside and out. They maintain the nice silver color of the ceramic finish. The best part about the shortys is I put them on myself saving me a few houndred that I can spend on an Ls6 intake manifold. What ever type or brand you pick will increase the fun factor, just do it! Ben

 

B&Bs are shortys, they are installed with no welding and are easily reversible.
7-8hp is max gain. Medium priced.

TPIS and Belangers are long tubes and require welding at the cats. You will keep your main cats with all long tubes(except pre-cat cars, you will lose only pre-cats and keep the mains). These two headers utilize 1 3/4 primaries. Great for all applications.
These can be reversed but more labor is involved.
TPIS gain- 14-17hp. They are the least expensive.
Belanger gain- 17-22hp. They are among the most expensive but offer the best quality too.

Nate

 

I like this thread. My ? is I have a 02 Coupe and would like more sound ie. headers. I have the Corsa Indy's with Vortex. I do not plan on doing many more mods :bs but I need more sound ------
Which header
Price$$
Install Price???

 

Kinda leaning toward the shorty's as I thought I read where the long tubes are leakers(?). Any truth to them leaking?? Wasn't planning any mods beyond a cam/kit, so headers seem a good option. As always your inputs are appreciated and thanks.

Joe

 

I really do think the TTS headers are the best header solution for people with bolt-on or heads/cam C5s. They are the best built C5 Long Tubes that I have seen to date. I also feel the smaller diameter tubes are of an ADVANTAGE and not a DISADVANTAGE because of the extra low end power they offer. Lower end power is what is felt everytime the car is driven. Not everyone takes their car to 6200rpm multiple times each day to feel much of the advantages of their larger diameter headers. The TTS also have a 3" collector with very thick solid flanges. We have never had any customers with any leak problems. I have run these headers for a year now with my very agressive heads/cam package and couldnt be happier with their performance and durability.

Steve Cole put a lot of hours of R&D and dyno time into developing these headers and believe me, the reason for the slightly smaller diameter tubes was NOT to cut back on cost. Steve said he wanted to make these headers for C5 owners that enjoy feeling their lower rpm power gains everytime they drive their car.

We usually have these in stock at a great price. If anyone is interested, shoot me an email.

 

I have the TPIS headers. Installation by my shop went smooth. Sounds good, major low-mid end torque!

 

:yesnod:

 

Some vendors are very biased in their recommendations...
I am offering data from a customer of ours.

We have dyno graphs showing major increases between 1 5/8 headers
and 1 3/4 headers. These graphs were sent to us by the customer (without notice) only because he was very happy with the results. We had no idea the gain would be so much!

This customer had ARE install one of their cams along with TTS headers at their shop. He called months later and complained he was not satisfied with the performance gain.
We prescribed Belangers and either our stage 3 cam, or MTIs T1 cam.
They are almost identical in specs. We did not have one of ours in stock, so he went with MTIs cam and our Belanger headers. He had both items installed here in the states but not sure where. He called us after and gave us the good news! 34hp and 41 lbs of torque gain over his previous cam and TTS headers!

Speaking with Katech( which has dynoed every cam grind available for the LS1/LS6), the gain on the cam swap alone was worth around 15hp.
Leaving the balance of his gain due to the Belanger header swap.
Sounds too good to be true but he sent us the dyno sheets!

I will try and take a pic of his dyno graphs and post them here or on a new topic. Im not sure how they will come out though.

TTS and Belanger headers usually sell for the same price- 1195-1295.00
TPIS sell for between 849-899.00
B&B- 950-1095.00

Top quality- Belanger, TTS and B&B.

Installation- 6-7 hours for the TPIS and Belanger.
7-8 for the TTS.
2-4 for the B&B shorties.

Nate

 

Nate, I take it your reply about being biased is directed towards me. I had a feeling it wouldnt be too long until you were in this thread ready to start our usual header disagreement.

I know exactly the customer you are referring to in your response as I am the one that sold him the ARE heads/cam package. I also know the place that did the install of the T1 and Belanger headers and the re-dyno.

First off, the TTS headers were already installed on this customer's car, ARE did not do the initial install. Second off, the camshaft that was in there originally was VERY conservative because the customer stressed the point he wanted a VERY streetable car without any sort of rough idle. I do not recall the exact cam specs but I do know it was a 116LSA and when all was said and done it pulled right around 370rwhp. So the difference is not as huge as you describe because I believe after the switch of cam and headers it pulled in the 390rwhp range. Keep in mind these two dyno comparisons were taken months apart and on two totally different dynos.

You always claim to have dyno charts showing where the larger diameter headers far out-perform the TTS. I really am interested to see these results as I have not yet seen you produce them. If your estimate of a 20rwhp increase just from switching to Belanger headers is correct, then sign me up because that would put me in the 440rwhp range with my car because I happen to run these TTS headers that you claim are no good for heads/cam cars. Perhaps I got lucky with my 417rwhp/398rwtq peak power? Also, wouldnt you think with a beefy cam like in my car, that if these headers were truly the bottleneck, that my results wouldnt be as good?

I have sold quite a few sets of these headers to customers getting head/cam installs done and the PEAK numbers have always been very good. You very well could get an extra PEAK hp or two from going with the larger diameter headers, but are peak numbers how you guage the results of engine work? I think the area under the curve is much more important and this is where the TTS headers really shine because of the increased power at lower rpms. You can disclaim this all you want, but just as you claim to do, I am just sharing my personal experiences and feelings about this product.




[Modified by MattG, 8:21 PM 12/23/2001]

 

It's obvious where the supporting vendors are coming from . If I were you, I would take the advice of a non-supporting vendor such as The Vette Doctors, who include TPIS Long Tube headers in each of their heads/cam packages. I'm sure that $$ isn't their bottom line issue here but rather performance-H.P. Visit their website at http://www.thevettedoctors.com :chevy

 

No offence, but what makes you think money is our bottom line issue here? We too want happy customers out there and only sell products that are capable of making these customers happy. I do not think, just because the Vette Docs are not a supporting vendor here, that their selection of long tube headers to sell with their packages is the ultimate selection. They too make their money from producing happy customers and they include what they feel is best for the same reasons I try to sell what I feel works best.

I just happen to feel that the TTS headers are the best choice for a bolt-on or heads/cam c5 owner that is looking for excellent performance and quality in their headers.




[Modified by MattG, 8:54 PM 12/23/2001]