Headers and 400hp question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 183
Likes: 8
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
Headers and 400hp question
I have searched and read Header threads on the forum but I am still not sure of what will fit my needs. My C5 is a stock 01 M6 and I would like to get it to 400 rwhp at some point. More importantly I want torque for street driving (not street racing) and I am not planning any drag strip events. I am considering LG (pro or street?), American Racing and Kooks long tube headers, high flow cats and X pipe. I also want to run a Corsa Extreme system to finish off. Am I correct to go with 1 ¾” primaries and 2 ½” x pipe to achieve the lower end torque. Also I would probably go with a Blackwing air intake and a dyno tune. Is this a good start and are there any suggestions on a good combination and how close will the air intake and the exhaust system get me to 400 rwhp? I still want to keep my highway mileage. I also want to keep the price down but will not buy off shore product, just North American made.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
To get to 400 rwhp, you will need the LG Pros LTs, X pipe and free flowing exhaust. Borla Stingers come to mind or straight pipes. Others are too restrictive
Plus a simple CAI, black wing will do
under drive pully
and a great tune will get you close 370-380 or so
to get TOO 400 rwhp you will need some PP 243 heads Stage 3 ( 5.3 heads may not do it) and a good cam. a LG X2 or X3 for example - there are others too.
, new timing chain, pp oil pump and water pump, new plugs and wires
Then an other great tune to get you too 400 or a a bit more.
The car will be LOUD maybe too loud for DD and depending on NY law may not pass emissions. and highway fuel milage will drop.
Good Luck
Plus a simple CAI, black wing will do
under drive pully
and a great tune will get you close 370-380 or so
to get TOO 400 rwhp you will need some PP 243 heads Stage 3 ( 5.3 heads may not do it) and a good cam. a LG X2 or X3 for example - there are others too.
, new timing chain, pp oil pump and water pump, new plugs and wires
Then an other great tune to get you too 400 or a a bit more.
The car will be LOUD maybe too loud for DD and depending on NY law may not pass emissions. and highway fuel milage will drop.
Good Luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 33
From: Cedar Rapids IA
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
From: Georgia
I have searched and read Header threads on the forum but I am still not sure of what will fit my needs. My C5 is a stock 01 M6 and I would like to get it to 400 rwhp at some point. More importantly I want torque for street driving (not street racing) and I am not planning any drag strip events. I am considering LG (pro or street?), American Racing and Kooks long tube headers, high flow cats and X pipe. I also want to run a Corsa Extreme system to finish off. Am I correct to go with 1 ¾” primaries and 2 ½” x pipe to achieve the lower end torque. Also I would probably go with a Blackwing air intake and a dyno tune. Is this a good start and are there any suggestions on a good combination and how close will the air intake and the exhaust system get me to 400 rwhp? I still want to keep my highway mileage. I also want to keep the price down but will not buy off shore product, just North American made.
-Blackwing CAI
-Summit Mass Airflow Sensor 29007B-C for cold air tuning
-Stainless Works LT headers: 1-3/4" primaries, 3" X-pipe w/cats
-Corsa Touring exhaust system
-Tuned on a Dynojet
Results: 349.65 rwhp 361.14 rwtq
Hopefully a mild cam, ported fast intake, and ported throttle body will get me nearer to 400 rwhp..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 31
From: Rowlett, Texas
I think achieveing 400 RWHP, with good torque and driveability will require much more than exhaust and bolt-ons. That's a 100 hP increase.
Yes, the first mod, and best recommendation for torquey headers is probably the LG streets with the 2 1/2 midpipe, or Kooks, ARH, etc. The difference in price between LG Streets and the killer LG Pros will go a long ways towards a cam -which you will also need to get anywhere near 400 RWHP. I have seen a few cam-only (which means everything except heads) cars reach 400, but I bet they gave away some torque below 5000.
I would predict: headers, intake, good exhaust and tune - 350 RWHP and 350 RWTQ. this is just about what the boys at Corvette Fever got with their 2000 project car in this month's issue.
Add a good torque cam (something near 220 with lots of lift) and throw on a pulley, maybe 380-385 RWHP and 365-370 RWTQ.
After that, the lS1 heads begin to limit any other efforts.
Ha, I'll bet we hear from guys who have doon better. But that's what you're looking for - suggestions, proven combos, right?
DG
Yes, the first mod, and best recommendation for torquey headers is probably the LG streets with the 2 1/2 midpipe, or Kooks, ARH, etc. The difference in price between LG Streets and the killer LG Pros will go a long ways towards a cam -which you will also need to get anywhere near 400 RWHP. I have seen a few cam-only (which means everything except heads) cars reach 400, but I bet they gave away some torque below 5000.
I would predict: headers, intake, good exhaust and tune - 350 RWHP and 350 RWTQ. this is just about what the boys at Corvette Fever got with their 2000 project car in this month's issue.
Add a good torque cam (something near 220 with lots of lift) and throw on a pulley, maybe 380-385 RWHP and 365-370 RWTQ.
After that, the lS1 heads begin to limit any other efforts.
Ha, I'll bet we hear from guys who have doon better. But that's what you're looking for - suggestions, proven combos, right?
DG
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 183
Likes: 8
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
I think achieveing 400 RWHP, with good torque and driveability will require much more than exhaust and bolt-ons. That's a 100 hP increase.
Yes, the first mod, and best recommendation for torquey headers is probably the LG streets with the 2 1/2 midpipe, or Kooks, ARH, etc. The difference in price between LG Streets and the killer LG Pros will go a long ways towards a cam -which you will also need to get anywhere near 400 RWHP. I have seen a few cam-only (which means everything except heads) cars reach 400, but I bet they gave away some torque below 5000.
I would predict: headers, intake, good exhaust and tune - 350 RWHP and 350 RWTQ. this is just about what the boys at Corvette Fever got with their 2000 project car in this month's issue.
Add a good torque cam (something near 220 with lots of lift) and throw on a pulley, maybe 380-385 RWHP and 365-370 RWTQ.
After that, the lS1 heads begin to limit any other efforts.
Ha, I'll bet we hear from guys who have doon better. But that's what you're looking for - suggestions, proven combos, right?
DG
Yes, the first mod, and best recommendation for torquey headers is probably the LG streets with the 2 1/2 midpipe, or Kooks, ARH, etc. The difference in price between LG Streets and the killer LG Pros will go a long ways towards a cam -which you will also need to get anywhere near 400 RWHP. I have seen a few cam-only (which means everything except heads) cars reach 400, but I bet they gave away some torque below 5000.
I would predict: headers, intake, good exhaust and tune - 350 RWHP and 350 RWTQ. this is just about what the boys at Corvette Fever got with their 2000 project car in this month's issue.
Add a good torque cam (something near 220 with lots of lift) and throw on a pulley, maybe 380-385 RWHP and 365-370 RWTQ.
After that, the lS1 heads begin to limit any other efforts.
Ha, I'll bet we hear from guys who have doon better. But that's what you're looking for - suggestions, proven combos, right?
DG
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 62
From: Columbia SC
I think you are on the right track. My goal is the same for my 00 vert - 400 rwhp. My first step was change the stock cat back to the Z06 Ti's. My next plan will be for a set of LG streets with high flow cats. After that I an going to start the search for the cam and intake. My last step will be with the heads. I am planning 2 full tunes throught out the process - one after the cam and one after the heads. Good luck wiht your project. 
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Wayne In
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 12
From: NOLA
I have a Corvette Fever and they did a write up on small blocks with mods and power gains. One of the engines was an ls1 with an intake, headers, high flow cats, x pipe and cat back. I think it made 350 rwhp or so. The same set up with cam and heads saw a 100 horsepower increase on top of that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
I have a 01 C5 M6 with a like goal - 400 rwhp. The mods to date are:
-Blackwing CAI
-Summit Mass Airflow Sensor 29007B-C for cold air tuning
-Stainless Works LT headers: 1-3/4" primaries, 3" X-pipe w/cats
-Corsa Touring exhaust system
-Tuned on a Dynojet
Results: 349.65 rwhp 361.14 rwtq
Hopefully a mild cam, ported fast intake, and ported throttle body will get me nearer to 400 rwhp..
-Blackwing CAI
-Summit Mass Airflow Sensor 29007B-C for cold air tuning
-Stainless Works LT headers: 1-3/4" primaries, 3" X-pipe w/cats
-Corsa Touring exhaust system
-Tuned on a Dynojet
Results: 349.65 rwhp 361.14 rwtq
Hopefully a mild cam, ported fast intake, and ported throttle body will get me nearer to 400 rwhp..
Similiar combo here,
-Vortex CAI
-AR 1 3/4 LT headers High flow cats
-BB PRT mufflers
-"street" tune
Put on the dyno before the headers and managed to get 332rwhp, now with the headers I know I'm at least very close to 350rwhp, or possibly at 355. I figure to get to 400hp, it'll take a cam or some headwork, or a 75 shot
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 491
Likes: 2
From: Arlington Hts. IL
The key is do you have to pass an OBDII emissions test? Cam and heads with LTs will get you there, but can it pass emissions? FI is cool but more heat and you need a great tune plus that emissions thing again.MY opinion to go fast is a stroker 415 LS2 with after market heads and a mild cam, LTs with a tune . It should pass an obdII test and make 450 to 500 rwhp. It sure isn't cheap to go fast. Remember there is no replacement for displacement.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
I have a 2002 LS1 6sp convert. I've had all the following mods done. Dynatech LT headers w/full flo cats, ported throttle body, Halitech Stinger air intake,Yellow Terra alum rockers, Comp molly push rods w/ HD valve springs, Comp Cam 228 / 232 , 612 lift 111 LSA, ported oil pump, SLP under drive pulley, comp double roller timing chain, Borla Stinger mufflers and Dyno tuned. As of today I'm putting out 391.17 at the rear wheels with 373.20 torque. I plan on heads next year but as of now couldn't be happier. All my work was done at New Era in upstate NY.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Ohio
LT's (Any brand) with a cam will get you to the 400HP mark. With out a cam its going to be tough. I am where you want to be, I just put the cam that should have been in the engine from the factory. And the supporting mods too.
Side note, the factory clutch will not hold 400RWHP, for very long.
Side note, the factory clutch will not hold 400RWHP, for very long.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 300
From: FL
I have an 02 Z06, dynoed at 385rwhp, 355rwtq with LG Streets and Halltech air intake and tune. Recently added 224/228 cam, 432rwhp, 392rwtq.
In order to get the full benefit of the cam you need the supporting exhaust and air intake mods.
Now I need a stronger clutch.
In order to get the full benefit of the cam you need the supporting exhaust and air intake mods.
Now I need a stronger clutch.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,752
Likes: 587
From: Washington TWP NJ
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