Headers Upgrade
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
Headers Upgrade
I am ordering headers Friday for my '00 Coupe along with the Vararam. I am not familiar with headers and which ones are the best ones to go with. At the top of my list are the LG Street Series Long Tube Headers. What are everyones thought and suggestions? Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
You will likely get a lot of different input here but there is no side by side testing of the various headers. I don't think you can go wrong with your choice. To me the important selection criteria should be all stainless construction, installation ease and no leaks. Since the entire exhaust will be off the car, it would also be a good time to swap out the tunnel plate.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
Headers
Check article in June Issue of Corvette Magazine, they basically say headers on an otherwise stock motor are a waste of money, I'm kind of up in the air myself, I'm not interested in 15 or 17HP gain at 6000rpm, I am looking for "seat of the pants " increase in performance.
Leo
Leo
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
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 850
Likes: 15
From: Vero Beach Florida
I recently installed Kooks headers/catted X-pipe, Vararam cai, and a Diablo Predator to my '02 C5. I havn't dynoed car, but I'll guarantee you, its way more than 15-17hp increase. I'm guessing a minimum or 30-40. Mike.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
Check article in June Issue of Corvette Magazine, they basically say headers on an otherwise stock motor are a waste of money, I'm kind of up in the air myself, I'm not interested in 15 or 17HP gain at 6000rpm, I am looking for "seat of the pants " increase in performance.
Leo
Leo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
I DIFINITLY gained some serious hp and rpm capability when I installed my headers/x -pipe to go along with my blackwing (at the time)
If you pay $1500 for headers, it might not be a great $ per hp value on a stock car, but if you pay $750 for a set ( I bought KOOKs) you WILL get a good bang for the buck
Any way, anyone that goes to the trouble to install headers on a vette, is not going to leave their car stock for long anyway. And ever other mod you do, will benifit from the headers
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I like the American Racing headers. There one of the easist headers to install and work EXCELLENT!!!!!
I gained 30 HP on my ZO6 with headers, ported TB, VARARAM and a tune.
I gained 30 HP on my ZO6 with headers, ported TB, VARARAM and a tune.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Western Burbs of Detroit MI
I say of the LG brand the streets offer the most bang for your buck, but the pros offer the most power. Are you going to do head and cam eventually, or just boltons ?? If you are only doing boltons then the streets are perfect and cheaper. If you are doing h/c later then I say get the PROS. The pros are 1 3/4 equal length longtubes, 3 inch collector, merge style, and 3 inch x pipe. You can get the LGM Big 3 cat back as well to have a complete 3 inch system just waiting for the H/C mods to come. If not then go with the streets......
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: the woodlands tx
Did anyone notice if the headers hung lower than the stock underneath the car? mines lowered and have been wondering about that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,285
Likes: 1,515
From: Oviedo Florida
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Buy a well built header and you can't go wrong and well
built means $$$$$$$$$ Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,524
Likes: 914
From: Communist Colorado
Check article in June Issue of Corvette Magazine, they basically say headers on an otherwise stock motor are a waste of money, I'm kind of up in the air myself, I'm not interested in 15 or 17HP gain at 6000rpm, I am looking for "seat of the pants " increase in performance.
Leo
Leo
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
Well I am going with the headers and vararam then off to Illinois for a quality tune on the dyno, I am not aware of any place in Wisconsin that has a quality dyno experiende with LS1 motor. I can't wait!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
I already have a cat back system, and a Breathless cold air intale as well as the Diablo tuner, and it sounds overwelmming that headers are a worthwile ad-on. Sounds like this summer's projects will include a set of longtubes and highflow cats w/x pipe
Thanks for all the input
Thanks for all the input
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
ARH (heard easy in install) or kooks (heard hard to install), but they both perform same as same length headers. Get the callaway honker instead of Vararam. I have Stainless works headers, High flow cats and Corsa X-pipe, i did this because i paid $725 for all these 3 pieces and another $100 bucks in header gasket (round one), and 3" wide SS clamps.
Last edited by sami85L98; Apr 2, 2009 at 07:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
ARH (heard easy in install) or kooks (heard hard to install), but they both perform same as same length headers. Get the callaway honker instead of Vararam. I have Stainless works headers, High flow cats and Corsa X-pipe, i did this because i paid $725 for all these 3 pieces and another $100 bucks in header gasket (round one), and 3" wide SS clamps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
Performance wise they both are same except, callaway give little nice throttle response on street because of short runners and big filter than long runners of Vararam and short filter. Plus callaway is just simply a better built unit, if u still want vararam i can sell it to, i put only 1000 miles and i make sure every nut bolt comes with it. If money is not an issue, go with callaway honker and 1 3/4 catted ARH headers this will serve u worry free for years to come.