XS Power Headers? Good or Bad?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Tim
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: bellefonte pa
Love mine. Great fit, easy install, great price. I have 500 miles on mine with the orginal ECS mail order tune. I can't wait to send the PCM back out. It is running a little rich but has not thrown a code.
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
My C6 really ran really rich and fuel efficiency went to hell The C5 didn't change too much. C5 Dropped a few MPG and was only rich at WOT.
A good tune will easily milk all the power and economy out of the header install.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,331
Likes: 61
From: Port Huron MI
The two sets that I installed both ran rich after the istall. Its NOT the headers fault as the header changes the air flow thru the engine (for the better)
My C6 really ran really rich and fuel efficiency went to hell The C5 didn't change too much. C5 Dropped a few MPG and was only rich at WOT.
A good tune will easily milk all the power and economy out of the header install.
My C6 really ran really rich and fuel efficiency went to hell The C5 didn't change too much. C5 Dropped a few MPG and was only rich at WOT.
A good tune will easily milk all the power and economy out of the header install.
oh yeah, AC on too!
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 drove to and from the last Cruise In (Ct to Bowling Green and back) On the way back,,,I got (fully loaded with two people and a full trunk) 29.3 MPG. On a most reticent trip Baltimore to Hartwell Ga,,, I got 28.4 and we were playing a LOT!
A properly tuned engine is the ****s! Thank you CHUCK @ Corvettes Of Westchester!!!!!!!! The man makes cars run like they designed to!
Bill Curlee
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: South Bend IN
I really like mine. Install went well, with no real issues. Fit perfectly. Not loud when keeping it under 300rpm. My wife commented that she thinks it is quieter than the stock headers and H-Pipe in the cabin. I did just trip a code for the rear O@'s last night, but that is common for high flow cats. Will either tune the rear O2's out or turn off the codes for them. I have an EFI live system. Fuel economy seems to be good. My butt-o-meter tells me there is more power there untuned, Looking to do some tweeking once i hook up the wideband. Can't think of any complaints.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,331
Likes: 61
From: Port Huron MI
I really like mine. Install went well, with no real issues. Fit perfectly. Not loud when keeping it under 300rpm. My wife commented that she thinks it is quieter than the stock headers and H-Pipe in the cabin. I did just trip a code for the rear O@'s last night, but that is common for high flow cats. Will either tune the rear O2's out or turn off the codes for them. I have an EFI live system. Fuel economy seems to be good. My butt-o-meter tells me there is more power there untuned, Looking to do some tweeking once i hook up the wideband. Can't think of any complaints.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,475
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
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Verdad Gallardo
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
I've installed them, but really haven't had time to drive my car.
They went in pretty easy. The passengers side was a little tough, but from what Tim told me I'm the only person that was able to install them from the bottom without jacking the motor or removing the starter (muscle man here lol). I installed them myself on jack stands and another jack to support the mid section of the headers.
The only thing I had a problem with is the passenger side air tube connection. It's a little small and I couldn't get both of the bolts in (I changed mine to the 01+ version).
They went in pretty easy. The passengers side was a little tough, but from what Tim told me I'm the only person that was able to install them from the bottom without jacking the motor or removing the starter (muscle man here lol). I installed them myself on jack stands and another jack to support the mid section of the headers.
The only thing I had a problem with is the passenger side air tube connection. It's a little small and I couldn't get both of the bolts in (I changed mine to the 01+ version).
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I've installed them, but really haven't had time to drive my car.
They went in pretty easy. The passengers side was a little tough, but from what Tim told me I'm the only person that was able to install them from the bottom without jacking the motor or removing the starter (muscle man here lol). I installed them myself on jack stands and another jack to support the mid section of the headers.
The only thing I had a problem with is the passenger side air tube connection. It's a little small and I couldn't get both of the bolts in (I changed mine to the 01+ version).
They went in pretty easy. The passengers side was a little tough, but from what Tim told me I'm the only person that was able to install them from the bottom without jacking the motor or removing the starter (muscle man here lol). I installed them myself on jack stands and another jack to support the mid section of the headers.
The only thing I had a problem with is the passenger side air tube connection. It's a little small and I couldn't get both of the bolts in (I changed mine to the 01+ version).
You were already tuned for the OBX system weren't you?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 29
From: Oxford PA
So, do I need a tune with the new exhaust? I wanted to wait until I put the cam in to get a tune. Just pay one time. I won't be putting the cam in until the end of the year. I don't want to ride around with the check engine light on for 6 months.
Is a tune necessary or advised?
Great feedback!
Is a tune necessary or advised?
Great feedback!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 232
From: Youngstown Ohio
Most are going to say necessary. I don't think you "have" to get a tune but you will probably throw codes, gas mpg will suffer as noted above and the full potential of the headers will not be realized, this is what I have read. The codes may only be an issue with catless systems but not sure, someone will chime in on that I'm sure. You could get a mail order tune to get you in the ballpark and then when you do a cam get a full street/dyno tune, just a thought.
Darion
Darion
Last edited by Darion; Jul 14, 2010 at 08:55 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Finally fixed my squeak which was the ac idler pulley or tensioner(both were worn) so I'll be able to finally test these things out.
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
So, do I need a tune with the new exhaust? I wanted to wait until I put the cam in to get a tune. Just pay one time. I won't be putting the cam in until the end of the year. I don't want to ride around with the check engine light on for 6 months.
Is a tune necessary or advised?
Great feedback!
Is a tune necessary or advised?
Great feedback!
You will however most likely see a slight drop in fuel economy. You will also most likely be some what rich at WOT and being rich, you will not see full HP potential from your header install. It wont hurt the engine as it would if it was a lean issue.
SO,,,,install the headers and when you finish modding, get your tune.
I went 9 months with out a tune on my 06 coupe. Man, once your set up is tuned, you will really see the difference..
BC
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,331
Likes: 61
From: Port Huron MI
You will not HAVE TO get a tune. In other words, your engine will run fine and you will even see a performance gain and you will NOT damage your engine IF you install the headers correctly.
You will however most likely see a slight drop in fuel economy. You will also most likely be some what rich at WOT and being rich, you will not see full HP potential from your header install. It wont hurt the engine as it would if it was a lean issue.
SO,,,,install the headers and when you finish modding, get your tune. I went 9 months with out a tune on my 06 coupe. Man, once your set up is tuned, you will really see the difference..
BC
You will however most likely see a slight drop in fuel economy. You will also most likely be some what rich at WOT and being rich, you will not see full HP potential from your header install. It wont hurt the engine as it would if it was a lean issue.
SO,,,,install the headers and when you finish modding, get your tune.
I went 9 months with out a tune on my 06 coupe. Man, once your set up is tuned, you will really see the difference..BC
My car didn't throw any codes at all with the catted x and only 1 of the AIR fittings hooked up and the other blocked off
