i have a 2000 A4.It's been tuned and has a Vararam intake.I'm seriously thinking about a Supercharger/headers package.My question is,just how loud are headers? i don't want to drown out the radio or get a headache on long trips! Thanks for any help

 

If noise is THAT much of a concern, do not install headers. You can be at 500 RWHP on a conservative tune with a SC .....all through stock exhaust manifolds. Get yourself a nice catback....so you can hear her purrr.....when you want to hear it.

 

 

i have tsp headers, no cats going into stock zo6 titaniums.

the sound is really no different than stock and the zo6 axlebacks are good for way more power than I will ever put down. now if you put a set of bullets on it for axlebacks, then it is going to annoy your real quick.

 

First, L/T headers don't add THAT much noise. They will be louder than stock, but not so much that you have to (a) speak more loudly than usual in the car or (b) turn up the radio's volume to hear the music.

That said, headers do add about 10% to the rear wheel horsepower and torque of your A4's engine/drive train - by allowing the engine to exhale with fewer restraints. Seems to me that you would sub-optimize the benefits from a supercharger (which only allows your car to "breathe in more deeply") if you don' also solve the car's inherent "breathing out" problem (which, after all, is what the headers accomplish).

Assuming $$$ isn't a constraint (which I assume to be the case since your concern about L/T headers relates to their noise level, not their cost) were I you I would add the L/T headers. If you are concerned about the additional noise, then add Z06 Ti exhaust rather than some other, noisier, aftermarket system. The L/T header-Ti exhaust combo is relatively quiet, efficient configuration, and the Ti exhausts are inexpensive ($300 to $400 in this Forum's C5 Parts for Sale section).

Finally, if your objective is improved acceleration, then you might first (i.e. before supercharging) think about adding L/T headers and converting your stock gear ratio (which on an A4 is 2:73, I think) to something along the lines of a 3:42 ratio. That gear ratio upgrade, together with a stall converter and transmission fluid cooler, will run you around $3,500 installed, and will make your A4 feel much faster.

So...were I you I would ask a competent tuner whether it makes sense to add a supercharger without, concurrently, adding L/T headers. Because at the end of the day what you need to do to make more power is attack both the intake and exhaust restrucitions that exist in your stock set-up. My gut tells me that the L/T header addition should come first.

 

First, L/T headers don't add THAT much noise. They will be louder than stock, but not so much that you have to (a) speak more loudly than usual in the car or (b) turn up the radio's volume to hear the music.

That said, headers (with a good tune) do add about 10% to the rear wheel horsepower and torque of your A4's engine/drive train - by allowing the engine to exhale with fewer restraints. Seems to me that you would sub-optimize the benefits from a supercharger (which only allows your car to "breathe in more deeply") if you don't also solve the car's inherent "breathing out" problem (which, after all, is what the headers accomplish).

Assuming $$$ isn't a constraint (which I assume to be the case since your concern about L/T headers relates to their noise level, not their cost) were I you I would add the L/T headers. If you are concerned about the additional noise, then add Z06 Ti exhaust rather than some other, noisier, aftermarket system. The L/T header-Ti exhaust combo is relatively quiet, efficient configuration, and the Ti exhausts are inexpensive ($300 to $400 in this Forum's C5 Parts for Sale section).

Finally, if your objective is improved acceleration, then you might first (i.e. before supercharging) think about adding L/T headers and converting your stock gear ratio (which on an A4 is 2:73, I think) to something along the lines of a 3:42 ratio. That gear ratio upgrade, together with a stall converter and transmission fluid cooler, will run you around $3,500 installed, and will make your A4 feel much faster.

So...were I you I would ask a competent tuner whether it makes sense to add a supercharger without, concurrently, adding L/T headers. Because at the end of the day what you need to do to make more power is attack both the intake and exhaust restrucitions that exist in your stock set-up. My gut tells me that the L/T header addition should come first.

 

headers are louder. The cat back makes the biggest difference though. I installed headers with my Corsa Pace Car catback. It went from loud to really loud. Then I put on a set of Z06 Ti's and it's too quiet. There's a a burble of noises, but nothing significant and it never had the roar at WOT.

Better too loud than too quiet - so the Corsas are back on. My point is that the volume is easily controllable with the selection of catback.

 

Yes get headers! The headers wont make it loud. The volume is controlled by the cat-back you choose. Plus you want the car to exhale with all that forced induction.

Stay away from Borla Stingers. They drone the worse. I think Z06 Tis would be the cat-back you want. Theres always a bunch of used ones for sale.

 

Why would it not make sense with stock heads/cam? I will add headers when I do my head cam swap. I could not be happier with how my car runs.....considering it is a stock heads/cam/exhaust engine.

 

Do LT headers, x-pipe w/hi flow cats, and a Corsa Touring Catback. No drone and will behave soundwise in normal driving. Get aggressive with the throttle and then the Touring catback comes alive.

 

If headers add 35hp to a stock engine for example, I would think they would add 60hp to stock engine with a blower on it.

The exhaust volume goes up a lot when supercharged.
At the least, a set of Z06 manifolds, or shorties.

It would drive me nuts to add a blower and leave that much HP on the table.

 

....and somehow I sleep ok....

 

I forgot to mention that I already have Ti catback.Thanks for the info.You helped me make up my mind!!!

 

I'm stunned!

 

I agree do this. Its only loud when you romp on it with long tubes going into stock ti's

 

I'm in Canton and not sure where you are at in Ohio, too lazy to look it up!!! But if you are in NE Ohio I'd be glad to take you for a ride. We're all different but all I can say is that headers are the best mod I've ever made and I have about $15k in mods........way too much.

I've had TPS headers and their high flow cats. When you looked thru the cats all you saw light thru some filament. Very high flow. Got an X pipe with Corsa Indys. No baffle restrictions. I've had many folks say sweetest sounding C5 they have ever heard. People all the time ask me to hammer it. Best performance mod I ever did.

Acceleration is controlled by the thing under my right foot. Deceleration since you have a automatic may be a concern. Lot of bubbling and popping. I got a clutch so I can control that. Good luck and let me know about that ride.

 

Hi fitted headers and X pipe with high flow cats to my Z left te back original lovely sound it is the back that makes the noise.

 

I live in Medina county.I don't know if I'd want to take a ride being you've got all that money in mods.i may be tempted!! i just got done convincing myself I can't afford a 2010 Grand Sport!!! I was thinking about a supercharger.Don't know if my stock A4 tranny would hold up.I got a price of 8 grand for a nice package. i figure I can get headers and a re-tune for under 2.

 

Yup

Peace
Chip