Considering the price, when folks go to a catback only and its good for no horsepower vs headers at 20 horsepower.. I'd say headers are the better deal

 

c6z06 manifolds + c5z mufflers is a great budget upgrade.

 

Most people don't look at the reality of most power increases. Sure you can get 30 Hp gains. But that is a 6000 or 7000 RPM's. Down in the range where 99% of people operate their engines the gain is more like 1/2Hp or 1Hp.
One must spend some time considering the ACTUAL RPM range that they want to see and feel the gains.
Sure one can spend $1500 on headers, $800 on an intake, $400 on a bigger TB, a $1000 for a cam, lifters, and install, then another $300 for a tune and get only 10 or 20Hp in the everyday usable range. Sure this can result on 150Hp at 7000 RPM but what good is that when you are driving to work and back?
The MOST important thing for you to consider is just how you drive your car and how streetable you want it to be.
I have owned cars with huge Hp engines that were just a major pain to drive everyday and due to the power range they got horrendous mileage.
In my experience a supercharged or turbocharged engine gave the best bang for the buck. I have far more power right now than I really need for the street but with a supercharger it is easy to control and improves the entire power band.
The other option that I like is cubic inches. One can get a very well built and strong 400+ CID engine for about the same price as putting a SC or TC on the stock engine.
Smokey had it right. To paraphrase. "Power costs. How much can you afford.

YMMV

 

You purchased a cat back system and are complaining about the price tag of headers!?!?!! Cat back adds basically 0hp and headers will add 30+rwhp when installed and tuned properly.

 

Get a quality used set or XS option and you will be surprised.

Headers are definitely a gateway mod and make the car sound much better. Actually the stock exhaust with the bypass mod and headers sounds great.

I have an LS1 GTO and went from 13.5 with 1.97 60ft (stock 6 speed with cat back and shifter) to 12.99 with same 1.97 60ft with headers and tune....

Then down to a 12.5 with Cam and tune with same 60ft!

 

Since you seem to be a virgin in the mod world the best advice I
could give is save your money.
Chaseing hp is a expensive hobby. If it is a hobby you want to
have---read read read and read. Not blogs like this but tech
reports car mag etc...........There is alot of great info out in the
world.

 

Thanks for all the comments, sounds like half say yes and half say no so far on headers!

 

It really depends on what you want with the car. They offer better power and sound hands down. It will be up to you to decide if it is worth your money.

You still have a Corvette either way. Life is good lol =)

 

The sound is killer. If anything you could justify it through that. It will really open up your cat-back system.

 

From my limited experience the most gain in acceleration may come from changing the gear ratio in your rear end; like to 390 or 410. Pretty sure that will wake up the car immediately.

Probably around a $2,200 investment (rebuilt rear end with new gears, seals and clutch packs) which would include labor (just quoted $785.00 for labor from Aamco transmissions).

I have added CAI, high flow throttle body, x-pipe and cat back system and a tune which really hasn't done much to improve acceleration; may have added some HP and torque to the mid band but I am more concerned with accelerating in first and second gear.

Good luck.

 

Well, I can tell you from my experiance with my 01 and 04. Both were stock when i got them. I put the american racing headers on and you can diff tell the power differents BIG time. Throttle response was right on.

 

Thank you for that well thought out and enlightening insight.

 

I've highly debated this myself and here is my take. Is it worth it from a horsepower stand point? No. Is it worth it from a sound/hp, maybe.

I have an '04 and with a Vararam and a tune I made 376whp.

Most people who are claiming a 20-30whp gain are probably doing so from when they were stock and with no tune. Well hell, my car stock made 355whp so I made 22whp with an intake and a tune. If you already have a tune then I would guess you're going to see 10-15hp MAX.

There is no way if I added LG headers over my current system I'm going to be making 406whp. I think I would make anywhere from 385-392whp.

And let's break that down. IF, the key word being, went with a reputable header like LG Pros, then by the time you purchase, install, and retune you're probably looking at $2500 or so give or take a few hundred. Is $2500 worth an extra 10-15hp?

That's a lot of money to me.

I've chased C6 Z06's down the back straight at Sebring that only had intakes and tuen and they didn't pull me THAT bad. And those probably had 475whp. If a C5 only had 10-15hp more than me then they would pull very little and I would feel down that I just spent $2500 and I'm only pulling a car if I'm lucky.

The ONLY reason I'm still considering getting a header of some sort is I want more sound out of my car. Plus, I've heard the stock cats will get clogged over time tracking the car a lot so I think I'm on borrowed time.

Just my .02

 

Jeremy

TORQUE, good LTs will provide more mid range torque.

and cats get plugged from running top tier high detergent fuels at low rpms. Stick with cheap 93 octane for freshest fuel, running at 3000 to red line and it will clear any crap out.


I run TPiS LTs, Random Tech high flow cats and x-pipe, then straight pipes back.
front two O2 sensors work, rear O2 sensors are tunned and turned off, but read active normal.

 

I getting them soon as possible on my c6 LS3.
Had them on my ls3 camaro with cold air intake and tune.
It made throttle response a lot better. Plus 49 on dyno . Whatever that's worth

 

4 year old thread bud

 

Yes sorry but it seems people bitch if you start A new one ,

Search is your friend and they always say .

 

What year is your car? Gears might be a better option depending on your future plans for the car especially if you don't want to open the motor.

 

2008 auto
Gears would be nice with sticky tires .
But like I said headers woke up my ls3 Camaro.
I would think it would do the same on a ls3 Vette ?

 

One thing everyone left out that bought headers is the extra heat in the engine bay which causes other issues. I know some have issues with them cooking the starter and other things,

Unless you buy a ceramic coated set or wrap them yourself.