My suggestions are the TTS Long Tubes for a stock or bolt-on car, and the Stainless Works for a head/cam car or someone with plans of heavier engine mods in the future.

I know everyone seems to really like the FLPs but how are they the best buy? Aren't they mild steel and cost $1600? Sure they come with new high flow cats, but what if you don't ever want to run cats, or you want to stick with your stock cats because not much more power seems to be found by going to High Flows, especially on a stock or bolt-on LS1/LS6.

 

I agree with Matt. We had TTS when our car was stock & switched to StainlessWorks for the 427. As far as the effect of high-flow cats, Mike Norris removed the stock cats on our 427 to see the impact...dyno didn't change.

 

Sully: You need custom Pcm tuning on the dyno to get a gain after cat delete--we picked up SAE 14rwhp and 11rwtrq.

 

Is it true that the smaller diameter primaries will make torque at a lower rpm? If so, how would that compare to a header with a 1 3/4" diameter?

 

This is sort of my question too. I am now running stock exhaust manifolds because I thought I wanted to race SCCA, but I find that other track events plus autox are pretty much filling that need. So what I want is a well-designed and implemented smaller primary, long tube header which will give me maximum grunt on a moderately modded ZO-6 engine. I originally looked at TPIS w/1 5/8" primaries, but now wonder if anybody else caters to this strange desire for real performance?

 

This is true. The TTS headers make some great power down low in the RPMs and also keep up VERY well at high rpms for peak numbers. I have had a set on my car now for almost two years now through an agressive 417rwhp LS1 heads/cam package and now a 436ci 480rwhp/495rwtq stroker motor.

When Steve Cole designed these headers, the reason he chose 1 5/8" diameter tubes was not to save the $10 in material cost but was because of the great results he saw with them on an engine dyno. He said he wanted to design a header for the majority of C5 owners that would feel the power gains of the headers everytime they drove the car. Not every C5 owner can feel the 15rwhp gain of headers at 5000rpm, they need the gains more in the lower RPMs that they would feel no matter what they are doing with the car.

Over the past two years I have definitely been told over and over that the tube diameters were to small, but to be honest I do not feel I was missing out on much up top because of it. I feel that I have definitely pushed the TTS to their flow limits with my new engine, but they still seem to make peak numbers consistant with many other header types with VERY similar engines to mine. I will probably switch to a different header and exhaust setup this winter just for a change of pace and to see if I truly am missing out on any power. I will definitely never regret my header choice when going with the TTS headers.. These headers are extremely well built with nice thick 1/2" flanges at the head and 3/8" collector flanges, very high quality welds and good quality jet-hot coating. They have performed flawlessly and are still in excellent condition after all of the abuse I have put them through with some Canadian Winter driving and LOTS of heat from racing, etc.

I can honestly say that I learned something from owning these headers, BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!

If anyone is interested in any more information on these, please feel free to drop me an email.


[Modified by MattG, 1:07 AM 8/26/2002]

 

Matt, have you thought about changing to a merge collector? Lou has me sold on that concept and I've toyed with the idea of adding them to my TTS. It looks like it would be a tough fit without losing a couple inches of primary though.

 

If/When I do switch headers, it will definitely be for a set of headers with a Merge style collector and longer tubes. I really want a 1 3/4" - 1 7/8" stepped long tube with nice long primaries and a merge collector. I know breathless makes a stepped header but I am not a fan of how the header comes apart and its seams must be sealed with gasket goop.

 

I too would like to see the Stainless Headers added to this poll. They did very well on (Cruzmissle's) an otherwise stock Z06.

I ran TPIS LT's and they worked well on my H&C coupe, 430/400 RWHP/RWTQ (no cats).

High Flow cats are a waste of money unless you are just needing to replace your stock cats because they are old..kind of like plug wires. The guy that owns the muffler shop I go to, owns a TT Viper (a good one) and actually talked me out of buying them.

Where was that header comparison LGM was going to do with the FLP guy that was going to prove the differences?????

 

FLPs are a best buy because of what is included with the system. headers, hi-flow cats, off road pipes, x pipe and a true bolt on system. no cutting or welding is needed and that is very important to some owners. also, it takes 30 minutes to swap out cats for no cats. yes, mild steel but coated. less weight, less heat retention, less cost. it all depends what you want from a set of headers. there is no bad choice among all the headers available. but my opinion is, go with 1 3/4 primaries. i had both the TTS and TPIS on my previous car and i felt more power throughout the rpm range with the 1 3/4 headers.

Nate

 

They aren't the cheapest, but you didn't ask which were the cheapest. You asked which were the best. No other header has performed as well as the LG Long Tubes. And you don't need a big stroker or any of that other crap posted above to get gains. You need an X pipe to maximize the torque though.

I had the TPIS on my car and dynoed before and after the LGM install because Lou said he would take them off if they didn't gain power. For over 1500 bucks, I was looking for a gain. I got 17 RWHP and 8 RWTQ over the TPIS. I have a head and cam package, also G5 from LGM, but no stroker, YET!.

For power, LGM rules. Period. ttt
Randy Goss :cheers:


[Modified by rfgoss1, 11:41 AM 8/26/2002]

 

I only have experience with FLP...which has been a fantastic mod. FLP is a quality shop. They just made some modifications to their header package to further ease the install of the do-it-yourselfer. $ for $, I couldn't consider anything else.

 

For power, only one...LGM Long tubes. They made 17 more RWHP than TPIS on my car. They are not cheap, but they are sweet.
Randy Goss :cheers:

 

Anyone have the Breathless Performance 5 piece headers? Anyone tested them?

-Dennis

 

LPE,
Where are they on the poll?
I see the posts but no #s?

 

I have the FLP headers and am very satisfied with them. The fit and finish are great. Good power gains as well. :yesnod: Eric

 

Gentlemen...

The LG Motorsports Long Tube Headers is the header system of choice among serious tuners. I had the priviledge to attend The Power Curves Seminar held at Katech a few weeks ago, Katech highly recommended the LG Motorsports Long Tube Header System as the header system of choice for the C5. I personally own a set of these headers and they are of unparalled quality. Lou has put together 33" x 1 3/4" primary tubes fabricated from 304 stainless steel with a 0.060 wall thickness and a 3/8" header flange coupled together with a merge collector. THESE ARE NOT YOUR TYPICAL HEADERS! Lou and many of us, have seen significant gains over other headers systems with respect to both horsepower and torque on the dyno. His headers may be a bit more expensive, but worth the wait!

Respectfully...

 

Many of use would love these headers, but the price is a bit high and many of us can't wait (the mod itch) or just don't want to spend the $$$ on the headers no matter what.

Me? Well I am being a blind horse in a foggy thorn riddle forest and doing SLP. :lol: :crazy:

 

Maybe I misread something, but aren't they the ones that build it? :confused:

 

I definitely think the LG headers are the best designed headers on the market for an agressive engine with increased displacement. However I really feel that their design will not shine on a stock displacement motor with no head or cam work done to it.

It is all a matter of how much money you want to spend I guess... I think a set of $900-$1200 headers are more apropriate for the c5 owner that has no plans of big engine mods, where if someone does have future plans, then perhaps a more agressive header such as the LGs would be better suiting.