Do Headers Make Sense?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Catless with a stock cam is fine. Catless with an aftermarket cam is a smelly mess.
Le Mans Master
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From: Florida
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“I'm really not interested in doing any engine mods…”. - OP
Long tube headers weigh about the same as Corvette cast manifolds. Any small difference is irrelevant, especially on stock street car.
Headers vs gears on a stock street car? Really? Headers on a stock LS1 with 241 heads maybe 20-30 HP. That’s a factor of 1.08 X lazy. Whereas low gears keep the engine unmolested, environmentally responsible and legal (matters to some people), and transforms from lazy to very responsive and fun to drive on the street.
IMHO the OP will be thrilled with a gear swap and won’t look back.
Long tube headers weigh about the same as Corvette cast manifolds. Any small difference is irrelevant, especially on stock street car.
Headers vs gears on a stock street car? Really? Headers on a stock LS1 with 241 heads maybe 20-30 HP. That’s a factor of 1.08 X lazy. Whereas low gears keep the engine unmolested, environmentally responsible and legal (matters to some people), and transforms from lazy to very responsive and fun to drive on the street.
IMHO the OP will be thrilled with a gear swap and won’t look back.
Banned Scam/Spammer
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From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
Are you sure about that? Are you counting the stock length of pipe after the stock cast manifolds, making it an apples-to-apples weight comparison based on the same length of exhaust?
I think they weight significantly less; perhaps others can chime in with the exact weight differences.
I think they weight significantly less; perhaps others can chime in with the exact weight differences.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
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From: Orange County, CA
What about a compromise solution of swapping the stock midpipe/cats for catless or high-flow cats?
I presume that accounts for some of the gains people see when switching to headers since they can't use the stock midpipe anyways.
But I have no idea what gains could be had... i.e. if you get +20hp switching to headers/catless, can you get +10hp going catless with stock manifolds? Doing that would be a substantially reduced financial investment, not to mention labor would be like 20% of doing headers.
I presume that accounts for some of the gains people see when switching to headers since they can't use the stock midpipe anyways.
But I have no idea what gains could be had... i.e. if you get +20hp switching to headers/catless, can you get +10hp going catless with stock manifolds? Doing that would be a substantially reduced financial investment, not to mention labor would be like 20% of doing headers.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Da U.P.
I'm sure they flow well for manifolds, but they're still manifolds.
I shed 17# by going to TSP long tubes with a 3" catless X and gained a noticeable amount of SOTP pull. My motor is stock. I'm sure some of that is the midpipe, but not all of it.
I shed 17# by going to TSP long tubes with a 3" catless X and gained a noticeable amount of SOTP pull. My motor is stock. I'm sure some of that is the midpipe, but not all of it.
Race Director
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Perhaps a dumb (but related) question....
Can the plastic fuel rail covers be re-installed after the headers are installed? They appear to be molded to match up with the manifolds. Just curious from a cosmetic perspective.
Can the plastic fuel rail covers be re-installed after the headers are installed? They appear to be molded to match up with the manifolds. Just curious from a cosmetic perspective.
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From: Oregon
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