Anyone regret adding headers to a stock C5?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
I have Corsa Extreme with manifolds and H pipe. To be honest I want it a notch louder I'm not chasing horsepower. I talked to a guy about just removing the cats and fabricating a catless kit and adding a X pipe and tune. He wants $1600 seems like a lot but this guy will do it right.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 556
Likes: 133
From: Texas
Doing it, and doing it right are, sadly, two different things. A good tune in my area runs $500-$600. IDK prices for a quality X-pipe in 2023, but my stainless Kooks 3" X-pipe was about $350.00 in 2005. I'm guessing here, but they're probably around $500-$600 in 2023. Even if they're still $350.00, add that to $550.00, and you're almost to $1,000.00. Then there's labor, which many shops charge $125/hour, and more. However, most all X-pipes are made to bolt to headers, so there will be extra labor to make up a "kit." IDK what year C5 you have, but the 2001 and later exhaust manifolds are a bit superior in flow compared to the '97-'00 models, so you may want to seek out the later manifolds if you don't already have them. So, $1,600.00 to do it right is a fair price in my book.......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 4,361
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have Corsa Extreme with manifolds and H pipe. To be honest I want it a notch louder I'm not chasing horsepower. I talked to a guy about just removing the cats and fabricating a catless kit and adding a X pipe and tune. He wants $1600 seems like a lot but this guy will do it right.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
As a result of adding headers, has anyone proactively installed a new starter? I read earlier that some replaced the GM starter with another, newer and better GM truck starter that was plug and play. I also read the smaller, aftermarket starters were not as good and although smaller, they did not last as long as the OEM starters.
Since I will be in there, I would rather replace the starter before I install the headers vs. later. New OEM, better than OEM, rebuilt OEM? Many options.
Since I will be in there, I would rather replace the starter before I install the headers vs. later. New OEM, better than OEM, rebuilt OEM? Many options.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
I would only replace a working starter if, your starter is one of the ones that came with unequal length bolts attaching the starter to the block. I am not sure when the unequal length bolts started and ended. I will be checking and changing mine next time the headers come off.
I have witnessed one that broke the starter pad off the block. Granted it was supercharged but it was under 90k miles.
I have witnessed one that broke the starter pad off the block. Granted it was supercharged but it was under 90k miles.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I would only replace a working starter if, your starter is one of the ones that came with unequal length bolts attaching the starter to the block. I am not sure when the unequal length bolts started and ended. I will be checking and changing mine next time the headers come off.
I have witnessed one that broke the starter pad off the block. Granted it was supercharged but it was under 90k miles.
I have witnessed one that broke the starter pad off the block. Granted it was supercharged but it was under 90k miles.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
However, the car had an engine rebuild at a shop that I don't trust very much. So, it may not be original to the car.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
I don't like wrapping headers especially on a street car as road debris gets trapped in the wrap. YMMV.