Headers came in today and are going on the car This Sunday. I'll be using a lift and will take some pics. They are stainless, catted, and being mated to a set of BB Route 66 mufflers. Should be interesting. I've super sluethed the internet and this forum about the headers. Haven't been able to find anything on fitment and/or install. Not even a review of any kind that I can find. I know that they are new to the market... guess we'll see how good they fit.

First Impressions:
The look like a million bucks. The Headers are full mirror polished. The x-pipe is as well. All the hardware is right on the money. Flanges are all 1/2 and ultra straight. All the welds are as good as they come.
The set is very complete and extremely well packed. Double boxed to be exact. 1 7/8 primaries and 3 inch X.

I'll be sure to take pictures and comment on the install Sunday evening. Chuck Cow is expecting my computers modules on Wednesday and the car should be back on the road by the following weekend.

MORE TO COME>>>>>>>>>


Concerning price: It will be interesting to see the completed job, it's install drama and the resulting power gain. If all is good with a moderately good install, then paying 1800 for headers will truly be a joke. Longevity will also be something to note, however that will be a post a for year later or so.

Wish me luck.....

 

Looking forward to install and pictures

 

Subscribing.

 

Me too

 

Report back on sound, drone, , and ease of instillation.

 

alright, here we go boys....

Install started this morning at approx. 9:20am.

stock H pipe came out - no issues
stock cats came out - be sure to use some sort of Un-Freeze or other bolt anti-seize spray.
All engine covers off - no issues
Spark Plugs and wires off - no issues
Dip Stick removal - no issues
Stock exhaust manifolds removed - no issues
Stock exhaust gaskets inspected - no issues

Time spent so far.... 35 minutes

Headers installed from the bottom and hung with stock gaskets (didn't use the supplied gaskets on recommendations from the LPP). Hung with two bolts on each side. - no issues what so ever. A perfect fit and complete clearance all around. no issues going into place and nothing else has to be removed, moved or otherwise coaxed.

Time to this point.... 1hr

Installed the o2 extension for front and rear and left the rears hanging. Completed the connections for the front.

Went back up top and completed the bolt-up process for the headers. I left some play in them so as to have a little wiggle when x-pipe comes into play. - no issues

Back under the car and began to toil with the x-pipe. The x-pipe went in fairly easy, however it helps to have an extra set of hand to hold the opposite end. a little light prying to joint the flanges and it was done - no other issues. - no issues

Time to this point 1.5 hrs

These particular headers/x-pipe come with sleeves to incorporate the rear exhaust to the x-pipe. Here is where it gets tricky. Now before I go any further, I must say that I have some BB Route 66 muffles/sections for the rears. But for our purposes the x-pipe's tail was too long. We ended up cutting about 3 inches off the sleeves to get things in and lined up. That said, it's still not right. I've got to go down again and shorten something up. The install has left the mufflers too far back under the car. It needs to move up about an inch or so. Think I might have to take it off the x-pipe again. I don't think it will be too much of an issue.

The mating of the x-pipe to the exhaust was tough. I'm not sure if it was the aftermarket BB's or the X-pipe.

The x-pipe fits perfectly under the car and clearance is not even close to an issue. o2 sensors have plenty of clearance and with the extensions that I got, you simply need to run the extensions under the tunnel plate and once plugged into the sensors, the wire bundle can be wired tied up (I safety wired the pig tails up against the tunnel plate). Because the cats are farther back, you'll use every inch of the rear extensions. But once tied up, it's a great install and fit.

In addition to the headers and x, I also installed a new 1/4 inch tunnel plate with heat resistant padding. The plate had no issues with clearance from the o2 sensors.

I could have taken more pics, but there is really nothing to take pics of. No real issues except for the x-to-exhaust mentioned earlier.

My overall impressions......
The headers and x-pipe are simply... Well, AWESOME. The construction and finish are of the highest quality that I've seen. The installer that helped me has installed almost 20 sets of headers on C-6's. He's installed Kooks, LG's, and varias others. In his opinion this sets seemed to be as good or not better than others. The fit, was probably one of the best he's done to date. - HEADERS ONLY
Everything from the welds, to the mirror polish was outstanding and something that you would see at SEMA. I go every year and trust me when I say...."the finish AND CONSTRUCTION is A+++".
The x-pipe fitment to the exhaust is the only issue. And we probably spent an hour and a half just on that. Again, it's still not right but it will be corrected at my buddies muffler shop. Maybe even me laying on the floor of the garage.

Total time spent on install.... 3.5-ish hours

Most of the time was spent on the x-pipe rear fitment to the muffler pack. A real pain, but again.. not sure if it had to do with the non-oem muffler pack.

IN my humble opinion, this is the ONLY way to go. I have NO idea why in the world you would pay for anything else at twice the cost. None what so ever. Maybe the rear of the x-pipe was a pain, but I saved a huge amount of money and got a stellar product.

Total time: 3.5 hours (including tunnel plate and blanket)
Total cost: $920 including shipping, o2 extensions (4), and install (gave my buddy $150) for his time and the lift. It didn't include a bung plug for the x-pipe. Had an old o2 sensor that we clipped the wires off of and used as a plug!


Notes:
***4 - o2 sensors extensions needed (ebay $74 shipped - great product by the way!)
***O2 sensor bung plug for x-pipe
***LIFT is absolutely an essential if you ask me!!!) No way would i attempt this on the ground with a foot and a half clearance. No way!

Hope this helps boys.....

 

Oops, almost forgot. Some wanted to know about sound, drone etc. etc.

I actually have less drone on the free way 65+, but more on the streets. The B&B route 66s have quite a bit of drone from 1400-1700 or so. Much more than my buddies stock 06.

The exhaust under the hood is pretty quite.... No huge differences. The car has a little rumble on deceleration.

Install was pretty straight forward and not bad at all. Then again, I've built sand cars, race cars and have a back ground in fabrication. Not for your average guy..... would be my guess.

 

Great write up. Thanks.

 

Great write-up. Just had headers installed on my 05. Just curious, did you get a tune or are you going to get it tuned?

 

both computer boxes get shipped on Tuesday. It will be the longest 4-5 days I've had in a long time.... waiting on the mail man....

Just solved the issue with the back of x-pipe. Took everything off and cut the ends of the x-pipe back about an inch and a half.

So in total, the sleeves where cut about 3.5 inches and the ends of the x-pipe were cut about 1.5 inches. LIKE A GLOVE.... now, that is.

Without the tune, the car is SNAPPY and mid-range is pretty sick. The tune should be a very nice compliment. The magic chuck does with the A4 should be sick.

 

I'm just curious. Is this a true 3" system, or does it taper down to 2.5" at the mufflers.

 

there is a taper before it goes to the muffler pack. It converts to what ever the stock size it before the muffler. I'm assuming 2.5. However I am gaining flow from the high flow cats over stock. Went out tonight and you can her the rumble on decel, and the sound is simply SICK!

No running without a tune my seat-o-the-pants meeter is jumping.

Low end (idle to about 2500rpm) = a little snappier than stock... actually, quite a bit more snappy than stocl.

Mid range (2500 - 4500ish) = power doesn't seem to stop... Just keeps coming and the sound gets better every second I'm in to it.

High rpms (4500 and up) = haven't had it up there yet.... I've been gentle to this point. I'm not sure if I'm leaning out or not and I don't really want to experiment. When the tune comes back and the trans module comes back, I'll be given it a real test.

I do have a base line dyno pull and a tuned run. I'm not going to the same tuner, but when it comes back I will be using the same dyno. I'll give an update once it's all back and put together.

 

Same as my experience with AR Headers and RTe 66 mufflers, that is why I asked. The Z06 mufflers fixed the drone issue. Great write up, and congrats on headers/new power.

 

yes, the drone is pretty evident. Definitely more than I would like. What is the difference between the Z and base mufflers?

I've got my stockers just sitting around. Wonder how that would work?

Aluminized steel to stainless is the problem. Definitely need to fix the drone though, it's extremely annoying.

Anyone got any other suggestions?

 

Good stuff . There is NO reason Corvette headers from the "big names" cost as much as they do ....