Cam or Long-tube headers?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
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From: Corpus Christi Texas
Cam or Long-tube headers?
I can't do both right now but wondering if the cam is worth doing prior to long-tubes? In the future, I was thinking one of MTI's stealth cams. I've done a search and have seen a lot on the long-tube upgrade, little on just the cam without the headers. Probably going to go with the Kooks long-tubes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,734
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From: Vacaville California
Originally Posted by bunk22
I can't do both right now but wondering if the cam is worth doing prior to long-tubes? In the future, I was thinking one of MTI's stealth cams. I've done a search and have seen a lot on the long-tube upgrade, little on just the cam without the headers. Probably going to go with the Kooks long-tubes.
i would do headers first and i would go with a little bigger cam than those stealth ones you can do a pretty good sized cam and get a nice tune on it to calm it down
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
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From: Florida
IMO, headers are a waste of money from what I've seen on here. Guys are getting 375-ish with headers, intake, a nearly $3.5K investment. Intake and tune alone are worth 20, so the headers are only 15 and they cost $2,300 installed. Terrible bang for the buck. Plus you flunk the visual test and get all the problems associated with headers.
On the other hand, you can do heads & cam for under $5K total including intake & tune and be comfortably over 400rwhp with a moderate cam. The dealer won't even know it's there. That's the ticket.
On the other hand, you can do heads & cam for under $5K total including intake & tune and be comfortably over 400rwhp with a moderate cam. The dealer won't even know it's there. That's the ticket.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,666
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From: Tampa FL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12'-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by TTRotary
IMO, headers are a waste of money from what I've seen on here. Guys are getting 375-ish with headers, intake, a nearly $3.5K investment. Intake and tune alone are worth 20, so the headers are only 15 and they cost $2,300 installed. Terrible bang for the buck. Plus you flunk the visual test and get all the problems associated with headers.
On the other hand, you can do heads & cam for under $5K total including intake & tune and be comfortably over 400rwhp with a moderate cam. The dealer won't even know it's there. That's the ticket.
On the other hand, you can do heads & cam for under $5K total including intake & tune and be comfortably over 400rwhp with a moderate cam. The dealer won't even know it's there. That's the ticket.
Cajun
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi Texas
Originally Posted by TTRotary
IMO, headers are a waste of money from what I've seen on here. Guys are getting 375-ish with headers, intake, a nearly $3.5K investment. Intake and tune alone are worth 20, so the headers are only 15 and they cost $2,300 installed. Terrible bang for the buck. Plus you flunk the visual test and get all the problems associated with headers.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,666
Likes: 395
From: Tampa FL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12'-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by bunk22
From the few dyno's I've seen, long-tubes give good gains. Maybe not peak but down in the lower rpm's, I've seen a few with 30-40rwtq gains. It's not a peak gain that matters to but overall gain, throughout the rpm range.
Cajun
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: CONCORD NC
headers are easy to install, and I would do that first. You'll have double the cost in heads/cam, and quadruple the cost in installation.
btw, heads are easy, it's the cam that takes time. Getting the steering rack out of the way, etc.
btw, heads are easy, it's the cam that takes time. Getting the steering rack out of the way, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,054
Likes: 889
From: Tampa Florida
Originally Posted by davidfarmer
headers are easy to install, and I would do that first. You'll have double the cost in heads/cam, and quadruple the cost in installation.
btw, heads are easy, it's the cam that takes time. Getting the steering rack out of the way, etc.
btw, heads are easy, it's the cam that takes time. Getting the steering rack out of the way, etc.
My mechanic said that installing a cam is also time consuming. And if you have the funds, you might as well do the head/cam combination. I'm staying with headers for right now. Oopps! got to purchase the C6 first. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by ccajun4real
By your resoning heads that only add 40-50 RWHP on top after a cam swap and cost $1800-2500 dollars are not that great for the money either, but the entire system is the key. Cajun
Race Director
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From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Doing a cam install is roughly 20 hours book time.
Headers are a great start and everything builds upon them. You can get air in, but getting it out is just as important.
TTRotary, who cares about the visual. I'm sorry you live in Cali, but not everybody is limited to the crappy CARB requirements. BTW, I picked up a set of new LG headers for 1,200 install is free.
Headers are a great start and everything builds upon them. You can get air in, but getting it out is just as important.
TTRotary, who cares about the visual. I'm sorry you live in Cali, but not everybody is limited to the crappy CARB requirements. BTW, I picked up a set of new LG headers for 1,200 install is free.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by Jeffvette
I'm sorry you live in Cali, but
As far as visual, I am surprised Seattle does not have a visual test. My car is actually registered in Oregon, and the DEQ inspection is just as tough as the Cali one and has to be repeated every 2 years.
Regardless, I have a solution: OEM exhaust off the C6 Z06. It appears the hydroformed headers flow within 5-7 HP of the longtubes. Only LG claims big gains. Yet when I called them to purchase one of several takeoff sets they had lying around, they refused. Interesting...
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
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From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Originally Posted by TTRotary
I spent the entire 85F sunny SoCal weekend driving my car everywhere with the top out, getting a tan. Went to the beach, surfed, hung out, and drove my favorite mountain pass, and checked out the babes in their beach attire (in addition to the one sitting next to me). What did you do on your 40F overcast, rainy weekend?
As far as visual, I am surprised Seattle does not have a visual test. My car is actually registered in Oregon, and the DEQ inspection is just as tough as the Cali one and has to be repeated every 2 years.
And Oregon is only tough in places which have the dyne test which is for cars that are not OBD2. Go to Medford and it's the old mash the gas and hold at 2,000 rpms and see what comes out. Once again it's not that hard to pass with H/C and headers with no cats.
Regardless, I have a solution: OEM exhaust off the C6 Z06. It appears the hydroformed headers flow within 5-7 HP of the longtubes. Only LG claims big gains. Yet when I called them to purchase one of several takeoff sets they had lying around, they refused. Interesting...
And as for why Lou didn't sell to you, maybe he doesn't like ya
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by Jeffvette
That's great fine and dandy, but it was actually in the high 50's clear blue sky. Before you rip on the weather you might want to know what was actually going on.
Accuweather Nov. 20 report for BELLEVUE, WA
9am 38F dns fog
11am 40F l/fog
Noon 43F haze
1pm 47F p/sunny
2pm 48F p/sunny
And as for why Lou didn't sell to you, maybe he doesn't like ya
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
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From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Originally Posted by TTRotary
Uh, not quite
Accuweather Nov. 20 report for BELLEVUE, WA
9am 38F dns fog
11am 40F l/fog
Noon 43F haze
1pm 47F p/sunny
2pm 48F p/sunny
Accuweather Nov. 20 report for BELLEVUE, WA
9am 38F dns fog
11am 40F l/fog
Noon 43F haze
1pm 47F p/sunny
2pm 48F p/sunny
Oh, would you like my current zip
As for the headers, read the reports on what people have got on headers. I'll be posting mine sometime after the 1st of december.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,945
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From: Dallas/Valley Ranch TEXAS!!!
My car saw a 40rwhp gain from headers...to 380.1 rwhp. Shes now at 406.2rwhp with cam and fast intake, and anxiously awaiting the ATI S/C to be installed, once U.P.S. gets here... btw Dynatech headers.
By far best bang for the buck, except for 4.10's, they are the best sotp difference...IMHO
Jeremy
By far best bang for the buck, except for 4.10's, they are the best sotp difference...IMHO
Jeremy
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,666
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From: Tampa FL
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12'-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by Mr.Big
My car saw a 40rwhp gain from headers...to 380.1 rwhp. Shes now at 406.2rwhp with cam and fast intake, and anxiously awaiting the ATI S/C to be installed, once U.P.S. gets here... btw Dynatech headers.
By far best bang for the buck, except for 4.10's, they are the best sotp difference...IMHO
Jeremy
By far best bang for the buck, except for 4.10's, they are the best sotp difference...IMHO
Jeremy
Cajun