I dont know what i am going to do, i was thinking headers or cam.

I know that headers and a tune would get me around 25 to 30 hp bump, or for about the same price i could a cam.

If you guys had to pick just one mod for around 2k, would you do headers or a cam?

I'm not sure what gains i would get with just a cam, i want a cam that wil give me more power down low.

 

If I had to choose between the two I would do headers first. The Headers will give you the most uniform power increase. Most cams I have seen do not really make that much power until you hit 3.5K RPM

Gears are also a great SOTP power adder if you are looking for the neck jerking factor and not extra HP. I expect you can do them as well within your 2K budget.

I had to sit down and make out my goals with the help from the folks on the forum before I could make a final decision.

You may want to add a FAST Intake Manifold to your list down the road! That's a good low end adder as well.

Good luck and I expect others more experience folks than I will have much more to add.

 

If you're choice is headers, then a cam will only enhance your performance. Otherwise headers alone are fine. On the other hand, if you select a cam change, then headers are a must, because your exhaust manifolds are a major restriction in the elimination of the increases of exhaust volumes created by more cam lift and duration. Also a cam should have an aftermarket air intake. By itself an air intake( stinger, honker, etc ) doesn't do much more than the stock unit, but with a cam's demands on increased air volume, a better flowing aftermarket will help. So in the real world of mods the only stand alone mod that will benefit you of the two you asked about is the headers. Problem is for most of us we don't stop with just headers. It's like herion to an addict. I started with headers, cat back, 160 stat, and a tune. 377rwhp/370rwtq. OK now what? Cam and springs. 410rwhp/384rwtq. Not enough, Add a FAST 90. 425rwhp/405rwtq. Is there room for more? Of course. On went the 215 ET heads.Bingo.461rwhp/435rwtq. Now wouldn't you think that would be enough? I thought so too. Enter the stroked L92 427. Yep.525rwhp/500rwtq I'm done. I'll drive it two more years and the look at the C7 and wonder what will I do to improve it....So If you're like the rest of us you woun't stop with just headers!!!!

andreas g.

 

If I had to do it all over again, my first choice would have been a cam instead of headers. Headers installed on my C6 Z51 mn6 alone didn't produce any gain....only with the tune. Just my own opinion, engine internals are better than external bolt ons when producing horsepower. A cam only could compare to a stock LS3 or be close to it. I believe Cam only could do wonders. The question is, do you need headers with a cam to get the full effect? Just my .02.

 

I had a talk today with my local Vette shop, and he did say that headers should be done before a cam.

So looks like the headers will go on first.

 

Cam

 

I was in the same situation as you but I've decided to go with the headers first because although the cam would give me a good gain it would give me a better gain if I had headers so I decided to get the headers to give me a lil gain then I'd get the cam a lil later on to complement the headers.

I just got the Vararam Intake and shortly will be getting In order:

• Kooks 1 3/4 Headers + Cat Back either Corsa or B&B haven't decided yet for a full exhaust.
• G5X1 Cam + Dyno tuning at the same time.

What I figured were the basics to make an engine breath better without spending too much money. My 0.02 cents.
-David

 

Headers first. Then do the cam.

 

Do Both !

Actually headers would really be the way to go with a good tune on your car, the cam would really be ideal if you wanted to get into the motor and at the point you might as well do the heads as well.

A good header back package (i.e. headers, mids/x-over w free flowing exhaust) would be a good way to go on your car and then have it tuned by a compitent shop.

 

Headers 1st

 

LG Pro Long Tubes.

 

My local Vette shop will do the LG long tubes, X pipe hi flow cats.

$2200 installed with a dyno tune.

 

I can now say this "from experience", but if you really want to notice a difference in your car (even more than a cam and headers combined) go with a differential upgrade.

My son and I now refer to my car as the "old Corvette" as it really does feel like a different car now.

 

You'll like the results.

 

Over the last few LS1 cars I've had, I've done both headers first and cam first. I've gone through 4 sets of headers. 8 cams. I've tried all sorts of combos.

I'm now to the point that I do headers last, because I like my cars to be quiet and more refined sounding now that I'm getting older (I'll be 30 soon!). Whereas with the right cam, you can pick up a lot of power and after a tune and idle raise, you can get it so the car sounds stock with just a little something extra.

When you do headers, I've found the exhaust volume goes up a bit, and sometimes it can take a few tries to get all the tiny leaks out of the system, not to mention the header primary pipes are a lot thinner than the stock cast manifolds so you'll get more noise there as well. A lot of people like the extra volume, so I can see this all appealing to a majority of the people, but not to me.

Anyway, cam+headers is a great combo and if you have one, the other is only going to be more valuable, but if you had to chose one or the other I'd do the cam. My 1999 Vette which made 300rwhp stock, made 393rwhp with ported heads, a 227/224 camshaft (read: smallish cam), and bone stock exhaust from the heads to the tailpipe...stock cats and all. Sounded stock, acted stock, ran like hell. Later on I added headers (LG) with cats and bumped it to 425rwhp and while it was faster, it was also louder and more "racey". It was fun, but I think I liked the car more at 393 quiet rwhp. Certainly stealthier...could have taken the car to the dealership and they wouldn't have known it was modded unless they pulled off a valve cover.

 

headers maximise the gains from a cam. you have the intake and the exhaust, the stock headers are the bottleneck.

 

Well said.

 

How about these choices.

Headers, Cam or 410's first.
If you could only pick one, which one will result in best bang for the buck?