Which Headers Are Better?

Albeit, I have the kooks, if I knew better I would have installed the Lg headers. Spinmonster a forum member recently switched from kooks to LG's and found some serious power in the mid range. Attempting to ascertain which headers will dyno a higher hp/tq is not the best way of concluding power gains for comparisons sake, you must tune your LS2 or 3, according to new found power, the Lg's without proper tuning may not yield more hp. However, once tuned the LG's are superior to other aftermarket headers. Hey just look at the Lemans C6R Z's, they use LG's I wonder why?Spinmonster "forum member" has proven this, he recently switched to Lg's from kooks and found much more torque in the mid band and posted a thorough thread regarding the difference, do a search on his thread.
I believe the thread heading was " LG headers what's good and what's great"
I also opted to have my LGM headers coated. Most people simply do not want to spend the extra money to do this and there is even debate on whether coating helps. I believe coating does help...this is from Jett Hot about the benefits of coating headers:
Heat: The coating promotes denser, more potent fuel/air charges by insulating the engine bay from exhaust heat.
Also, it accelerates the pulsed-vacuum effect on “tuned” headers, resulting in more effective scavenging of cylinders. The increased velocity of exhaust gases produced by higher exit inertia not only clears each cylinder more quickly; it also draws in the next fuel/air charge more efficiently.

Needless to say, I am very pleased with my LGM headers.
Thanks Amigo, I appreciate you sharing your research results on this topic with me, I may be leaning towards the LG's this time over the Melrose Performance wise although I had NO complaints after my last C6 was dyno'd by The Corvette Doctor here in Clearwater, FL. Although you say you had your LG's Jeg Hot Coated, they don't really look too shiney, and I dont mean to put them down but my Melrose came already coated and looked shinier a year later after I took them off the car to sell them! Who coated your headers for you ? LG? I'd like to know because if so, I'm not that impressed and I'll tell Lou that when i talk to him about buying a set from him if and when the time comes...
But thanks for your valuable input-i do appreciate it.
Sal
Thanks Amigo, I appreciate you sharing your research results on this topic with me, I may be leaning towards the LG's this time over the Melrose Performance wise although I had NO complaints after my last C6 was dyno'd by The Corvette Doctor here in Clearwater, FL. Although you say you had your LG's Jeg Hot Coated, they don't really look too shiney, and I dont mean to put them down but my Melrose came already coated and looked shinier a year later after I took them off the car to sell them! Who coated your headers for you ? LG? I'd like to know because if so, I'm not that impressed and I'll tell Lou that when i talk to him about buying a set from him if and when the time comes...
But thanks for your valuable input-i do appreciate it.
Sal

THANKS EVERYBODY AND YOU TOO LOU, AT LG.
PS KEEP IT COMING .........
(hi larry)
I know the debate will never end and we all accept that. So I won't comment on this debate.
But what I will do is to make aware, who are considering LG headers and don't want to spend the money, that we now have our LG Street Series headers in the C6 version.
The Street Series leaves out the Costly Merge Collectors, replaceing them with industry standard 4 in to 1 collectors. And they use a 2 1/2" X pipe and rear pipes to bring the costs down.
But even with the cost reductions, we use the exact LG Pro Primary tube design and orientation.
For a limited time with our Introductory sale, the LG Street Series Headers for the C6 cost only $1095 without cats, or $1295 with cats.
Thanks guys.
Lou Gigliotti
That's nice and you make good headers. Though I bought Kooks (with Merge Collectors) and Cats, Jet Hot 1700 Extreme Coating and shipping for the same price as your Streets with shipping.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts



Tri Y's
Since you don't appear to be looking for that last umph, consider Tri Y's.
Bassani makes a Tri Y
http://www.bassani.com/part/604217C
QTP lists a LS2 header in their new catalog but doesn't have a listing on their website so you'll have to call.
Here is a link for their C5 header
http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/.../c5headers.php
Albeit, I have the kooks, if I knew better I would have installed the Lg headers. Spinmonster a forum member recently switched from kooks to LG's and found some serious power in the mid range. Attempting to ascertain which headers will dyno a higher hp/tq is not the best way of concluding power gains for comparisons sake, you must tune your LS2 or 3, according to new found power, the Lg's without proper tuning may not yield more hp. However, once tuned the LG's are superior to other aftermarket headers. Hey just look at the Lemans C6R Z's, they use LG's I wonder why?Spinmonster "forum member" has proven this, he recently switched to Lg's from kooks and found much more torque in the mid band and posted a thorough thread regarding the difference, do a search on his thread.
I believe the thread heading was " LG headers what's good and what's great"
I agree with your conclusions and think Spin presented an objective comparison regarding The LG's power in the mid range... I'm not a drag racer so low and mid range grunt is where I want my car to live.. I can only afford to do it once so I'd like to do it right the first time!!! I ordered my LG's last week and can't wait to get them installed when I get back from vacation
Tri Y's
Since you don't appear to be looking for that last umph, consider Tri Y's.
Bassani makes a Tri Y
http://www.bassani.com/part/604217C
QTP lists a LS2 header in their new catalog but doesn't have a listing on their website so you'll have to call.
Here is a link for their C5 header
http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/.../c5headers.php
The majority of people who swapped have had a few HP difference up top with the Kooks 1 3/4 making 3-6hp more but in comparrison to a big difference down low (and I mean below the tq peak too so it wont show with people posting peak dyno numbers) the LG's gain in TQ far exceeds the difference up top.
I gained .75hp up top from the swap. 34rwtq in the midband and +20 at 4800 tq peak. For a street car its a no-brainer. People who didnt try both shouldnt be commenting but then again before the LG's I was very happy with the Kooks....but I had nothing to compare it to. When someone with Kooks on their car says they are great and they got great gains, there isnt anything they are comparing. I too thought they were good.
The nod for me goes to Kooks. I saved a good $450 over LG's price by buying Kooks 1 3/4 LT's (and with free Jet Hot 1700 Exreme Coating from vendor MarylandSpeed) and Kooks #6155CC Hi Flo Cats that fit/attach direct to my Corsa Sport w/H-pipe system...which LG does not offer. Once installed, my Kooks responded very well to logging/tuning. It also sounds great with my Corsa Sports. Deeper but not louder at idle, below 3000 rpm and on the freeway, and sounding like a racing car at WOT.
Last edited by siffert; Jan 10, 2008 at 09:02 PM.
The nod for me goes to Kooks. I saved a good $450 over LG's price by buying Kooks 1 3/4 LT's (and with free Jet Hot 1700 Exreme Coating from vendor MarylandSpeed) and Kooks #6155CC Hi Flo Cats that fit/attach direct to my Corsa Sport w/H-pipe system...which LG does not offer. Once installed, my Kooks responded very well to logging/tuning. It also sounds great with my Corsa Sports. Deeper but not louder at idle, below 3000 rpm and on the freeway, and sounding like a racing car at WOT.
results from Kook's. I think LG's, AR'S and Kook's are all great products.
But I sure I made the right choice.
1. The car flys.
2. I dyno'd 372 to 378 RWHP stock. 366 -372 RWTQ
3.With 1 3/4 KOOKS I dyno'd 421-428 rwhp, 417 to 429 rwtq.
So I gained At least 43 rwhp and 35 rwtq.
Charts show nice power curve's.
Kook's 1 3/4 are great choice for Ls-3's
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Jan 10, 2008 at 11:41 PM.
I now have LG Pro's, x-pipe, and high flow cats on my '06 C6. They also work great. The looks are not as impressive, because they are not coated. After tuning, they also picked up a nice power gain.
As Spin has pointed out, the main benefit of the LG's is the total power gain across the power band ("under the curve"). LG's definitely provide more lower-RPM TQ gains than other comparable headers, due to the longer primary tube length. As Lou has pointed out, their race-style merge collectors also make a difference, and allow them to also do well on modified engines.
All the headers have their fans, and a few detractors. You need to consider what your performance and appearance goals are, and your budget. Either product that you pick, you will probably be happy.









yes he did..







