Headers -Z06-
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
Headers -Z06-
what headers would you guys recommend for a C6 Z06? American Racing, LG Motorsport, or KOOKS? will the headers with offroad x-pipe give better gains than catted x-pipe?
another thing may be concidered for choosing my exhaust system set up is that i'm also planning to install a camshaft in the future, not a very big cam but something that would give me good hp and tq gains and doesn't affect the reliability or drivability.
another thing may be concidered for choosing my exhaust system set up is that i'm also planning to install a camshaft in the future, not a very big cam but something that would give me good hp and tq gains and doesn't affect the reliability or drivability.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 23
LG seem to have the most low end torque throughout the curve. The peak #'s are about the same for all of them and an off road system only gives about 3 or 4 hp over one with hiflo cats. Bad06vette just did a comparison with LG and either Kooks or AR and LG looks like they are worth the extra few $.
Last edited by walterm32; Sep 13, 2008 at 10:02 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
I had my 08 z dyno tuned with a killerbee cai and vette air, gained 37/31 over stock. a month later I installed american racing headers with a hi flow x pipe, ported intake manifold and ported tb, gained 0 peak whp and 9 peak tq. although, i did pick up 14whp/12tq from 4k-6k, but 0 peak whp and 9 peak tq. I definitely noticed a diff in performance, as well as a nice new rumble, but was upset at the dyno #'s. imo, all headers are going to perform very similiar, cant go wrong with lg's or american racing.
I would only install headers if you are gonna do a cam, the cost is hard to justify for the gains on a bolt-on only mod.
as far as cams go, cant go wrong with a katech torquer for a "smaller" cam, and the lethal z is my choice for the next size bigger.
I would only install headers if you are gonna do a cam, the cost is hard to justify for the gains on a bolt-on only mod.
as far as cams go, cant go wrong with a katech torquer for a "smaller" cam, and the lethal z is my choice for the next size bigger.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
I had my 08 z dyno tuned with a killerbee cai and vette air, gained 37/31 over stock. a month later I installed american racing headers with a hi flow x pipe, ported intake manifold and ported tb, gained 0 peak whp and 9 peak tq. although, i did pick up 14whp/12tq from 4k-6k, but 0 peak whp and 9 peak tq. I definitely noticed a diff in performance, as well as a nice new rumble, but was upset at the dyno #'s. imo, all headers are going to perform very similiar, cant go wrong with lg's or american racing.
I would only install headers if you are gonna do a cam, the cost is hard to justify for the gains on a bolt-on only mod.
as far as cams go, cant go wrong with a katech torquer for a "smaller" cam, and the lethal z is my choice for the next size bigger.
I would only install headers if you are gonna do a cam, the cost is hard to justify for the gains on a bolt-on only mod.
as far as cams go, cant go wrong with a katech torquer for a "smaller" cam, and the lethal z is my choice for the next size bigger.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
I was definitely happy with my killerbee/vette air + tune, and surprised/dissapointed about the headers/ported intake manifold/tb. after driving her, I was just fine 
.
I'm really happy with my z right now, not sure to go for a cam or not.
.I'm really happy with my z right now, not sure to go for a cam or not.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 344
From: Albuquerque NM
I did my mods one at a time, with dyno runs (and retuning) to document their gains, and headers netted me the least gain.
Still, I would do them again only as a supporting mod for a cam or heads and cam.
If you are not going to open the motor don't waste your money on headers for a C6 Z06. The stock exhaust is not holding you back, it is fine for a stock internals engine.
FWIW: The American Racing headers gave me slightly more peak HP, but slightly less gains in the midrange torque than a friend's LG's (before cam install).
Still, I would do them again only as a supporting mod for a cam or heads and cam.
If you are not going to open the motor don't waste your money on headers for a C6 Z06. The stock exhaust is not holding you back, it is fine for a stock internals engine.
FWIW: The American Racing headers gave me slightly more peak HP, but slightly less gains in the midrange torque than a friend's LG's (before cam install).
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: FL
I am in the same situation as you almost.
Background : I have a bone stock car. 07 Z06
I recently sold my C-5 With a 402 and had the LG longtubes and then changed to the AR headers. I lost almost 30 ft lb or Torque and gained about 3 HP peak probably due to a lean condition which when I added fuel on the dyno, the 3 HP was not there.
Bothheaders are built very well. The LGs just make more peak torque and more across the range. I will be choosing the LGs with High Flow CATS, and either a Stalkercam, Torquer cam, the LG G7X1 or a custom grind that does not lose any low end torque. The off road pipe will add 10 HP but the car will smell like unburned fuel with a cam , something I am not willing to live with anymore. I plan on running this set up thru the stock exhaust system. I expect, from what I read, thatyou can expect 520HP 495 Torque + or - 10 without any drivabilty issues and with no loss of torque below 2800 RPMs
I am still researching the cam choice however IMO as far as the header choice,the LGs are the ony choice.
Background : I have a bone stock car. 07 Z06
I recently sold my C-5 With a 402 and had the LG longtubes and then changed to the AR headers. I lost almost 30 ft lb or Torque and gained about 3 HP peak probably due to a lean condition which when I added fuel on the dyno, the 3 HP was not there.
Bothheaders are built very well. The LGs just make more peak torque and more across the range. I will be choosing the LGs with High Flow CATS, and either a Stalkercam, Torquer cam, the LG G7X1 or a custom grind that does not lose any low end torque. The off road pipe will add 10 HP but the car will smell like unburned fuel with a cam , something I am not willing to live with anymore. I plan on running this set up thru the stock exhaust system. I expect, from what I read, thatyou can expect 520HP 495 Torque + or - 10 without any drivabilty issues and with no loss of torque below 2800 RPMs
I am still researching the cam choice however IMO as far as the header choice,the LGs are the ony choice.
Last edited by Retrotech; Sep 15, 2008 at 06:51 PM. Reason: misspelling
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
so the majority are recommending either AR or LG headers
Retrotech, will the difference between LG headers and AR show only on a stock car or on a cammed car also?
who makes Stalkercam ?
and what about LPE cams GT17 or GT19 (i think they're comp cam, right?) will either one be a good choice?
Retrotech, will the difference between LG headers and AR show only on a stock car or on a cammed car also?
who makes Stalkercam ?
and what about LPE cams GT17 or GT19 (i think they're comp cam, right?) will either one be a good choice?
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Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village Texas
My car dynoed 452 & 419 stock. 470 & 437 with a tune. 485 & 446 with tune, killerbee, ported throttle body and intake manifold. 500 & 476 with the AR headers and cats added in the mix.
