Header power numbers
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
Header power numbers
I've been seeing confusing data on headers on the C6. My car is an 09 Auto-LS3 with 2.73 rear...AND NO DRAG RACING IN IT'S FUTURE!! While I don't plan on racing it, I was thinking of doing headers and here in lies my confusion. Some say the power from long tubes will be 25-30, but is that rwhp or flywheel? Others say that the power is 18 hp (again not known if it's rwhp or not) and this is from the SLP website. Is the vast difference just because one brand is so much better? Also, what tube size would be best for the most power, 1 7/8" or 1 3/4", both will have to go thru catalytic converters and NPP exhaust.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
Numbers are about the same for 2's or 3's. You can expect about 25 rwhp for the headers and 5-10 for a basic tune. Numbers are fairly close for all the major brands. If you do headers, you may also want to consider a Cold Air Intake at the same time. With better exaust flow, more intake will help with about 10 more hp for $300 and you can get them both tuned at the same time. This combo should give you about 40 rwhp and about the same rwtq.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 18
From: Montgomery Il.
08 coupe with A6, NNP, 2.73, Kooks 1 3/4" coated headers, Kooks X-crossover with cats, Halltech CAI with Beehive, 160 t-stat, new plugs and MSD wires plus a dyno/road tune. 389 whp/389 wtq my tuner said this was good for a automatic he said the manual would be appox. 15/20 whp more.
the car sounds slightly louder at idle just enough to make you wonder if anything was done but at WOT it is insane loud when the exhaust opens. imagine open headers with pipes all the way to the back of the car. not sure how much the mods helped the dyno numbers b/c i didn't have a baseline run done but i can say it runs much harder now and drives perfect.
the car sounds slightly louder at idle just enough to make you wonder if anything was done but at WOT it is insane loud when the exhaust opens. imagine open headers with pipes all the way to the back of the car. not sure how much the mods helped the dyno numbers b/c i didn't have a baseline run done but i can say it runs much harder now and drives perfect.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 5
From: Meadville Pennsylvania
Not everyone that get's performance parts races. I have a vararam, exhaust, tune, and soon to be headers. The tune straightened out some surging I had in my stock LS3...intake was just for fun...exhaust because I wanted a louder car...and headers will be because I want them. My car's never been to the drag strip...I get these mods because it makes me happy.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY, South FL
All LS motors do NOT see the same gains with headers.
For example, the LS7 has darn good flowing exhaust manifolds right out of the box. They no doubt see less gain from headers than an LS3 (great flowing head, terrible flowing exhaust manifold).
For example, the LS7 has darn good flowing exhaust manifolds right out of the box. They no doubt see less gain from headers than an LS3 (great flowing head, terrible flowing exhaust manifold).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
That is true about the LS7's and that is why the comment above specified LS2's and LS3's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
I've been seeing confusing data on headers on the C6. My car is an 09 Auto-LS3 with 2.73 rear...AND NO DRAG RACING IN IT'S FUTURE!! While I don't plan on racing it, I was thinking of doing headers and here in lies my confusion. Some say the power from long tubes will be 25-30, but is that rwhp or flywheel? Others say that the power is 18 hp (again not known if it's rwhp or not) and this is from the SLP website. Is the vast difference just because one brand is so much better? Also, what tube size would be best for the most power, 1 7/8" or 1 3/4", both will have to go thru catalytic converters and NPP exhaust.