Headers or Z06 manifolds?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Mo
Headers or Z06 manifolds?
First off im new to this Corvette world. I have been a member on ls1tech since 2002 and still currently have a low 10 sec 2002 Camaro. I just purchased a 2009 M6 coupe and looking to make it run a little better. I have a complete exhaust system off a 2009 Z06 from manifolds to the tips. Is it worth putting on my car? My car did not come with the optional NPP exhaust so I would atleast like to use it. I did some searching but found more info on guys with LS2 vettes. Any info would be awesome! I might know some of you, I work at a popular Chevy dealership in the Kansas City area in the service dept.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,724
Likes: 7
From: Southern California
I have the full C6 Z06 exhaust system on my SC LS2. I highly recommend the system. It is an inexpensive option to LT headers. The Z06 NPP mufflers are very nice with the Mild 2 Wild option. Just my 2 cents. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: SPRING CREEK NEVADA
I have the z06 manifolds, cats and H pipe going into the stock npp on my ls3 its worth it especially if you have the mufflers. I did gut the cats as will. running supercharger with a 416 bottom end and stock cam and heads, 675rwhp.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Since you work at a dealership and probably got the Z06 pipes at a very ecomonical price, go for it. As for me looking for more power, I'd go with the LT's as the Z06's are more like shorty headers and would produce only modest gains.
PS; You'll love the NPP's.
PS; You'll love the NPP's.
Last edited by sxeC7; Sep 2, 2009 at 11:30 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 78
From: Corpus Christi Texas
If you were going to purchase either then I'd say LT's would be better. More power and less weight. But since you have the Z06 exhaust then it would that may be your best bet. Depends on how much better you want her to run.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 2
From: Cypress Texas
I agree with what's been stated with your assumed cheap acquisition of the Z06 system. Having said that. I put the Z06 system on my LS2 and was very pleased with the gains. You may not be worried about state inspection, etc, but that is another advantage of using the Z06 - it looks stock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
Big thing here is warranty. You can use the Z06 system with out a tune where to get the benefit of LT headers you will need a tune. Of course you work at the dealership..
I have AR headers and Z06 mufflers..Get the Sunset Orange controller so they will open at what ever rpm you select..3000 is a good number..When those flaps open the LS3 speaks with authority..
I have AR headers and Z06 mufflers..Get the Sunset Orange controller so they will open at what ever rpm you select..3000 is a good number..When those flaps open the LS3 speaks with authority..
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Mo
Big thing here is warranty. You can use the Z06 system with out a tune where to get the benefit of LT headers you will need a tune. Of course you work at the dealership..
I have AR headers and Z06 mufflers..Get the Sunset Orange controller so they will open at what ever rpm you select..3000 is a good number..When those flaps open the LS3 speaks with authority..
I have AR headers and Z06 mufflers..Get the Sunset Orange controller so they will open at what ever rpm you select..3000 is a good number..When those flaps open the LS3 speaks with authority..
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 735
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From: New Harmony IN
St. Jude Donor '09
I agree with what's been stated with your assumed cheap acquisition of the Z06 system. Having said that. I put the Z06 system on my LS2 and was very pleased with the gains. You may not be worried about state inspection, etc, but that is another advantage of using the Z06 - it looks stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
There are decent gains form the Z06 manifolds, but LT headers will help out the midrange significantly more. The price is right, so go for it.
I'd put the Z06 cans on my car if they were free, but don't expect much gain from a muffler swap on a basiclly stock C6.
I'd put the Z06 cans on my car if they were free, but don't expect much gain from a muffler swap on a basiclly stock C6.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,724
Likes: 7
From: Southern California
Well, my LS2has an A&A supercharged A6 and gained 41 rwhp and 26 tq with the retune. I really doubt that I would have gained much more with LT headers. At approx. 1/3 of the price of LT headers, it's an excellent mod. Also, not to mention the California emission issues and now visual inspections in some cities.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: BURTON MI
Well, my LS2has an A&A supercharged A6 and gained 41 rwhp and 26 tq with the retune. I really doubt that I would have gained much more with LT headers. At approx. 1/3 of the price of LT headers, it's an excellent mod. Also, not to mention the California emission issues and now visual inspections in some cities.
I stick by my answer, 10-15 for the Z06 and 30 or so with LTH and a tune. If you add LTH to your setup now, you'll probable gain 10-15. Your 41 hp gain was more from the tune that the headers, and a stock car won't get near as much gain as a FI car.
Last edited by BOB EAGAN; Sep 2, 2009 at 09:32 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
First off im new to this Corvette world. I have been a member on ls1tech since 2002 and still currently have a low 10 sec 2002 Camaro. I just purchased a 2009 M6 coupe and looking to make it run a little better. I have a complete exhaust system off a 2009 Z06 from manifolds to the tips. Is it worth putting on my car? My car did not come with the optional NPP exhaust so I would atleast like to use it. I did some searching but found more info on guys with LS2 vettes. Any info would be awesome! I might know some of you, I work at a popular Chevy dealership in the Kansas City area in the service dept.
DO IT!!!
I have the same setup on my '05 LMB coupe with MN6, 4.10 gears and Mild2Wild controller...I love the sound which is deep and throaty at idle and boisterous when you get into it. There are those who do not like the sound of the burbles when decelerating but I like it.
My only complaint is the drone which begins at 1500 rpms up through 1800 rpms when I am driving around 55 to 60 mph.
I went the OEM exhaust system to cut down on the possibility of failing emission inspections when it finally arrives in my area in the next few years or a visual inspection by an inspection station (which has happened to a few Vette owners around here).
I have no doubts that you will love it and if you install the Mild2Wild controller, it gives you the best of both worlds: quiet, stock sound when needed but loud and raucous when you want to annouce your presence.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,898
Likes: 4,351
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
I have just two words for you:
DO IT!!!
I have the same setup on my '05 LMB coupe with MN6, 4.10 gears and Mild2Wild controller...I love the sound which is deep and throaty at idle and boisterous when you get into it. There are those who do not like the sound of the burbles when decelerating but I like it.
My only complaint is the drone which begins at 1500 rpms up through 1800 rpms when I am driving around 55 to 60 mph.
I went the OEM exhaust system to cut down on the possibility of failing emission inspections when it finally arrives in my area in the next few years or a visual inspection by an inspection station (which has happened to a few Vette owners around here).
I have no doubts that you will love it and if you install the Mild2Wild controller, it gives you the best of both worlds: quiet, stock sound when needed but loud and raucous when you want to annouce your presence.
DO IT!!!
I have the same setup on my '05 LMB coupe with MN6, 4.10 gears and Mild2Wild controller...I love the sound which is deep and throaty at idle and boisterous when you get into it. There are those who do not like the sound of the burbles when decelerating but I like it.
My only complaint is the drone which begins at 1500 rpms up through 1800 rpms when I am driving around 55 to 60 mph.
I went the OEM exhaust system to cut down on the possibility of failing emission inspections when it finally arrives in my area in the next few years or a visual inspection by an inspection station (which has happened to a few Vette owners around here).
I have no doubts that you will love it and if you install the Mild2Wild controller, it gives you the best of both worlds: quiet, stock sound when needed but loud and raucous when you want to annouce your presence.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 335
Likes: 27
From: Yukon Oklahoma
Well........................... Op's talking about a stock car, not one with a supercharger. On a stock car headers are worth approx. 25 hp and a tune 5. Tuning a supercharged engine is in a different ballpark. In the FI section last week, someone got 100 + on a tune???
I stick by my answer, 10-15 for the Z06 and 30 or so with LTH and a tune. If you add LTH to your setup now, you'll probable gain 10-15. Your 41 hp gain was more from the tune that the headers, and a stock car won't get near as much gain as a FI car.
I stick by my answer, 10-15 for the Z06 and 30 or so with LTH and a tune. If you add LTH to your setup now, you'll probable gain 10-15. Your 41 hp gain was more from the tune that the headers, and a stock car won't get near as much gain as a FI car.
The Z06 and ZR1 share the same exhaust and the ZR1 puts out 638hp and I saw a article on a ZR1 that Lingenfelter tweaked and it put out 700hp with the stock exhaust so that system will support alot of HP. I've seen other forum members pick up 20rwhp with the Z06 exhaust they did a before and after on the same dyno. And I do believe a tune is worth more that 5hp so if you get 30 hp from headers and a tune 25 of that isn't coming just from the headers alone.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
The Z06 and ZR1 share the same exhaust and the ZR1 puts out 638hp and I saw a article on a ZR1 that Lingenfelter tweaked and it put out 700hp with the stock exhaust so that system will support alot of HP. I've seen other forum members pick up 20rwhp with the Z06 exhaust they did a before and after on the same dyno. And I do believe a tune is worth more that 5hp so if you get 30 hp from headers and a tune 25 of that isn't coming just from the headers alone.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 28
From: North Las Vegas Nevada
Z06 Exhaust system
My stock 2006 A6 with a K&N CAI base lined with a tune at 343 RWHP. I added a Z06 exhaust system with the Corsa Z06 mufflers. With the same level of tune, it dynoed at 373 RWHP on the same dyno
. I would think an LS3 would do just as well. The LS3 exhaust appears to be the same as the LS2, except for the optional NPP mufflers. I recently traded in the car for a 2009 coupe in the state of California. After replacing the non CARB K&N CAI with the stock unit, it passed their **** smog inspection/test without a problem. If I get my hands on another Z06 system I will put it on my new 2009.
. I would think an LS3 would do just as well. The LS3 exhaust appears to be the same as the LS2, except for the optional NPP mufflers. I recently traded in the car for a 2009 coupe in the state of California. After replacing the non CARB K&N CAI with the stock unit, it passed their **** smog inspection/test without a problem. If I get my hands on another Z06 system I will put it on my new 2009.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Mo
Thanks for all the input guys! I think im just going to do the headers with the LPP exhaust. With that said I have a pair of Z06 manifolds and downpipes for sale and a SLP C6 exhaust im not going to use. I might just put them on the local craigslist or ls1tech to sell them. Im still trying to decide if I like my Iforged wheels too. hmmm. These LS3's are awesome BTW, love the power band.