Header Comparisons
Thread Starter
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
Header Comparisons
Has anyone done dyno comparisons on the various manufacturer's long tube headers on the same engine? I'd be curious to see torque and HP results among ARH, LG, Kooks, Stainless etc. to see if there are significant differences.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
No difference from a reputable company.
Kooks, LG, B&B, ARH. All the same. At least nothing you will ever notice.
This is brought up a lot. you will see that a lot of people will agree.
Kooks, LG, B&B, ARH. All the same. At least nothing you will ever notice.
This is brought up a lot. you will see that a lot of people will agree.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 4
From: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
You aren't going to tell by the butt dyno with any of the good brands (not sure you could tell from the knock offs either but fit and finish is important to me so I went wit LG). After a lot of reading I went with LG. I got a great price for them and will be installing them this weekend. From what I understand the LG's have a little more low end torque than others. I mean its what they use on their race team so I trust the product. Also their customer support is first class. I would be willing to bet they would all be within 5 HP of each other but unless you do it on the same car with exact conditions it would be pointless to do on 2 exact cars because they will vary in HP.
Last edited by gunterwalker; Mar 7, 2011 at 02:15 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Don't forget to compare the joint or fittings.
Of the Big three. Two use a compression type fit.
One uses the slip fit!
I been buying headers way before I owned
a Corvette. The compression type is best. The other is/could be
trouble. As there is a lot of pressure at the collector. Slip fit can
come apart or leak much easier and can be hard to stop.
Of the Big three. Two use a compression type fit.
One uses the slip fit!
I been buying headers way before I owned
a Corvette. The compression type is best. The other is/could be
trouble. As there is a lot of pressure at the collector. Slip fit can
come apart or leak much easier and can be hard to stop.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: North Bend WA
In the past this topic has created a lot of interest. I'm sure you can use the search feature and find volumes of good data. I also ended up buying LG pro series 1 3/4" headers because of the power under the curve they show compared to the other major players. The bottom line though is that you won't be able to tell the difference between them using the "butt dyno". Buy a set of the major players products, have your tuner do his, or her, thing and enjoy the flow.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 496
Likes: 14
From: Phoenix AZ
Agreed, seat of the pants you will not see much difference performance wise between any of the reputable manufactures. On a dyno you may see a slight difference depending on tube length and what kind of care is done after fabrication cleaning up the ports and tubes from any welds. The biggest difference you are going to see is in how they are made.
We use 100% T304 stainless steel material throughout the entire header. Tubes are CNC mandrel bent. Flanges are 3/8" thick cut on one of two in house water jets. The entire header is then hand fabricated and tig welded. To finish we take and clean the inside of each tube from any burs for a smooth uninterrupted flow.
We use 100% T304 stainless steel material throughout the entire header. Tubes are CNC mandrel bent. Flanges are 3/8" thick cut on one of two in house water jets. The entire header is then hand fabricated and tig welded. To finish we take and clean the inside of each tube from any burs for a smooth uninterrupted flow.
__________________
David Merkel
Marketing Dir.
Billy Boat Exhaust
David Merkel
Marketing Dir.
Billy Boat Exhaust
Pro
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 651
Likes: 42
From: Zimmerman MN
I've dealt with many brands of C5 & c6 headers. They all dyno the same I think there is more variance in the engines than the tubes. They are not anywhere near the same as far as ease of install & future repairs. There is a brand that starts with a k making an engine swap a complete PIA for me rt now.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 4
From: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
Unless you are taking your headers off every weekend I don't know whats wrong with the slip fit. Throw some anti-sieze on it when you put it on. I have the LG Super Pro's as well due a little more torque down low.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 3
From: Metamora, IL
I agree you won't see much difference between any of the quality American made headers. I personally don't care for slip fit, especially at the collector. At this joint there is a lot of heat, vibration and thermal expansion. Some people get along fine with them, some have problems. I would have to guess it has to do more with the install than the design. I prefer the ball socket (compression fitting) at the collector. Two bolts, tighten it up and forget it. They don't leak and go together easily. If you ever need to take it apart years down the road, they disassemble without cuss words or missing skin.
At one time in the recent past someone posted pictures of headers made overseas. They had partially blocked passages at the flange because they use substandard machines to bend the tubing. The few pictures posted told the story loud and clear. They may copy an American companies product, but it is not the same. It's not even close. Good luck with your choice!
At one time in the recent past someone posted pictures of headers made overseas. They had partially blocked passages at the flange because they use substandard machines to bend the tubing. The few pictures posted told the story loud and clear. They may copy an American companies product, but it is not the same. It's not even close. Good luck with your choice!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 12
From: OH
Just got kooks 1 3/4 with a 3" catted x. Went with Kooks bc I got a hell of a deal...about 250 less than what LG PMd me with.
If LG would have been cheaper I would have gone with them. They are all good. Just get the best price you can.
If LG would have been cheaper I would have gone with them. They are all good. Just get the best price you can.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,077
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN
I did a little research and didn't find much difference in the major players for the headers when I decided on Kooks. I did find some difference in opinions for the X and H pipe cross over (advantage for the X pipe). And whether the cats were forward or aft of the cross over seemed to make a difference also.
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 300
Likes: 3
From: Somerset County NJ
Not sure if this is a dumb question or not but, if we're assuming that there is not much of a difference in performance from a dyno/hp perspective, can we also assume that the differences in sound are minimal as most of the sound comes from the actual exhaust/muffler set up? (I've got SLP II)
I am also interested in headers before the summer... (vendors feel free to PM me with prices and a sales pitch
) Thanks everyone! 
I am also interested in headers before the summer... (vendors feel free to PM me with prices and a sales pitch
) Thanks everyone!
Last edited by C7 Mathis; Mar 8, 2011 at 12:56 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 42
From: Dallas / Ft. Worth The Republic of TEXAS
Don't forget to compare the joint or fittings.
Of the Big three. Two use a compression type fit.
One uses the slip fit!
I been buying headers way before I owned
a Corvette. The compression type is best. The other is/could be
trouble. As there is a lot of pressure at the collector. Slip fit can
come apart or leak much easier and can be hard to stop.
Of the Big three. Two use a compression type fit.
One uses the slip fit!
I been buying headers way before I owned
a Corvette. The compression type is best. The other is/could be
trouble. As there is a lot of pressure at the collector. Slip fit can
come apart or leak much easier and can be hard to stop.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
More prone to leak. (slip-fit) I had one come apart once and ruin my exhaust.The collector has the most pressure. The compression fit creates a super tight seal. You need to get yours installed!
